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Dec 26, 2024
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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Statistics, M.S.
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 Return to: Graduate Programs
The programs offer various tracks leading to the master’s degree in statistics. The student should declare the intention to pursue a specific track soon after entering the master’s program. Approval of a plan of study must be obtained from the department before the student starts taking courses toward satisfying the track requirements. Each entering student will have a program advisor who will help design a program meeting the degree requirements set forth below.
Each track has a credit requirement of at least 30 credit hours. Students can fulfill their credit requirement by choosing either the coursework option or the master’s thesis option. The choice of option must be established by the time the student has completed 18 credit hours of coursework toward the master’s degree.
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Coursework Option
The coursework option requires completion of at least 30 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work, including the core courses in the chosen track, with an average grade of “B” or better. The course work to be completed in the program are typically at the 600 level. However, with permission, up to two 400 level courses can be used to meet the course requirements, excluding STAT 451, STAT 453 and STAT 454.
Master’s Thesis Option
The master’s thesis option requires the completion of 24 credit hours of approved courses with an average grade of “B” or better, including the relevant core courses (these are listed below under each track). In addition, six credit hours of STAT 799: Master’s Thesis Research must be completed as follows. After establishing an area of concentration, the student should seek a thesis advisor from the graduate faculty. The student should submit a thesis proposal to the graduate program director with an endorsement from the prospective thesis advisor. It is expected that the completed thesis will be a significant exposition of the approved topic or will concentrate on developing better methods for solving practical problems. The final acceptance and earning of credit for the master’s thesis require passing an oral thesis defense. The oral defense is conducted in accordance with the Graduate School regulations.
Traditional Track
The traditional track is designed for students wishing to continue toward a Ph.D. in Statistics, either at UMBC or elsewhere.
The curriculum must include the following core courses:
Applications-Orientated Tracks
Applications-oriented tracks are offered under the master’s program in statistics to meet the educational needs of students who intend to obtain employment in industry and government.
The program offers a track in environmental statistics and a track in biostatistics.
Environmental Statistics Track
This track is recommended for students with an interest in environmental applications. An undergraduate major in a field related to environmental sciences with sufficient background in mathematics or statistics will be adequate to pursue this track. Students completing the track will gain working knowledge of statistical methodology and software packages used in environmental applications. This track also will be attractive to part-time students from the government and local industries, who are involved with environmental applications.
The curriculum must include the following core courses:
Biostatistics Track
This track is recommended for students interested in biomedical and public health applications. The program is a joint undertaking of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UMBC and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
The curriculum must include the following core courses:
- STAT 651 - Probability Theory
- STAT 653 - Mathematical Statistics
- STAT 601 - Applied Statistics I
- STAT 602 - Applied Statistics II
- STAT 603 - Categorical Data Analysis
- STAT 619 - Biostatistics: Principles and Design
In addition, PREV 600 (Principles of Epidemiology) and PREV 803 (Clinical Trials and Experimental Epidemiology) offered at UMB are highly recommended. There are a number of course offerings at both schools that would be relevant to the degree and recommended through advising.
Given the emphasis on biomedical and public health applications in this track, students have the option of using 3 credit hours of capstone project (STAT 699 or PREV 789) toward fulfilling their course requirement. The capstone project should be on a topic related to biostatistics, which is completed under the direction of a faculty member in the department or under the joint direction of a faculty member in the department and an expert from outside the department. The work is expected to include data analysis, a simulation study, a review of literature, statistical software development or other activities related to biostatistics. The student will register for the project as STAT 699 or as PREV 789, depending on whether the faculty advisor is at UMBC or at UMB.
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