Master of Science & Data Science in Statistics

PLAN B (Exam/non-thesis option): Fall 2024/Spring 2025

Policies and Procedures for the Plan B examination:

Students in the Plan B option must pass a two-part comprehensive examination. You must be Advanced to Candidacy to register for a Statistics master exam. If you are not Advanced to Candidacy, do not register for master exams. If you do, your registration will be cancelled.

Students sitting for an exam are required to register for STAT 798. Please register for 1 unit for each exam you take. Students who have previously signed up for STAT 798 but failed the exam do not have to sign up again. To add STAT 798, email Kyle Hasenstab ([email protected]) your EmplID# (typically starts with a ‘1’). Once you receive confirmation, you may enroll in STAT 798 - class number 8152. You will not be allowed to sit for an exam if you have not registered for STAT 798 prior to the exam date.

Qualifying Exam

The qualifying exam will cover materials from mathematical statistics. Though the exam questions will not be marked as from specific course work, students are advised to review course materials from STAT 670AB.

The exam will be closed book and closed notes. Students are allowed three 2-sided formula sheets of standard letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) and if typed, no smaller than 12 point font. Only formulas may be put on the cheat-sheets (problems with solutions are not allowed). The cheat-sheets must be handed in together with the exam. Necessary critical values or statistical tables will be provided for the exam. A hand calculator can be brought for basic arithmetic operations. The use of a cell phone, smart watch, or any other device that can access the internet during the exam, is strictly forbidden.

The exam will be offered twice an academic year. The exam will be given on the Monday the week before the first day of Fall and Spring classes, respectively, from 1pm to 4pm. Students need to register for the exam during the registration period in July and November.

Data Analysis Exam

The data analysis exam consists of a written report of a data analysis project. Each student will be given a data set and corresponding scientific questions. Students will have one week to complete the data analysis and produce a written report following the instructions provided at the time of the exam. Collaboration on the data analysis and report writing is not allowed. Any collaboration will be deemed as cheating and result in a failing grade.

The exam will be available online at 10am the Tuesday of the week before Fall and Spring classes each year each year and will be due the following Tuesday by noon. Students need to register for the exam during the registration period in July and November.

QUALIFYING EXAM, Spring 2025

Registration: until Friday, January 3, 2025
Exam date/offering: Monday, January 13, 2025 from 1pm to 4pm, in-person in GMCS 333.

To register, email: [email protected]
Subject line reads: Spring Qualifying Exam: (insert your LAST name in CAPS).

In the email text, include:
Your full name (LAST name in CAPS/ first name)
Student ID (the one that starts with a 1)
Mailing address
Phone#
Number of times taking this exam:
Have you advanced to candidacy (yes/no):

Cancellations should be done before deadlines noted above or a failing grade will be given. At the time of the exam, each student will be given a random ID number to be used on the exams. Students may take the two parts of the exam in any order. Each part of the exam may be taken by a student at most two times.

If you have filed for Advancement to Candidacy, and successfully passed the two part comprehensive exams, a Report of Final Examinations form is required for graduation. This form is submitted online, and must be initiated by your Graduate Adviser. Please contact your Graduate Adviser if you would like to submit this form.

DATA ANALYSIS EXAM, Spring 2025

Important: Instructions and data sets will be posted on CANVAS (MATH-STAT-MAJORS-HR --> ASSIGNMENTS) on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 10:00 am.

Written report is due no later than Tuesday, January 21, 2025 by 11:00am.

Report may be submitted any time prior to the deadline. Candidate must be advanced to candidacy before taking a two-part comprehensive exam.

REGISTRATION DATES: until Friday, January 3, 2025

To register, email: [email protected]
Subject line reads: Spring Data Analysis Exam: (insert your last name in CAPS).

In the email text, include:
Your full name (LAST name in CAPS/ first name)
Student ID (the one that starts with a 1)
Mailing address
Phone#
Number of times taking this exam:
Have you advanced to candidacy (yes/no):

Cancellations must be done before deadlines noted above or a failing grade will be given. Each candidate will be given a random code number to be used on the exams. Students may take the two parts of the exam in any order. The Data Analysis Exam may be taken by a student at most two times. For discussion, contact your adviser.

If you have filed for Advancement to Candidacy, and successfully passed the two part comprehensive exams, a Report of Final Examination form is required for graduation. This form is submitted online, and must be initiated by your Graduate Adviser. Please contact your Graduate Adviser if you would like to submit this form.

Faculty

While coursework from other instructors may be counted towards the MS, the core faculty for the program consists of the statistics specialists within the Department. These are as follows:

Barbara Bailey, Jianwei Chen, Juanjuan Fan, Kyle Hasenstab, Richard Levine, C.D. Lin, Xiyue Liao, Xin Wang