At the time of admission each student is expected to have completed a standard three-course sequence in calculus and a course in elementary linear algebra. Courses equivalent to CSCI 230 and one from STAT 400 and STAT 435, must also have been completed. Any deficiencies should be removed at the beginning of the student’s program.
Check departmental information for additional requirements.
Students seeking admission to the M.S. program in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science must meet all the requirements for admission to the NIU Graduate School. In addition to the standard requirements for graduate admission, the master’s program requires degree-seeking applicants to submit the following materials:
Resume/CV: Copy of current resume/CV in a pdf format indicating your professional or volunteer experience.
Students may also submit the following materials:
Optional GRE Scores: Submission of official GRE scores is optional. Applicants who choose to provide those scores must do so for all sections of the General Test of the GRE, and the scores must be from the past 5 years.
Requirements
Complete at least 33 semester hours of graduate work, with at least 21 semester hours completed in STAT courses numbered 600 and above. At most, six semester hours can be courses offered outside of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. These courses might only be taken with prior permission of the student’s advisor.
Follow a program of study approved by the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.
Write a master’s thesis or pass a comprehensive examination based upon student’s plan of study. Usually, a student pursuing full-time graduate study will be required to write a master’s thesis or take the comprehensive examination within two academic years of admission to the Graduate School. A student who fails the examination may, with the permission of the department, repeat it once.
Thesis Option
The thesis option is usually recommended by the department. Each student pursuing this option must enroll in STAT 699, Master’s Thesis, for at least two semesters, and submit a written thesis. Up to three semester hours credit in STAT 699 may be applied toward the degree. The student’s thesis advisor serves as chair of the graduate committee that administers a defense of the thesis.
Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis option is primarily for students who intend to pursue doctoral work in the mathematical sciences at NIU. With departmental consent, the student must complete a 33-semester hour program of courses approved by the department and pass a written comprehensive examination.
Course Requirements
With the consent of the department, a student may include STAT 699, Master’s Thesis, for 3 semester hours of credit, in the 33 semester hours required for a master’s degree.
Three STAT courses numbered 500 or above (9). With consent of the department, up to two of these may be graduate level courses offered outside of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.
With the consent of the department, a student may include STAT 699, Master’s Thesis, for up to 3 semester hours of credit, in the 33 semester hours required for a master’s degree.
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