Applied and Engineering Statistics
Faculty
Professors: Carr, Gantz, Gentle, Greenberg, D. Miller, Wegman (Chair)
Associate Professors: Bolstein, Habib, J. Miller, C. Sutton
Assistant Professor: Bell
Adjunct Professors: Andersen, Davis, Faxon, Poston, Sims, Sirgany, Solka,
Tortora
URL: http://www.galaxy.gmu.edu
Course Work
Statistical methods and methods for data analysis are crucial for researching
and exploring the natural sciences, the social sciences, business, nursing, education,
and engineering. The department offers a variety of introductory courses as well
as more advanced course work in specialized statistical methodology and applications.
The focus of the department's offerings is applied with special emphasis on computing,
federal and survey statistics, and engineering applications of statistics and data
analysis.
Introductory courses are targeted for undergraduates in the College of Arts and
Sciences and in the College of Nursing and Health Science, as well as in the School
of IT&E. The STAT 250/350 sequence is targeted for general audiences while
the STAT 344/354 sequence is targeted for technical and scientific audiences. STAT
362 deals with computer statistical packages and is appropriate as a second or third
course for students from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Although the department does not yet offer an undergraduate degree in statistics,
a variety of advanced courses are available for inclusion in other degree programs.
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Statistics
The Department of Applied and Engineering Statistics offers a certificate program
to undergraduate degree programs in computer science, systems engineering, electrical
engineering, urban systems engineering, or mathematics. Undergraduates majoring in
other discipline areas may be admitted to the certificate program at the discretion
of the department.
Because the demand for people with interdisciplinary training, which includes
a background in statistics and data analysis, is great in the Washington metropolitan
area, this program expands the career options available to students. Inquiries should
be directed to the Department of Applied and Engineering Statistics. Students who
plan to work toward the certificate should seek advice from the department.
Program Requirements
This certificate program requires 24 credits, consisting of STAT 344, 362, and
354 or 554, along with five courses chosen from STAT 455, 457, 463, 474, 498, 499,
544, 574 and OR 435, 442, 481.
Graduate Degree (M.S.) in Statistical Science
Statistical science is regarded as one of the oldest and most successful information
technology subjects, focusing on the conversion of raw data into information. In
this graduate program, students are trained in the theory and practice of statistical
methodology, particularly as they impinge upon high-technology applications.
The M.S. program can be thought of in matrix form, one dimension offering a choice
of research or professional options and the other dimension offering a choice of
subject emphases, including federal statistics, computational statistics, statistical
signal processing, applied statistics, and engineering statistics. The research option
is intended for students planning to continue for the Ph.D. degree or to begin or
continue careers in statistical methodology research. The professional option provides
M.S. degree qualifications to those seeking an expanded knowledge base in modern
statistical theory and practice, but not wishing to pursue a research career. Such
students might plan to work in applied statistics, go on to professional schools,
teach statistics at a secondary level, or pursue other careers in which advanced
work in statistical methodology is necessary or advantageous but in which independent
research is not involved.
Admissions Requirments
In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements for graduate study,
all applicants to this program must do the following:
- Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an appropriate undergraduate
major. Examples include, but are not limited to, mathematics, computer science, statistics,
and electrical engineering. Applicants must have advanced preparation in mathematics,
including calculus or real analysis, basic statistics and probability, and matrix
theory or linear algebra.
Course work taken to correct deficiencies in undergraduate preparation is not
counted toward the degree.
- Demonstrate basic computer literacy.
Presently the GRE is not required. It is recommended particularly for those students
wishing to compete for graduate teaching assistantships, graduate fellowships, or
graduate research assistantships.
Degree Requirments
Students in both the research and professional options must complete the 12-credit
core requirements for the degree:
STAT 544 Applied Probability
STAT 554 Applied Statistics
STAT 652 Statistical Inference
STAT 656 Regression Analysis
The core course work covers the basic elements of statistics at the graduate level.
Applied Probability (STAT 544) covers the major mathematical framework for statistical
theory and practice. Statistical Inference (STAT 652) provides basic statistical
theory. After completing this course, students have the theoretical basis from which
statistical methods are derived.
Applied Statistics (STAT 554) is a survey of statistical methods that have become
the backbone of statistical practice. Focus in this course is on techniques that
quantify random behavior. The final core course is Regression Analysis (STAT 656),
which focuses on determining the relationship between two or more quantities possibly
measured with error, particularly with emphasis on broad scientific and technological
applications. From these basic elements, the perspective M.S. student may choose
one of five predefined concentrations or may, with the concurrence of his or her
advisor, design a customized curriculum. The predefined concentrations are (1) applied
statistics, (2) federal statistics, (3) computational statistics, (4) statistical
signal processing, and (5) engineering statistics. Other courses may be chosen from
any graduate STAT courses, except STAT 510, 512 and 530. STAT 679 and STAT 798 may
be repeated for credit with departmental approval. Also, many courses from other
departments may be chosen with departmental approval.
Professional Option
The professional option focuses on the completion of course work in modern statistical
theory and practice. The basic course work requirements include 30 credits. Twelve
credits must be the core courses taken by all M.S. students, with 18 additional credits
taken from the approved list or with the approval of the student's advisor. Students
in this program are encouraged to pursue a broad background in statistical science
and may elect to concentrate on applications of statistical methodology to other
disciplinary areas. A student would normally complete the degree by taking 10 three-credit
courses with no written reports such as a thesis and no oral examination. A student
would have to satisfy the general degree requirements for graduate study.
A student in the professional option may write a master's essay that is not an
original research report but a scholarly essay on a topic of current interest in
the statistical science discipline. The essay is usually about 20 to 25 pages long
and demonstrates the student's ability to read and synthesize the current technical
literature into a scholarly essay. The essay is evaluated by the student's advisor,
taking into account the comprehensiveness of the coverage of the scientific literature,
the accuracy of presentation and interpretation, and the literary style. Students
are notified of their evaluations and may be required to revise their essays to develop
their skills in preparing reports on technical subjects. The essay is normally written
in the context of STAT 798, Master's Essay.
Students who complete the essay will take 27 credits of in-class work and three
credits of STAT 798, Master's Essay. Students opting not to write an essay must take
30 credits of in-class work.
Research Options
The research option requires 30 credits, of which 6 credits must be in independent
research (thesis). Research is done under the guidance of a faculty member. Research
may be carried out at the university or, if appropriate, at nearby facilities. For
example, students may pursue research at their places of employment on topics of
interest to their employers, provided the research meets the standards of the university.
The remaining 24 credits must include the 12 core credits and elective courses taken
from the approved list or added with the consent of the thesis advisor.
In addition to satisfying the general degree requirements for graduate study,
candidates for the research option must do the following:
- Submit a thesis or report based on the research to the student's thesis committee,
which must give preliminary approval. The composition and appointment of this committee
follows graduate program policies.
- Pass a final oral examination that concentrates on, but is not limited to, the
area on which the thesis or report is written. The examination is administered by
the student's thesis committee, and all interested members of the graduate faculty
are invited to attend and participate in the questioning. The thesis committee makes
the final decision on whether the candidate passes or fails.
Combined B.S./M.S. in Applied Statistics
The combined B.S./M.S. degree option provides a way for George Mason students
to earn an M.S. in Statistical Science in a shorter period of time than if they graduated
from a suitable George Mason B.S. program and then applied to the M.S. program.
Admission Requirements
To enroll, the student must begin his or her M.S. work within six months following
completion of a B.S. degree in any one of the IT&E major areas, or a B.S.
in Mathematics from the College of Arts and Sciences. Admission is guaranteed to
any student with an overall GPA of 3.000 in courses taken after the first two undergraduate
years (60 credits) and with grades of B or better in the two 500-level STAT courses
selected from STAT 544, 554, and 574.
Degree Requirements
The combined B.S./M.S. program consists of a minimum of 144 credits that satisfy
the requirements for both the B.S. and the M.S. in Statistical Science, with six
credits of overlap. Twenty-four credits are required for the M.S., provided that
the student has taken two of the following three courses as part of his or her B.S.
course work: STAT 544, 554, and 574.
Certificate in Federal Statistics
The graduate certificate in federal statistics is a professional program targeted
at upgrading the skill of practitioners. The federal statistical system is a complex
data collection and analysis system that requires a wide variety of multidisciplinary
skills for its mainntenance. The federal statistics certificate is intended to respondto
the need for broad training in statistics, survey methods, data analysis including
graphics and data visualization, databases and data security, paralled computationand
related technology, geographic information systems, and issues of statistics and
public policy. The certificate program is extremely flexible and can be tailored
to the needs of students within the federal statistical sector, but is also intended
to be responsive to the needs of those in state and local governments and those in
the private sector who support the statistical system.
Admission Requirements
Potential candidates should have a bachelor's degree including at least two courses
in statistics and/or mathematics. Applicants typically have degrees in diverse fields
such as sociology, economics, engineering, mathematics, statistics, and business.
Candidates should inquire with the certificate coordinator for details of program
planning. Courses are offered in late afternoon and evening and are particularly
suitable for part-time students.
Program Requirements
The certificate program consists of 15 credits (five courses), which are selected
from the certificate program courses and elective courses. The certificate courses
are aimed at building the foundations of statistical analysis and survey methods
and consist of the following:
STAT 554 Applied Statistics
STAT 574 Survey Sampling I
STAT 634 Case Studies in Data Analysis
STAT 663 Statistical Graphics and Data Exploration
STAT 673 Statistical Methods for Longitudinal Data Analysis
STAT 674 Survey Sampling II
STAT 679 Topics in Survey Design and Analysis
All these courses may be used for credit toward the M.S. in Statistical Science.
Students with a minimal background in mathematics or statistics should consider taking
STAT 530. STAT 530 is intended to enhance a student's background and does not count
toward the certificate.
For the certificate program, the student may choose any three of the certificate
courses plus two elective courses chosen with the consent of the certificate coordinator.
The electives are intended to provide a broad background supportive of the multidisciplinary
needs of complex statistical systems. They include courses from statistics, marketing,
computer science, economics, geography, psychology, sociology, information systems,
operations research, and public administration. Some courses may have prerequisites
for which the student must qualify or seek a waiver from the appropriate instructor.
Ph.D. Study in Statistics
Doctoral-level study in statistics is available through two of the university's
Ph.D. programs. The Ph.D. in Information Technology has a concentration in statistical
science with an engineering emphasis. The Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics
has a concentration in computational statistics with a basic science emphasis. Both
degrees are interdisciplinary and allow the student a broad range of course and research
options. These programs are described elsewhere in this catalog. Advanced courses
in statistics at the Ph.D. level are also listed under the respective Ph.D. program
descriptions.
Students may obtain more information by contacting the graduate coordinator in
Science and Technology II, Room 158, (703) 993-3645.
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