Applied Statistics Master of Science Degree
Applied Statistics
Master of Science Degree
In this master’s in applied statistics, you’ll learn statistical analysis and apply it to a variety of industries, including insurance, marketing, government, health care, and more.
Overview for Applied Statistics MS
- The MS in statistics is available as an online or on-campus degree program.
- Learn how to use data mining, including machine learning tools and software like SAS and R, to drive insightful decision-making.
- Designed for students from varied professional and academic backgrounds. Your degree begins with a plan of study tailored to your interests and career goals.
The master’s in applied statistics focuses on data mining, design of experiments, health care applications, and the application of statistics to imaging and industrial environments. You’ll integrate knowledge learned through engaging courses to solve more complex problems for a wide range of organizations, including industrial, marketing, education, insurance, credit, government, and health care.
RIT’s Statistics Master’s Degree: On-Campus or Online
RIT’s master’s in applied statistics is available to both full- and part-time students with courses offered both on-campus and online. In the applied statistics master’s you will learn:
- How to manage, analyze, and draw inferences from big data—adapting to a diverse audience using business communication skills to effectively convey your insights
- How to use data mining—with tools including machine learning, software like SAS and R—to drive insightful decision-making
- How to apply statistics to the design and analysis of experiment-based industrial studies and clinical trials
Curriculum packed with high-demand skills
- Software and Programming: Skills in Python and R are in 20% of job postings related to statistics.
- Data Science: Demand for skills in artificial intelligence has grown 190% in the last 2 years, and machine learning is in the top 15 skills employers want.
- Experimental Design: Crossover, adaptive, and equivalence designs are dominating 38% of this job market.
- Modeling Techniques: Statistical analysis skills like linear, multivariate, and logistic regression are in over ⅓ of all postings for jobs in this field.
Areas of Concentration
- Clinical Trails
- Data Mining/Machine Learning
- Industrial Statistics
- Informatics
Electives
Choose your elective courses with the guidance of an advisor. These courses are usually department courses but may include up to 6 credit hours from other departments (or may be transferred from other universities) that are consistent with your professional objectives.
Capstone Thesis/Project
Practice integrating your knowledge from courses to solve more complex problems by completing a capstone project. This project is taken near the end of your course of study.
Students, with advisor approval, may write a thesis as their capstone. A thesis maybe 3 or 6 credit hours. If a student writes a 6 credit hour thesis, they would be required to complete four elective courses instead of five.
Earn a Credential As You Study
Earn the advanced certificate in applied statistics and advance your career, all while working toward your master of science in applied statistics. These four courses may be fully applied toward the master’s degree.
RIT undergraduates qualify for a tuition scholarship when they choose an RIT Master’s program.
Join us for Fall 2023
Many programs accept applications on a rolling, space-available basis.
Industries
Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
| Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst | Epidemiology Research Analyst |
| Financial Analyst | Statistician |
| Market Research Analyst | Statistical Engineer |
| Loss Forecasting and Analytics | Crime Technology Analyst |
| Advanced Quality Engineer | Principal Six Sigma Engineer |
Salary and Career Information for Applied Statistics MS
Cooperative Education and Internships
What makes an RIT science and math education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete science and math co-ops and gain real-world experience that sets you apart. Co-ops in the College of Science include cooperative education and internship experiences in industry and health care settings, as well as research in an academic, industry, or national lab. These are not only possible at RIT, but are passionately encouraged.
What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.
National Labs Career Events and Recruiting
The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education offers National Labs and federally-funded Research Centers from all research areas and sponsoring agencies a variety of options to connect with and recruit students. Students connect with employer partners to gather information on their laboratories and explore co-op, internship, research, and full-time opportunities. These national labs focus on scientific discovery, clean energy development, national security, technology advancements, and more. Recruiting events include our university-wide Fall Career Fair, on-campus and virtual interviews, information sessions, 1:1 networking with lab representatives, and a National Labs Resume Book available to all labs.
Featured Profiles
The Power of Being Data Literate in a Data-Driven World
Melissa Royo ‘09/’10 (applied statistics)
The applied nature of the statistics programs at RIT helped Melissa Royo ’09/’10 get a sense for how real-world data behaves.
Your Partners in Success: Meet Our Faculty, Dr. Wong
Dr. Tony Wong
Mathematics is a powerful tool for answering questions. From mitigating climate risks to splitting the dinner bill, Professor Wong shows students that math is more than just a prerequisite.
Curriculum for Applied Statistics MS
Applied Statistics, MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| STAT-631 | Foundations of Statistics This course introduces principles of probability and statistics with a strong emphasis on conceptual aspects of statistical inference. Topics include fundamentals of probability, probability distribution functions, expectation and variance, discrete and continuous distributions, sampling distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests. (This course is restricted to students in APPSTAT-MS or SMPPI-ACT.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| STAT-641 | Applied Linear Models - Regression A course that studies how a response variable is related to a set of predictor variables. Regression techniques provide a foundation for the analysis of observational data and provide insight into the analysis of data from designed experiments. Topics include happenstance data versus designed experiments, simple linear regression, the matrix approach to simple and multiple linear regression, analysis of residuals, transformations, weighted least squares, polynomial models, influence diagnostics, dummy variables, selection of best linear models, nonlinear estimation, and model building. (This course is restricted to students in APPSTAT-MS or SMPPI-ACT.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| STAT-642 | Applied Linear Models - ANOVA This course introduces students to analysis of models with categorical factors, with emphasis on interpretation. Topics include the role of statistics in scientific studies, fixed and random effects, mixed models, covariates, hierarchical models, and repeated measures. (This class is restricted to students in the APPSTAT-MS, SMPPI-ACT, STATQL-ACT or MMSI-MS programs.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
Electives |
9 | |
| Second Year | ||
Electives |
9 | |
| STAT-790 | Capstone Thesis/Project This course is a graduate course for students enrolled in the Thesis/Project track of the MS Applied Statistics Program. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the Director of Graduate Programs for Applied Statistics.) (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Thesis (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Note for online students
The frequency of required and elective course offerings in the online program will vary, semester by semester, and will not always match the information presented here. Online students are advised to seek guidance from the listed program contact when developing their individual program course schedule.
Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is available on-campus or online.
On Campus
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | Fall, Spring, or Summer | Rolling | Yes |
| Part-time | Fall, Spring, or Summer | Rolling | No |
Online
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time | Fall, Spring, or Summer | Rolling | No |
Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.
Application Details
To be considered for admission to the Applied Statistics MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete an online graduate application.
- Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
- A recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
- Entrance exam requirements: None
- Have college-level credit or practical experience in a programming language.
- Writing samples are optional.
- Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.
English Language Test Scores
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.
| TOEFL | IELTS | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 6.5 | 56 |
International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.
How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application
Cost and Financial Aid
An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.
A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree
Additional Information
Prerequisites
- Applicant must have college-level credit or practical experience in mathematics (two course sequence in calculus) and one course in applied statistics.
- Applicant must have college-level credit or practical experience in a programming language.
Online Study Restrictions for Some International Students
Certain countries are subject to comprehensive embargoes under US Export Controls, which prohibit virtually ALL exports, imports, and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Learners from the Crimea region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria may not register for RIT online courses. Nor may individuals on the United States Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the United States Commerce Department’s table of Deny Orders. By registering for RIT online courses, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.
Research
The College of Science consistently receives research grant awards from organizations that include the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and NASA, which provide you with unique opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research with our faculty members.
Faculty in the School of Mathematical Sciences conducts research on a broad variety of topics including:
- applied inverse problems and optimization
- applied statistics and data analytics
- biomedical mathematics
- discrete mathematics
- dynamical systems and fluid dynamics
- geometry, relativity, and gravitation
- mathematics of earth and environment systems
- multi-messenger and multi-wavelength astrophysics
Learn more by exploring the school’s mathematics research areas.
Latest News
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April 23, 2021
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College of Science 2020-2021 Distinguished Alumnus: Rob Hochstetler
The Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually by each of RIT’s nine colleges and the School of Individualized Study to alumni who have performed at the highest levels of their profession or who have contributed to the advancement and leadership of civic, philanthropic, or service organizations.
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June 23, 2020
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RIT researchers create easy-to-use math-aware search interface
Researchers at RIT have developed MathDeck, an online search interface that allows anyone to easily create, edit and lookup sophisticated math formulas on the computer. Created by an interdisciplinary team of more than a dozen faculty and students, MathDeck aims to make math notation interactive and easily shareable, and it's is free and open to the public.
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April 12, 2018
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Playful teaching style earns assistant professor two awards
Nathaniel Barlow is the winner of RIT’s Richard and Virginia Eisenhart Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Innovative Teaching with Technology Award.
