Specialized Masters Program

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Statistics

PROGRAM INFORMATION

The primary purpose of the M.S. program in the Department of Statistics is to train skilled, broadly-based statisticians, prepared to practice statistics in business, government or academic settings. Therefore, the master’s program seeks to develop in each student a firm grounding in the fundamentals of statistical theory and methodology and its correct applications.

Advisor

Jagbir Singh

Title: Professor
Department: Statistics
Office: 203G Speakman Hall
Phone: 215.204.5069
E-mail: jagbir@temple.edu

AREAS OF STUDY

Possible areas of specialization include most areas of statistical theory, biostatistics, and operations research. The faculty is currently engaged in research in the following areas: biostatistics, statistical inference theory and applications of experimental designs, survey sampling, linear models, sequential analysis, exploratory data analysis, regression analysis, nonparametric analysis, multivariate analysis, time series, stochastic processes, clinical trials, statistical computing, graphics, history of statistics, categorical data analysis, approximation theory, spline smoothing, health systems evaluation, pharmaceutical statistics, and operations research.

SERVICE SEQUENCES

The Statistics Department, offers a series of courses, Statistics 5000 through 5900, designed specifically for the student who is not a statistics major but desires comprehensive training in the use of statistical techniques. Emphasis is on the application of the techniques to real-life problems in diverse disciplines.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission Requirements Prior work in statistics is not a requirement for admission to graduate study. Applicants for admission to the graduate program must hold a bachelor’s or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university and must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 overall and 3.2 in mathematical courses.Applicants must submit scores on the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The scores on each of the three components of the GRE (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) typically fall within the following percentile ranges:

• Verbal: 50 to 99
• Quantitative: 80 to 99
• Analytical: 50 to 99

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or better in mathematical courses may substitute scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for the GRE. The GMAT scores must also fall within the above percentile ranges.

An undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or better in mathematical courses can be used to offset a marginal score on the quantitative component of the GRE. Grades of B or better in college-level English courses can be used to offset marginal scores on the verbal and analytical components of the GRE.

Foreign students whose native language is not English must submit scores on the TOEFL exam. The minimum score is 575, and the typical range is 590 to 660. A score above 610 may be used to offset a marginal score on the verbal component of the GRE.

Two letters of recommendation and a statement of goals are required. Admission is competitive. The applicant’s academic record and test scores are given the highest weight in the admissions process, although other factors, such as the applicant’s ability and potential for further study as demonstrated by research publications, are also taken into consideration. A personal interview is not required but highly recommended.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Students must satisfactorily complete 30 hours of course work and pass a written comprehensive examination.

CURRICULUM

Required Courses

• STAT 8001 Probability Theory
• STAT 8002 Probability Theory II
• STAT 8003 Statistical Methods I
• STAT 8004 Statistical Methods II

Electives

• 18 credits of Graduate business elective courses should be chosen by the student in consultation with the director of graduate studies.

Final Exam

• Comprehensive Exam

Total credits for MS in Statistics is 30 advanced.