Graduate students sitting at a table with a large computer screen and laptop looking at statistical data.

Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Statistics—MS, PhD

Work with real data. Clean data, deal with missing data values, and appreciate the complexities of handling real-world data. With an advanced degree in statistics or applied statistics, you’ll be prepared to analyze society’s increasing volume of data in business, engineering, healthcare, and other fields. Are you ready?

Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Overview

The master's or doctorate in statistics program explores a broad background in statistical theory and methods, statistical genetics, predictive modeling, computational methods, and time series analysis. Learn from esteemed faculty who use advanced statistics to discover the genetic basis of complex diseases, study economic data, and manage risk.

Delivery Options
- Accelerated: MS
- On-Campus: MS, PhD

Statistics Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the statistics program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Statistics is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

PhD Requirements

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

MS, Statistics: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Statistics: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Statistics: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Accelerated MS, Statistics

Bachelor's + 1 Year = Master's Degree

Our accelerated master's degree program is a faster, easier way for Michigan Tech students to earn a master's degree. Up to nine approved credits from your bachelor's degree can be applied towards your accelerated master's degree. Consult your graduate program director for your individualized plan. If you're thinking about pursuing a master's following your bachelor's this option may be the right choice for you.

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about statistics at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Yang Yang

Graduate Assistant

Shanna Reynolds

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your statistics MS or PhD. Sample areas include:

Statistics

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale

International Students

TOEFL: Required Score of 79 iBT or higher
IELTS: Required Overall Band Score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadlines

Fall Semester: February 15

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accelerated Master's Requirements

Our Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
Overall GPA of 3.0 or greater
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
No GRE Required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

Mathematics
Statistics

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

You’ll work in teams with your peers and faculty, using state-of-the-art software to solve authentic problems with real data. Approximately 30 faculty members in the Department of Mathematical Sciences conduct research on the best mathematical and statistical approaches to problems in a variety of areas. Both master’s and doctoral students contribute to faculty-led research projects while taking advanced coursework in statistics.

Where You'll Work

Recent graduates have landed positions in national laboratories, academia, and private industries and rms. A few of the jobs taken by recent students earning a master’s or PhD degree include: data scientist at Monsanto; statistical programmer/analyst at Mayo Clinic; biostatistician at Marsh Field Clinic Research Foundation; assistant professor at Tulane University; and postdoctoral associates at University of Michigan and Yale University.

Faculty Spotlight

Yeonwoo Rho

Yeonwoo Rho
Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences

"Statistics is the science of data-driven decision making. Are you ready to learn the language of data?"

Statistical methods are often based on the assumption that observations are independent; when data is collected over time, one needs to change the game plan. My research focuses on developing statistical and probabilistic tools that accurately extract useful information out of time-dependent data.

Program Faculty