Master’s Programs
Our diverse in-person master’s degree options prepare students for a very wide set of careers in statistics. The information below is about our in-person program. For those looking for more flexibility, the degree is offered as an online program.
Concentrations
On-campus Master of Statistics students can choose from several concentrations. In addition to the traditional (no concentration) Master of Statistics degree, four concentrations are available:
- Traditional: The goal of the traditional degree is a solid foundation in the core areas of statistics, such as design of experiments and computational statistics. This route may provide the best preparation for someone working on interdisciplinary teams.
- Biostatistics: The concentration in biostatistics will provide training in statistical methods useful in the design and analysis of studies conducted in medical research, the pharmaceutical industry, and the area of public health. Students will learn fundamentals of clinical trials and epidemiological studies and will be exposed to recent advances in statistical methods for the analysis of time-to-event, categorical and longitudinal data.
- Environmental Statistics: Students in the environmental statistics concentration should be involved with research and consulting in the environmental area and interact with environmental scientists. This may be accomplished through projects of the department or university or through internships with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Statistical Sciences in Research Triangle Park.
- Statistical Genetics: The statistical genetics concentration is appropriate for those who are interested in the relevance of genetic data to areas that include genomic science, medicine and agriculture. (This is a different program from the Master of Bioinformatics program.)
- Financial Concentration: The financial concentration complements the statistics core courses with electives related to the analysis, interpretation and understanding of financial data. (This is a different program from the Master of Financial Mathematics program or the Master of Economics program.)
The master’s program may be completed in one full-time year of study (May-May or August-August). However, a student may take classes at a slower pace.
Program Prerequisites
Knowledge of multivariable calculus and matrix algebra are the minimal requirements for entry. Many applicants will have taken the equivalent of ST 511 or ST 517 and may be able to substitute an elective for that requirement.
Required Coursework
All Master of Statistics degrees require a minimum of 30 semester hours. This includes 21 hours of common coursework:
- Statistical methods: ST 517-518
- Statistical theory: ST 501-502
- Linear models: ST 503
- Statistical consulting: ST 542
- Statistical programming in SAS: ST 555
En-Route Masters for PhD Students:
- Statistical methods: ST703-ST704
- Statistical Theory: ST701-ST702
- Linear Models: ST705
- Statistical Programming: ST758
- Statistical Consulting: ST841 (or ST542)
- Electives may be used to bring the total number of hours to 30
Each specific concentration will have additional requirements and/or electives to reach the minimum credit hours. These requirements are listed on each concentration page.
Graduate Advisory Committee
Every Master of Statistics student will be assigned an academic adviser. Students with formal minors are required to include a minor representative (a faculty member from the minor area) as a third member.
Minors
Students currently enrolled in a graduate program at NC State may request a statistics minor, unless the program is an option B program. Please consult the university’s Graduate Administrative Handbook for rules about obtaining a minor.
Other Information
See the Graduate School’s site for a list of required documents that must be received before graduation.
For answers to other questions, see our FAQ. All other questions regarding the graduate program should be directed to Graduate Services.