MASTER OF SCIENCE

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree is awarded by two different routes:

Plan A--Thesis

Plan B--Examination

The M.S. degree, Plan A or Plan B, can act as either a terminal degree or as a stepping-stone to the Ph.D. program. The requirements for this degree are more theoretical than those for the M.A.S. As a consequence, students in this program will generally be in residence for at least two academic years; this may result in the student accumulating more than the required number of hours or at times being able to take a lighter load. This degree program is flexible enough to provide preparation for a career in applied statistics or it can be composed entirely of the first two years of coursework for either the statistics or biostatistics Ph. D. program.

M.S. Degree Requirements

To be awarded the M.S. degree, the student must successfully complete (1) and either (2a) or (2b).

(1) Take and pass with a grade of B^- or above in a letter-graded course and with a grade of S in an S/U course:

Core	620(4)	Statistical Theory I
(27 Hours)	621(4)	Statistical Theory II
	622(4)	Statistical Theory III
	641(5)	Design and Analysis of Experiments
	645(5)	Applied Regression Analysis
	600(2)	Statistical Consulting I (graded S/U)
	742(3)	Analysis of Variance

Group I Electives (6 Hours)	(6)	Letter graded Stat or Biostat courses at the 700 level or above (excluding Stat 722, 723, and 724) with approval of the advisor
Group II Electives (20 Hours)	(20)	Stat or Biostat courses at the 600 level or above (excluding Stat 602, 603, 610, 623, 693, 801, 893, 895, and 999) with approval of the advisor

(2a) Plan A Write a thesis and pass an oral examination in defense of this thesis. At most 6 hours of thesis preparation under Stat 893 may be counted among the 20 hours under "Group II Electives".

(2b) Plan B Pass a written examination that is offered at the same times as the Ph.D. Qualifier I Examination and covers material in Stat 620, 621, 622, 641, and 645. A student will normally take this examination in the Autumn Quarter of the second year of graduate work.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Year 1

Summer: 602, 603, 661

Autumn: 620, 645, EG-II

Winter: 621, 641, EG-II

Spring: 622, EG-II, EG-II

Year 2

Autumn: 742, EG-I / II, EG-I / II

Winter: EG-I, EG-II

Spring: 600, EG-I, EG-II

EG-I: Elective from Group I; EG-II: Elective from Group II

Notes: Enrollment in the Summer Quarter of the first year is optional, but encouraged.

The department views either Plan A or Plan B as acceptable. However, the department does not view either plan as an alternative once the other plan has resulted in failure. To this end, a student should declare his/her intentions to the Graduate Studies Committee at the beginning of his/her second year of study.

Since most students in recent years have elected to take the M.S. degree by examination, a few words about the M.S. degree with thesis are in order. Some professors have problems that are suitable for theses. These topics can range from the very mathematical to applications in other fields. In fact, some thesis topics could be direct extensions of problems arising in the Statistical Consulting Service. A thesis written on such a problem converts the degree to an applied degree, in substance, if not in name. If you wish to learn more about the thesis option, talk with your advisor.

Any student who anticipates obtaining the M.S. degree, either by Plan A or Plan B, in the course of his/her academic career should file the M.S. Plan of Study form by the end of his/her first year of study. He / she must also submit an Application to Graduate form to the Graduate School no later than the second Friday of the intended quarter of graduation.