Skip to main content
Department of Statistics

Minors

Process

A formal request for the minor is not necessary until a Plan of Work (POW) is submitted to the student’s home graduate program. If a student indicates a Statistics minor, the POW is automatically routed to the Statistics DGP for approval. While it is not necessary to meet with the Statistics DGP prior to requesting approval, students are welcome to stop by during Walk-in Hours to discuss the minor. All questions regarding the graduate program should be directed to Graduate Services.

NOTE: A student in an Option B program cannot get a minor.

Committee Requirements

Any graduate student with a minor at the master’s or Ph.D. levels in Statistics must have a Department of Statistics representative on their Graduate Advisory Committee. This representative should be selected early in the student’s program to be available to advise in the choice of courses. The minor representative for a student minoring in Statistics at the Ph.D. level will be responsible for contributing questions to be included on the student’s Preliminary Written Examination when the student’s program requires them. Questions will be drawn from material covered in the minor courses listed on the student’s POW and/or statistical methodology relevant to the student’s research. The student should successfully complete this requirement before scheduling the Preliminary Oral Examination.

Coursework Requirements

(student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the minor courses to be eligible)

Master’s level — full minor: Requires 9 hours of coursework consisting of:

  • One course sequence (6 hours) from Group I or Group II
  • 3 credit hours from another group (That is, the 9 hours must come from at least two different groups)
  • Answer questions from course work at Final Oral Exam

Ph.D. level — full minor: Requires 18 hours of coursework consisting of:

  • One course sequence (6 hours) from Group I
  • One course sequence (6 hours) from Group II
  • 6 credit hours from Group III
  • Answer questions from coursework at Preliminary and Final Oral Exam

Graduate Minor Coursework

GROUP I: Sequences in Applied Statistics:

  • ST 507/508: Behavioral Sciences
  • ST 511/512: Life Sciences and Economics
  • ST 515/516: Engineering and Physical Sciences
  • ST 513/514: Management and Social Sciences

Students that have taken a course similar to ST507/ST511/ST513/ST515 elsewhere, may take the follow up course at NC State and substitute a course from Group III for remaining Group I requirements.

GROUP II: Sequences in Probability and Mathematical Statistics:

  • ST 501/502

GROUP III: Elective Courses in Statistics:
Any ST course at the 500 or 700 level and not in Group I or II. If a course is taught in other departments at the 500 or 700 level, but cross-listed with Statistics, only one may be used for M.S. and two may be used for Ph.D., e.g., ECG/ST561.

Graduate Minor FAQs

  • If I am completing a Ph.D., can I just do the master’s minor of statistics?
    No. Ph.D. students can only apply for the Ph.D. minor.
  • If I have taken Group I or II courses at another university, can those count toward the minor?
    The courses will not be officially transferred, but you may be able to do a modified minor with approval from the Statistics DGP. Students that have taken a course similar to ST507/ST511/ST515 elsewhere, may take the follow up course at NCSU and substitute a course from Group III for remaining Group I requirements. For other modifications, please consult the Statistics DGP via email or during Walk-in Hours.
  • How do I find a statistics faculty member to serve on my committee?
    Students often asks instructors from their statistics classes or review faculty members’ web pages to look for someone with related research interests. It is up to the student to contact the faculty member and request that they serve. The committee member must be listed on the Plan of Work in order to be approved by the Statistics DGP.