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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. The program does not accept part-time students. 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 required courses for the master's degree are:

  • Statistical Computing: Statistics 141
  • Probability Theory & Mathematical Statistics: Statistics 131A-131B-131C
  • Multivariate Data Analysis: Statistics 135
  • Applied Statistics and Multivariate Analysis: Statistics 232A-232B
  • Seminar in Statistics Statistics 290 (1 unit, taken twice)
  • 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)
  • Two required Electives from
    • Time Series Analysis: Statistics 137
    • Analysing Categorical Data: Statistics 138
    • Reliability: Statistics 142
    • Sampling Theory of Surveys: Statistics 144
    • Bayesian statistical Inference: Statistics 145
    • or any graduate course in Statistics

The following courses can be used to substitute these requirements:

STA 231 A, B, C for STA131 A, B, C; STA 232C for STA135; any course among the courses: STA 222 (4 units) STA237 A, B (4 units each) STA 223 (4 units) STA250 (4 units) STA 224 (4 units) STA251 (4 units) STA 225 (4 units) STA252 (4 units) for STA141; STA226 (4 units) 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

Every M.S. Plan II student needs to pass a comprehensive exam, taken at the end of the Winter quarter in the second year of graduate studies, to continue in the program. 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. Should a student not pass the written comprehensive exam, they will be offered an oral examination at the end of the Spring quarter of the second year in graduate studies which will focus on the areas the student did poorly on in the written examination. If a student does not attempt the oral exam, it will be counted as a failure. Failure to pass either the written or the oral exam by the end of the second year of graduate studies will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for disqualification of the student from the graduate program.

 

Advancement to M.S. Candidacy

Plan II M.S. Candidates must file an advancement to M.S. candidacy form prior to taking the written comprehensive examination in Winter of their second year of graduate studies. Candidates must have taken at least half of the required coursework for their degree requirements (18 units).

 

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 Study Plan

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 (Seminar) and generally will take additional electives later on, in consultation with their major professor.


The following would be a typical program for a student seeking an M.S. degree.

Year 1

Fall

Winter

Spring

Statistics 131A

Statistics 131B

Statistics 131C

Statistics 106 or 108

Statistics 141

Statistics 135 or 137

Statistics 390

Statistics 106 or 108

Mathematics 67

Year 2

Fall

Winter

Spring

Statistics 232A

Statistics 232B

 

Statistics 138

Statistics Elective

 

Statistics 401

Statistics Elective

 

  M.S. Comprehensive Exam