Degree Requirements
M.S. in Statistics

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate major in mathematics or statistics is typical for statistics graduate students, but is not required. However, because of the mathematical nature of some of the graduate coursework, students should be able to demonstrate good mathematical ability. Students without sufficient coursework in mathematics may be admitted with the expectation that sufficient mathematical background will be acquired during the first year of study. For more information, please see our Admissions Section.

Program of Study

The program of study will be developed and approved for each student by the graduate adviser in consultation with the student. The program will consist of at least 36 units of coursework, at least 18 of which must be at the graduate level. This will include certain core courses listed below, covering basic material in theoretical and applied statistics, while other elective courses will depend on the interest and objectives of the individual student. This is a M.S. Plan II program (no thesis).

The elective units may be taken in the following areas: (a) Statistics, (b) Fields of statistical application (e.g., economics, genetics), (c) Fields having applications in statistics (e.g., mathematics, computer science)

The required courses for the master's degree are:

• Probability theory and Mathematical Statistics: Statistics 131A-131B-131C
• Multivariate Data Analysis: Statistics 135
• Statistical Computing: Statistics 141
• Applied Statistics and Multivariate Analysis: Statistics 232A-232B-232C
• One additional Graduate Level Elective in Statistics
• Seminar in Statistics Statistics 290 (1 unit, each quarter)
• Methods in Teaching Statistics Statistics 390 (2 units, taken once at the first available offering)
• Methods in Statistical Consulting: Statistics 401 (3 units, once during program)

Required electives: Two courses selected from STA137, 138, 142, 144, 145 or any graduate course in Statistics.

Further elective units at the upper division or graduate level may be taken in the following areas: (a) Statistics, (b) Fields of statistical application (e.g., economics, genetics), (c) Fields having applications in statistics (e.g., mathematics, computer science).

The following courses can be used to substitute these requirements: STA231ABC for STA131ABC; STA232C for STA135; any course among the courses STA222, STA223, STA224, STA225, STA226, STA237AB, STA250, STA251, STA252 for STA141; and a data analysis project conducted under STA299 (independent study) for STA401. If a required course for the MS program is substituted in this way, the substituting course cannot be used to simultaneously satisfy any other requirement.

Course descriptions can be found here (upper division) and here (graduate level).

M.S. Comprehensive Exam

Students in the M.S. program must attempt the exam in the Spring of their first year in the program. If a student does not attempt the exam at that time, it will be recorded as a failure. Every M.S. student needs to pass the exam in a maximum of two attempts. In case of failure at the first attempt, the second attempt must take place at the next offering of the exam, and if a student does not attempt the exam at that time, it will be counted as a second failure. Two failures to pass the exam will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for discontinuation of the student in the graduate program. Passing the Ph.D. Pre-qualifying examination will imply passing the M.S. Comprehensive Examination.

The M.S. Comprehensive Examination is a written examination, based on concepts and methods in linear models, whose duration is about 3-4 hours. The examination will usually include the use of statistical software and may be administered in a computer lab. The chair of the Graduate Program in Statistics (GPS) will appoint an examination committee that will be responsible for preparing, administering and grading the examination. This committee will forward its recommendation to the GPS, which will make the final decision on each student.

Thesis

Since the M.S. in Statistics is a Plan II program, no thesis is required. Research experience can be gained by electing Statistics 299 under the guidance of a faculty member. This course may be related to work for the project or data analysis to be presented at the M.S. Comprehensive Exam.

Sample Programs

Every full-time student at UC Davis is required to take 12 units of coursework per quarter. Financial support, if granted, is contingent on normal progress towards the degree goal. In addition to the coursework as outlined below, students will take Statistics 290 and generally will take additional electives later on, in consultation with their major professor. Appropriate modifications to these schedules will be made for part time students.

Sample A

The following would be a typical program for a well prepared student seeking a M.S. degree who opts for the fast track.

Sample B

For a beginning student with some coursework in statistics and mathematics, but without a rigorous year-long sequence in probability and mathematical statistics at the upper-division level (with a text such as Hogg and Craig, Introduction to Mathematical Statistics, for example), the following program would be typical for a M.S. student. The seminar course Statistics 290 is additional and is not listed. The second year plan is flexible.

You can download a pdf of the complete Graduate Program in Statistics Guidelines here.