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DEGREE PROGRAMS - THE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN STATISTICS

 

The department offers a flexible M.S. program addressing the needs of both full-time and part-time students preparing for professional positions or for doctoral programs in statistics and other quantitative fields. Extensive use of statistical software packages (SAS, S-PLUS) is required for most of the M.S. courses. The SAS statistical package is available in all university computer labs. Most of the graduate courses are scheduled for early evening times to accommodate students with full-time employment. Part-time students must ordinarily complete the M.S. program within 4 years of initial acceptance.

Information about careers in statistics can be found at the American Statistical Association web-site (http://www.amstat.org/careers/). It contains a detailed description of what statisticians do and what career opportunities are available.

 

Admission Prerequisites

Preparation for the program should include courses in multivariate calculus (Math 33), matrix theory (Math 124), and at least two undergraduate statistics courses. Some experience, either in theoretical or applied probability and/or statistics is advantageous but not required. Experience with computer programming and statistical packages is helpful.

 

Degree Requirements

For each entering student, an individualized program leading to the M.S. degree will be designed with the help of the M.S. Program Director by taking into account the individual's strengths and deficiencies, as judged from transcripts and interviews.

All candidates for the MS in Statistics must complete at least 30 units of graduate credit approved for the MS program in Statistics without a thesis. The department may also approve a program of study consisting of 24 credit hours of course work plus a thesis (Stat 299-300). The MS students may choose to take courses outside the Statistics department but in related fields (e.g., Economics, Management and Finance, Computer Science, Engineering , Mathematics or Public Health). Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade average of B (3.0) in all course work .

Up to 24 credit units may also be counted towards the student's PhD degree, provided that they meet the requirements of the PhD program. Qualifying courses completed at GW before application and admission to the MS program may be used to satisfy some of the program's course requirements. A maximum of one-quarter of the credit hours of graduate work required for the M.S. degree can be transferred from another degree-granting division of GW or another accredited university.

The course requirements listed below are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School. Additional information on graduate studies at GW can be found at: www.gwu.edu/~gradinfo .

Course Requirements:

Descriptions of all courses below can be found at: http://www.gwu.edu/~bulletin/grad/stat.html

All students are required to take Stat 201—202: Mathematical Statistics.

Electives:

A set of electives may include courses from Statistics or appropriate courses from other programs and departments such as Business, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering Management and Systems Analysis, Mathematics, or Public Health.

Appropriate electives from the Statistics Department include:

Stat 207-8 Methods of Statistical Computing I, II
Stat 213 Intermediate Probability and Stochastic Processes
Stat 214 Applied Linear Models
Stat 215-6 Applied Multivariate Analysis
Stat 217 Design of Experiments
Stat 218 Linear Models
Stat 223 Bayesian Statistics: Theory and Applications
Stat 224 Design of Medical Studies
Stat 225 Biostatistical Methods
Stat 226 Advanced Biostatistical Methods
Stat 227 Survival Analysis
Stat 231 Categorical Data Analysis
Stat 242 Regression Graphics/Nonparametric Regression
Stat 273-4 Stochastic Processes I and II
Stat 275/Econ 275 Econometrics I
Stat 281 Time Series Analysis
Stat 287-8 Modern Theory of Sample Surveys

Application

You can obtain application materials as well as apply on line by selecting Apply for Admission from www/gwu.edu/~gradinfo. Information for funding can be found there along with other useful information. Also, information on graduate student support can be found at www.gwu.edu/~gradinfo . Please visit http://www.gwu.edu/~ccas/grad/ to find information specific to graduate students in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Financial aid applications have a deadline of February 1 for Fall semester and October 1 for Spring semester. However, late applications may also be considered.

Advising

Students in their first semester of the program must meet with the M.S. Program Director prior to signing up for classes. Students are suggested to continue to seek advice throughout their time in the program. Students should also meet with the MS Program Director if there is any question of whether their course work may be applied towards the degree. Students must also meet with the MS program Director when they file for graduation. Professor Reza Modarres is the M.S. Program Director. He can be reached at 202-994-6359 or at reza@gwu.edu

Additional Information

The Graduate Student Services web site http://www.gwu.edu/~gss provides links to a wide range of services for graduate students such as academic links, financial information, libraries, computer services, registrar, student services and graduation.

TESTIMONIALS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM FROM RECENT STUDENTS

-.."The master in Statistics at GW is what I was expecting. What this program did for me is to train me to solve quantitative problems using Statistical analysis. I realize that having a master in Statistics is an invaluable resource in my current and future goals and the assistance from the supportive Professors in the Statistic Department has proven to be not only an academic tool but a source of guidance. I really enjoyed the time I spent at GW Stat." -- Sharai Gomez Raygoza, Spring 2008.

-.."The most interesting aspect of the Master of Science in Statistics program at The George Washington University is not that it is challenging (you can make it as rigorous as you want) or that the faculty is both knowledgeable and respected (they are), but the fact that it demands a considerable amount of self-discipline. This requirement comes as a result of the very flexible nature of the program, the small size and high qualifications of the student body and the top credentials of the professors, who do not underestimate the potential of students and thus demand a lot from them. The M.S. of Statistics helped me bridge the gap between the social sciences and the exact sciences, and has made a more integral professional with exciting new career opportunities. At the end of the program, you emerge with a satisfactory feeling of exhaustion which only great efforts provide" - Juan Echeverri, Spring 2007.

-.."After many years working at the Center for Naval Analyses, running the statistical routines other people told me to, I decided I wanted a better understanding of those routines. I got into the Statistics Masters program at George Washington University. There are a good variety of courses offered, and I could choose the ones that interested me. Most of the classes had clear practical applications, and I was often able to use them in my job as soon as I learned them. Now I not only understand the techniques I'm using, I can choose better techniques that my colleagues sometimes aren't familiar with. For anyone who is interested in any work involving statistics, I would highly recommend this program! " - Geoffrey Shaw, Spring 2008.

-.."I have benefited from the program in many ways. Especially, I appreciate the program accommodating those like me who have a daytime job since all master level courses are offered in the afternoon. The flexible course schedule provided me with an opportunity to complete the program. Furthermore, the location of the university at DC area is an advantage to find a job. There are many reputable companies and organizations around DC metro area. The network between the Department and those employers increased my marketability. More importantly, the program delivers high quality courses by expert faculties who are internationally known. I would like to express my appreciation for the MS Statistics program in GWU." - Wenliang Yao, Spring 2007.

-.."Getting my Masters degree at the Statistics department at The George Washington University was a long but gratifying process. The combination of a full time job and being a part time student made me question my ability to finish the program many times. I was fortunate that I had the support system that was available to me at the stats department at GWU. My advisors, Efstathia Bura and Reza Modarres, were encouraging and patient with me. The other professors were always willing to to help and answer questions. The graduate students were always very friendly to me and were more than happy to work with me in the classes that we took. I became close to some of them, and they were crucial in pushing me to finish my degree. I can say that I have been extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of the MS in statistics program at The George Washington University. It been extremely beneficial professionally, as I'm able to apply my learned skills in work places like Pricewaterhouse Coopers and SRA International. I have no hesitation in recommending this program to anyone and everyone interested in the area of statistics, be it theoretical or applied, and looking to be educated at, and perform on a very high level of excellence and integrity." - Alexandre Vilela Braga, Fall 2009.

-.."The Statistics department is very supportive of their students and small enough that one can get lots of individual attention. This creates a very positive learning experience. I have appreciated that I could tailor the classes that counted for my MS degree so it included subjects specific to my personal interests. I have always been very interested in economics so I particularly wanted to learn applications of statistics relating to economics. I took classes that have provided me with useful computing skills and statistical applications that contribute to my resume and have also been able to take more theoretical classes that deepened my understanding of statistical theory. With the degree accomplished, I now have many more opportunities available to me. Statistics is definitely a growing field and I have found in the economics field, that having a solid knowledge base of the subject is increasingly more important." - Erin McKinney, Fall 2009.