Joseph Voelkel, Graduate Program Director
(585) 475-52231, jgvcqa@rit.edu
http://www.rit.edu/cqas/academics/msappliedstatistics
Program overview
The MS program in applied statistics is available to both full- and part-time students. Those working toward their baccalaureate degree in certain RIT departments are eligible to apply for a joint BS/MS program. Cooperative education options also are available. The MS degree is also available in an online learning format, which is especially appealing to students who are unable to attend classes on campus.
The program is primarily intended for students who do not wish to pursue a degree beyond the MS. However, a number of our students are either working on, or have attained, a doctorate degree at other universities.
Curriculum
The program requires 45 credit hours and includes seven core courses, four courses from a career option, three electives, and a capstone project.
Core Courses
There are seven require courses. Students, in conjunction with their advisers’ recommendations, should take the core courses early in the program. In any event, they must be completed within the first 30 credit hours of the degree.
Career options
There are three standard career options, each of which is designed to allow students to specialize within their career endeavors. Specialized career options are also available.
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality engineering | ||
| 0307-721 | Statistical Process Control | 3 |
| 0307-731 | Statistical Acceptance Control | 3 |
| 0307-781 | Quality Management | 3 |
| 0307-782 | Quality Engineering | 3 |
| Industrial statistics | ||
| 0307-803 | Design of Experiments III | 3 |
| 0307-846 | Statistical Data Mining | 3 |
| 0307-862 | Reliability Statistics I | 3 |
| 0307-883 | Quality Engineering by Design | 3 |
| Statistical theory and methods | ||
| 0307-824 | Probability Models | 3 |
| 0307-830 | Multivariate-Analysis Theory | 3 |
| 0307-831 | Multivariate-Analysis Applications | 3 |
| 0307-862 | Reliability Statistics I | 3 |
Electives and capstone
Three additional courses are chosen by students with the help of their advisers. These courses are usually department courses but may include (along with transfer credits) up to 9 credits from other courses related to the program that are consistent with students’ professional objectives.
Students, with adviser approval, may choose to write a research thesis or conduct a research project instead of taking the full three electives. Theses are usually for 6 credits, and projects are usually for 3 credits.
A required capstone course is designed to ensure that students can integrate the knowledge from their courses to solve more complex problems. This course is taken near the end of a student’s course of study.
Full-time first-year students on scholarship must register for and attend the Statistics Seminar (0307-895) in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. This is a non-credit bearing course that is graded on a pass-fail basis.
Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.
Applied statistics, MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0307-742 | Statistical Software | 3 |
| 0307-801 | Design of Experiments I | 3 |
| 0307-802 | Design of Experiments II | 3 |
| 0307-821 | Theory of Statistics I | 3 |
| 0307-822 | Theory of Statistics II | 3 |
| 0307-841 | Regression Analysis I | 3 |
| 0307-842 | Regression Analysis II | 3 |
| Career Option Courses | 12 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 45 | |
Applied statistics, MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CQAS-611 | Statistical Software | 3 |
| CQAS-721 | Theory of Statistics I | 3 |
| CQAS-741 | Regression Analysis | 3 |
| CQAS-722 | Theory of Statistics II | 3 |
| CQAS-701 | Foundations of Experimental Design | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective 4 | 3 | |
| CQAS-792 | Capstone | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 | |
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS program in applied statistics, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
- Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
- Submit a current resume,
- Submit two letters of recommendation, and
- Complete a graduate application.
Additional information
Six Sigma Black Belt
Students may earn a Six-Sigma Black Belt after obtaining the MS in applied statistics or the advanced certificate in statistical quality. Students should ensure appropriate course selection by reviewing the Black Belt requirements on the center’s website. In addition, students will need to complete an additional qualifying project.
Advanced certificate programs
Two advanced certificate programs, in statistical quality and in statistical methods for product and process improvement, also are available. Each requires 18 quarter credit hours and both are available to part-time students. In both programs, the courses are a subset of the MS program courses and are offered on campus and in the online learning format. The advanced certificate in statistical quality is aimed primarily at quality managers, quality engineers, or those who aspire to such positions. The advanced certificate in statistical methods for product and process improvement is designed for engineers, scientists, and other professionals who want a solid education in the statistical methods that are most closely related to their work, but who wish to finish a program in a shorter time period than the MS program.
Grades and maximum time limit
Students must attain an overall program grade point average of 3.0 (B), with no more than two grades of C, for graduation. A minimum of 24 credits in 800-level courses is required in the degree program. Course work must be completed within seven years. Contact the department for more details on these requirements.
Students are strongly encouraged to further develop their writing, speaking, presentation, and computer skills as they progress through the program.