Loyola
University Chicago
Master
of Science Program in
Applied
Statistics
Useful websites to get info:
Recent Career Night photos
Funding Info from the Graduate School
Graduate School - Important Policies (including info for
International Students)
Important Notes:
Our 29-credit, three-semester Master of Science program (based on full-time
study) is novel in that it requires students to have completed just one
introductory statistics course plus two calculus courses (differential and
integral) during undergraduate studies for entrance into our program;
multivariate calculus is not required to gain admission (although some students
have indeed covered the third calculus course). While some of our students come
from quantitative backgrounds, others have come from fields such as English
Literature, Psychology, and Public Policy, have done well in our program, and
are now gainfully employed applied statisticians and data scientists. Our
program can also be completed on a part-time basis, as has been the case for
several of our students and graduates. Although some of the classes are taught
in the late afternoon and evenings, others are taught during the day, so
part-time students - who are working full-time - need to have some flexibility
in their work schedules (i.e., making up work time outside of traditional
working hours).
How to Apply:
It is best (and free) to do so online and using the link above. Note that the
general GRE exam is required. Although we have no prescribed minimum GRE score
thresholds, students whose quantitative GRE percentiles are low would probably
struggle in our program.
International Students:
The first place to start is to get your foreign transcripts translated over to
the US system using either ECE (www.ece.org) or EP (https://www.edperspective.org/); we
cannot assess foreign transcripts otherwise nor can we give any indication of
the likelihood of admission or any funding. Further, students who have
completed undergraduate and/or graduate studies outside of the United States
(or Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, or New Zealand) need to
complete the TOEFL exam (with at least a 79
on the internet-based exam or at least a 550
on the written-based test) or IELTS (with at least a 6.5).
Application Deadlines for
Consideration of Merit Award Funding: February
1st, and this is a firm
deadline. Merit Award Funding is only provided starting in the Fall semesters.
Review of Calculus:
Before taking STAT-404 and STAT-405, it is important that students review
differential and integral calculus, and this is especially true for students
who are a little rusty and took these classes some time ago. Students are
suggest to obtain Schaum's Calculus Review and work
through lines, circles, equations and graphs, limits, continuity, derivatives
and rules, implicit differentiation, applications of derivatives, trigonometry,
rates, integrals, logs and exponentials, l Hopitals
rule, exponential growth/decay, applications of integration, techniques,
improper integrals, double integrals, infinite series and sequences.
Preparing for STAT-408
(Regression) and STAT-407 (Design): Students are
advised to familiarize themselves with basic matrix/linear algebra before the
start of the class; these topics are covered in most course textbooks and
online materials posted on the Web. No worry, you do not need to become a
linear algebra wiz, just familiar with how to perform linear regression using
matrices. A formal class in linear algebra is certainly not required.
Sequencing of and Notes
about Courses:
-
Graduate classes are not
offered during the Summer semester, as most students serve as interns during
the Summer months and faculty are travelling to conferences.
-
Fall-only courses: STAT-403
(Statistical Computing), STAT-404 (Intro to Probability), STAT-407
(Experimental Design), STAT-408 (Intro to Regression), STAT-411 (Survival
Analysis), Predictive Analytics, and Statistical Consulting.
-
Spring-only courses:
STAT-405 (Statistical Inference), STAT-410 (Categorical Data Analysis), and
Nonparametric Statistical Methods.
-
As often as possible:
STAT-406 (Stochastic Processes), STAT-421 (Simulation and Modelling), STAT-426
(Advanced Theory), Bayesian Statistical Methods, Data Visualization &
Missing Data, Hierarchical and Mixed Modelling, Longitudinal Data Analysis,
Nonlinear Regression Methods, Optimal Design, Sampling Methods, Spatial
Statistics Methods, and other special topics classes.
-
Students wishing to take
course(s) outside of STAT need prior approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Here is the typical sequence
for students entering during the Fall semester:
|
|
First Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
Second Fall Semester |
|
|
STAT403 |
STAT405 |
STAT407 |
|
|
STAT404 |
Elective |
Elective |
|
|
STAT408 |
Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
Statistical Consulting Capstone
(2 credits) |
|
|
Total Credits |
9 credits |
9 credits |
11 credits |
Scheduling Notes:
It is possible to start our program in the Spring semester, and such students work
with the Graduate Program Director (GPD) to work out their individual
schedules. Additionally, some of our Fall-entrant students do choose to remain
in our program for a fourth semester, but International Students in such
situations are advised that visa requirements are such that, with the exception
of the final semester, these students much take at least 9 credits to maintain
their visas; students who meet these criteria must work with the GPD on their
schedule.
Important Deadlines Regarding
Graduation:
* Application
deadline is 2/1 if graduating in August of the same year
* Application
deadline is 8/1 if graduating in December of the same year
* Application
deadline is 12/1 if graduating in May of the following year