Statistics

College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
907-474-7332
www.dms.uaf.edu

B.S., Graduate Certificate, M.S. Degrees

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Minimum Requirements for Certificate: 12 credits; M.S.: 30 credits

Statistics is a collection of methods and theories used to make decisions or estimate unknown quantities from incomplete information. Statistical techniques are useful, for example, in estimating plant, animal and mineral abundances; forecasting social, political and economic trends; planning field plot experiments in agriculture; performing clinical trials in medical research; and maintaining quality control in industry. Employment opportunities are excellent for statisticians in many of these areas.

As a post-baccalaureate program, the certificate in statistics is equivalent to a full year of graduate statistics courses and is ideal for current graduate students in disciplines other than statistics (especially the sciences). The graduate certificate in statistics encourages a more in-depth study of statistics and provides students a credential recognizing their quantitative expertise.

The M.S. degree program in statistics builds upon UAF's strength in the sciences and our setting in Alaska by introducing a strong quantitative alternative or supplement to existing programs. The curriculum is built around four statistics core courses and flexibility in selection of elective courses. The core courses are designed to blend mathematical statistics course work typical of most M.S. programs in statistics with real applications. We believe this blending provides a substantial improvement in the graduate's skills.

Graduates of this program could be labeled quantitative biologists, biometricians, quantitative geologists, geostatisticians, or mathematical statisticians depending upon their specific course work. In addition, this program prepares individuals for Ph.D. level work in statistics or their area of application.

The statistics program is administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Graduate Program -- Graduate Certificate

  1. Complete the following admission requirements:
    1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
    2. Complete MATH F200X, MATH F201X and MATH 202X or equivalent*
    3. Complete STAT F401 or equivalent*
  2. Complete the general university requirements.
  3. Complete the graduate certificate requirements.
  4. Complete the following:
    STAT F651--Statistical Theory I--3 credits
  5. Complete one of the following options:
    1. Complete one of the following:
      STAT F652--Statistical Theory II (4)
           or STAT F653--Statistical Theory III (3)--3 - 4 credits
    2. Complete two of the following:
      STAT F602--Experimental Design--3 credits
      STAT F605--Spatial Statistics--3 credits
      STAT F611--Time Series--3 credits
      STAT F621--Distribution-Free Statistics--3 credits
      STAT F631--Categorical Data Analysis--3 credits
    3. Complete one of the following electives to total 12 credits for the certificate
      STAT F641--Bayesian Statistics--3 credits
      PHYS F628--Digital Time Series Analysis--3 credits
      WLF/FISH F625--Analysis of Vertebrate Populations Survival and Movement--3 credits
      FISH F601--Quantitative Fishery Science--3 credits
      ECON F626--Econometrics--3 credits
      ECON F627--Advanced Econometrics--3 credits
      ESM F621--Operations Research--3 credits
      MATH F641--Real Analysis--4 credits
      MIN/GE F635--Geostatistical Ore Reserve Estimation--3 credits
  6. Minimum credits required--12 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

Graduate Program -- M.S. Degree

  1. Complete the following admission requirements:
    1. Submit three letters of recommendation concerning the applicant's educational background and quantitative training.
    2. Submit complete transcripts for all college-level work.
    3. Submit a resume.
    4. Submit a written statement of goals.
    5. Submit GRE scores.
    6. The applicant must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0.
    7. Must have completed the following courses or their equivalent with a B grade or better: full calculus sequence (MATH F200X, F201, F202); or students completing MATH F262X or F272 must take MATH F201X and F202X before acceptance; and a course in linear algebra (MATH F314), at least one introductory statistics or probability course (STAT F200X, F300 or MATH F371, F408). Students lacking MATH F314 may be accepted on probation.
  2. Complete the general university requirements.
  3. Complete the master's degree requirements.
  4. Complete the following statistics (core) courses:
    STAT F651--Statistical Theory I--3 credits
    STAT F652--Statistical Theory II--4 credits
    STAT F653--Statistical Theory III--Linear Models--3 credits
    STAT F654--Statistical Consulting Seminar--1 credit
    STAT F698--Project--3 credits
  5. Complete two of the following courses:
    STAT F461--Applied Multivariate Statistics--3 credits
    STAT F602--Experimental Design--3 credits
    STAT F605--Spatial Statistics--3 credits
    STAT F621--Distribution Free Statistics--3 credits
    STAT F631--Categorical Data analysis--3 credits
    STAT F641--Bayesian Statistics--3 credits
    STAT F661--Sampling Theory--3 credits
    STAT F611--Time Series--3 credits
  6. Complete at least 6 credits of approved courses from an application area or courses with substantial statistical and/or mathematical content.*
  7. Minimum credits required--30 credits

* Students working in subject areas involving significant non-English literature will be expected to read the appropriate foreign language.

Note: Each student must take and pass a two-part comprehensive exam. The first part, written by the statistics faculty, is a written exam (not a take-home exam) covering the material in the core statistics courses. The second part is an oral exam covering follow-up questions from the written exam as well as any material from courses the student has taken along with their project.