StudyQA — Master: Statistics — University of California

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

Students gain advanced knowledge of mathematical statistics and probability; computational and applied statistics; data analysis; methods of research in statistics. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research, consulting and teaching in statistics.

Core Courses (total 32 units):

STA 131A Introduction to Probability Theory*
STA 131B-131C Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (4 units each)*
STA 135 Multivariate Data Analysis (4 units)
STA 206, 207 & 208 Statistical Methods and Research (4 units each)

*Note: Effective Fall 2016, the STA 131ABC requirement will be replaced with STA 200ABC for students in the M.S. program.

One of the following two courses:

STA 242 Introduction to Statistical Programming (4 units), or
STA 243 Computational Statistics (4 units)

Elective Courses (total 4 units):

At least one course selected from:

STA 137 Time Series Analysis (4 units)
STA 138 Analysing Categorical Data (4 units)
STA 142 Reliability (4 units)
STA 144 Sampling Theory of Surveys (4 units)
STA 145 Bayesian statistical Inference (4 units)
STA 260 Statistical Practice and Data Analysis (3 units)

or any four-unit letter grade graduate level course in Statistics.

The following courses can be used as substitutes:

For students who enter the graduate program as Ph.D. students, successful completion of STA 232ABC substitutes for STA 206, 207, 208 as a requirement for the M.S. degree.

With the permission of one of the Graduate Advisers, an internship coupled with STA 299 can substitute for STA260

Link to Course Descriptions: 100 level (undergraduate) - 200 level (graduate)

Summary:

32 units of core coursework and 4 units of electives are required for a total of 36 units. Full-time students must enroll for 12 units per quarter including research, academic and seminar units. Courses that fulfill any of the program course requirements may not be taken S/U unless the course is normally graded S/U. Once course requirements are completed, students can take additional classes as needed, although the 12 units per quarter are generally fulfilled with a research class (299) and perhaps seminars, or additional electives, approved by one of the Graduate Advisers. Per UC regulations students cannot enroll in more than 12 units of graduate level courses (200) or more than 16 units of combined undergraduate and graduate level (100, 200, 300) courses per quarter.

M.S. Comprehensive Exam

Every M.S. Plan II student needs to pass a comprehensive exam, to continue in the program. The M.S. Comprehensive Examination is a written examination. The examination may include the use of statistical software and may be offered in a computer lab. The examination is taken at the end of the Winter quarter (during Spring Break) upon completion of STA 206 and STA 207. If a student does not attempt the examination upon completion of those courses it will be counted as a failure of the comprehensive exam.

Should a student attempt and not pass the comprehensive exam at this time, the student will be offered a second examination during the Spring quarter following the first attempt. If a student does not attempt the second exam, it will be counted as a failure. Failure to pass the exam at the second attempt will be counted as a failure of the comprehensive exam.

Failure to pass the comprehensive exam will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for disqualification of the student from the graduate program.

For students who entered the graduate program as Ph.D. students but subsequently change their degree objective to the M.S. program, passing the STA 232AB part of the program’s pre-qualifying Ph.D. written exam is considered as passing the comprehensive exam.

Advancement to M.S. Candidacy

Plan II M.S. Candidates must file an advancement to M.S. candidacy (Plan II) form prior to completion of the program. 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree with overall GPA of 3.0 or above
One year of calculus
One course of Linear Algebra
Facility with a programming language
Upper division coursework in Mathematics and/or Statistics
The application fee is $105 for domestic applicants and $125 for international applicants. This fee is paid online at the time of application, and you can pay by credit card or by e-check. Please do not send checks or cash to the department. The application fee is non-refundable.
Three Letters of Recommendation must be submitted electronically along with your online application. Please do not have hard copies sent to the department.
TRANSCRIPTS: UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application.
GRE / TOEFL: Please submit all Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores to the graduate program coordinator. We require the General GRE test only, with a minimum combined score of 295, and you must have taken the test within the last five years prior to the anticipated date of entry into the program (for example, Fall 2017 entry, the earliest date for your GRE must be 9/15/12). If your scores are more than five years old, you will be required to take the test again before you can be admitted. When requesting your official GRE score be sent to us, please use institutional code4834, department code 0704 or 0705, and list the department as Statistics. Applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam; if you received a Bachelor's degree in the United States (or other English-speaking country) you can waive this requirement, however those with only a Master's degree from a United States university must still submit a valid TOEFL, so we can best determine your current level of English. We require a minimum TOEFL score of 80 for the internet-based TOEFL (iBT), and scores must be no more than two years old. Our TOEFL department code is 59.