The Master of Science in Statistics prepares students to become practicing statisticians in business, government and industry fields. It features theoretical and applied coursework in statistics and advanced statistical techniques, and its skills-based coursework emphasizes writing and communication skills and provides students with practical project experience. The program was developed in concert with industry and is designed to dovetail into professional career opportunities.
Persons with bachelor’s degrees in engineering, the sciences, economics, business, the social sciences or other fields that use statistics are encouraged to apply. Those with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics or statistics are welcome to apply for the program in order to advance their technical and theoretical skills.
Information about MS Statistics is available on the Department of Mathematics and Statistics website.
University Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admission requirements. See the Graduate Admissions website and this Catalog for general information about graduate admissions at SJSU.
Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage. For TOEFL Requirements, see the Policies and Procedures section, Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Information .
Students can be admitted to either classified or conditionally classified standing.
Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified
To enter this program with classified standing, an applicant must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Division. Applicants must also have completed the following SJSU courses or their equivalents each with a grade of “B” or better (this coursework is not counted toward the MS degree):
- A calculus series through multiple integration and partial differentiation (equivalent to the SJSU courses MATH 30 , MATH 31 and MATH 32 );
- Linear algebra equivalent to MATH 39 ; and
- Introductory calculus-based probability and statistics equivalent to MATH 161A .
In addition, applicants must have two letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf.
Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified
An applicant who meets the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Division but does not yet satisfy the mathematics and statistics coursework program requirements stated above may be admitted as Conditionally Classified. The student must complete additional coursework to make up the deficiency before beginning the program. The units earned from this additional coursework may not be counted towards the total number of units required for the MS degree. The individual admission letter will explain the required terms and conditions for attaining Classified standing.
Advancement to Candidacy
The university requirements for advancement to candidacy for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR) requirement; achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.
Additional Department Requirements
To be advanced to candidacy for the MS Statistics degree:
- The CGGWAR requirement is fulfilled by passing CS 200W or MATH 200W .
- Complete MATH 163 and MATH 164 , each with a grade of at least B.
- Complete at least 18 units towards the degree with at least a 3.0 average.
- Complete the Request for Candidacy and Graduate Degree Program form for the Master of Science degree. This form lists, among other things, all the coursework to be counted toward the master’s degree. After the form has been signed by the Graduate Coordinator, it is forwarded to the GAPE for final approval. Any subsequent changes to the student’s program require approval from GAPE.
Program of Study Requirements
Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.
Course Requirements
Students in the MS Statistics program complete all courses in the program core, project experience or written exam, and culminating experience. Those choosing the Specialization in Machine Learning complete the electives MATH 251 , MATH 252 , and six units of additional electives selected in consultation with, and approved by, the Statistics Coordinator.
All other students complete MATH 261B and 9 units of electives selected in consultation with, and approved by, the Statistics Coordinator. The electives should form a coherent set of courses associated with the student’s career goals. They may include a maximum of 6 units of MATH 203 , MATH 288I , or MATH 298 . Although they may be repeated, each of the courses: MATH 203 , MATH 288I , MATH 297A , MATH 298 , may count at most once towards the degree. The maximum number of 100-level undergraduate units that can be applied toward the master’s degree is 12. The maximum number of units graded on a CR/NC basis that can be applied towards the degree is 12.
At SJSU, students must pass the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR). This requirement in the MS Statistics program is satisfied by completing CS 200W or MATH 200W .
Culminating Experience
Project or Comprehensive Exam
Students in the MS Statistics either complete a project course (MATH 203 , MATH 288I , or MATH 298 ) or they take a comprehensive exam together with an extra elective course. In order for the project course or comprehensive exam to count towards the culminating experience, the student must have completed at least MATH 163 and MATH 164 (each with grade B or better) as well as MATH 261A (with grade C or better) at the time they begin their project or take the exam.
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