Master of science (M.S.) in applied statistics
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics offers a course of study leading to an Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Applied Statistics. This program, with its two specializations in Biostatistics and General Applied Statistics, is intended for recent graduates from undergraduate programs in the quantitative and biological sciences, psychology, business, and education, as well as working professionals desiring to shift fields or to further their studies in this evidence-based decision science. This degree program will help meet the increased demand in the greater Chicago area and nationwide for general applied statisticians and biostatisticians. Both in Chicago and nationwide, more jobs currently exist in these fields than do qualified individuals to fill them, and this trend is expected to continue.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Applicants are expected to possess a B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited institution, to have earned a minimum of a “B” average in undergraduate course work, and to have had the following minimal course requirements:
- One year of Calculus equivalent to MATH 131 & MATH 132 or MATH 161 & MATH 162
- One course in Introductory Statistics equivalent to STAT 103, STAT 203 or STAT 335.
Students having only these minimum course requirements may be advised by the Graduate Program Director to seek additional background needed to succeed in the graduate courses.
SPECIALIZATIONS
Through this program, students will specialize in either (1) Biostatistics, or (2) General Applied Statistics. The former specialization includes Statistical Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Classical Biostatistics; the latter includes non-medical applications such as Actuarial, Commercial, Environmental, Industrial, and National Defense. Students completing the requirements for either of these options will receive the degree of Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Statistics from Loyola's Graduate School.
STATISTICAL CONSULTING COURSE
An important defining characteristic of the field of Applied Statistics in general is that it is inherently collaborative in nature, and this program will underscore the underlying process of shared learning, joint discovery, dialogue, and communication. Students in this program will be required to participate in a one-credit semester course in Statistical Consulting in which consulting techniques will be explored and discussed.
In addition, cohorts of students will be paired with Loyola researchers to assist them with the analysis of their data so as to aid them in answering their underlying queries. This service will be provided to Loyola researchers on a voluntary basis and pro bono. Initially, researchers will be encouraged to present important background and research hypotheses to the class as a whole so that the class can discuss the project in a case study format. Statistics students enrolled in this course—who will be actively supervised by Statistics faculty members—will report their findings and experiences back to the class upon completion of the project.
Students enrolled in this program will be required to take this Statistical Consulting course twice, with the expectation that repeated exposure to an array of case studies will help sharpen their skills and serve to apply and tie together their coursework.
As a result, this program will interact intensively with researchers in need of assistance with data analysis. For example, those in the Departments of Biology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (LUMC at Maywood campus), Chemistry, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology; those associated with the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy (CUERP), the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) and the Parmly Hearing Institute; as well as with administrators in Loyola Offices or Colleges (such as Research Services, the Graduate School, the College of Arts and Sciences, etc.).
REQUIRED COURSEWORK (29 Total Credits)
Students will be required to complete the one-credit course in Statistical Consulting mentioned above during two semesters. In addition, nine (9) three-credit courses must be taken and at least seven (7) must be at the 400-level. Regardless of the specialization, in addition to the Statistical Consulting course, all students are required to take the following five courses (15 credits):
- SAS Programming and Applied Statistics – STAT 403
- Probability and Statistical Theory I – STAT 404
- Probability and Statistical Theory II – STAT 405
- Statistical Design of Analysis of Experiments – STAT 407
- Applied Regression Analysis – STAT 408
The four (12 credits) additional elective courses may be chosen from the following:
- Stochastic Processes – STAT 406
- Categorical Data Analysis – STAT 410
- Applied Survival Analysis – STAT 411
- Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis – STAT 412
- Advanced Statistical Theory – STAT 426
- Advanced Biostatistics – STAT 436
- Quantitative Methods in Bioinformatics – STAT 437
- Topics in Statistics and Biostatistics – STAT 488
- Other course approved by the Statistics Graduate Program Director, including as many as two relevant MATH or STAT courses at the 300 level. For example, interested students may take as many as two of the following courses: Combinatorial Mathematics (MATH 423), Algebraic Coding Theory (MATH 428), Financial Mathematics I (MATH 445), or Structural Equation Modeling (PSYC 493).
- Independent Study in Statistics and Biostatistics – STAT 499
Students specializing in Biostatistics will be strongly encouraged to take electives STAT 410, STAT 411, STAT 436 and STAT 437; those taking other electives will receive the General Applied Statistics specialization.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate students are expected to maintain an average of not less than "B" (3.0 of 4.0). No more than two grades of "C" or "C+" and no grades lower than "C" may be counted as fulfilling degree requirements. Such grades, however, will be calculated in the GPA. No student will graduate with less than a 3.00 average for all graduate level courses and undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit. In addition, students who earn multiple grades of "C" are subject to review and possible withdrawal from the program.
ASSISTANTSHIPS
Qualified applicants may apply for financial aid, in the form of graduate assistantships. Some tuition stipends may also be available.
PLACEMENT INFORMATION
Recent graduates have continued their Ph.D. studies or taken jobs at firms and universities such as A.C. Nielsen, Allstate, HSBC, J.D. Power & Associates, Motorola, TransUnion, Trustmark, Washington University (St. Louis), and University of Michigan School of Medicine.
B.S./M.S. 5-YEAR PROGRAM
Students pursuing undergraduate studies in the Mathematics Sciences or Statistics at Loyola are encouraged to apply for this 5-year combined degree. Beyond the requirements for the B.S. degree (in addition to the consulting class), students in this program are required to complete seven additional graduate Statistics courses including STAT 403, STAT 404, STAT 405, STAT 407 and STAT 408 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additional prerequisites for admission to this program include completion of Linear Algebra (MATH 212) and Multivariable Calculus (MATH 263) with grades of B+ or higher.
Further information
Application for graduate study at Loyola University Chicago should be made online at the Graduate School: apply now. Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation and transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work. If you have additional questions, please contact us.
Last modified April 4, 2008 04:19 PM
