B.S./M.S. Program in Applied Statistics

The B.S./M.S. program in Applied Statistics is a five-year program that gives academically successful Loyola undergraduates the opportunity to pursue the M.S. degree in Applied Statistics while completing their B.S. degree. The applicant can be pursuing any of the B.S. degrees offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. There are several advantages to enrolling in the B.S./M.S. program.

• The M.S. program requirement to take the GRE is waived for students applying to the B.S./M.S. program. The application fee to the program is also waived.
• Students can begin taking their Masters courses during their senior year.
• The M.S. program in Applied Statistics requires 29 credits of graduate courses. This generally takes one and a half years to complete. Students in the B.S./M.S. program are allowed to “double count” three of their Loyola STAT courses for both their B.S. and M.S. degrees. Two of these may be 3- or 4-credit 300-level STAT courses and one may be a 3- or 4- credit 400-level STAT course. Hence B.S./M.S. students are required to take only 20 credits (instead of 29 credits) of additional 400-level courses and can finish the program in five years.

Application Requirements

The academic prerequisites to be considered for admission to the B.S./M.S. program in Applied Statistics are as follows:

• Successful completion of MATH 161, 162, 263, STAT 203, and three courses (9 credits total) chosen from MATH 212 and 300-level mathematics or statistics courses with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. For students pursuing the BS degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, the 300-level courses may include computer science courses. For students pursuing the BS degree in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics, the 300-level courses may include physics courses;
• A cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher for all course work at Loyola;
• Satisfactory progress towards completion of Loyola’s core.

Application Information

Current Loyola students who have met the above academic prerequisites are to apply between January 15 and March 15 of their junior year. Students who have an interest in the program are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Program Director for Applied Statistics Dr. Martin Buntinas in the semester prior to their application. Students who have substantial transfer or AP credit, or wish to finish the combined program in less than five years, should discuss the timing of their application with Dr. Buntinas. The student should then fill out the on-line Graduate Application Form through the Graduate School web-site. The application will be evaluated upon completion of the following:

• The Graduate Application Form; applicants are to select the B.S./M.S. option;
• A one page personal statement of purpose; this is inserted as part of the Graduate Application Form;
• Three letters of recommendation, at least two coming from faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Loyola University.

Note that the GRE exam is not required for applicants to the B.S./M.S. program. There is no application fee for applicants who apply on-line. At the time of consideration for admission, the student’s most recent Loyola transcript will be examined. If the applicant has transfer credits from another college or university, the student may be required to submit those as well.

Requirements for Completion of the B.S./M.S. Program

After admission to the B.S./M.S. program, students may take one 3- or 4-credit 400-level STAT course during their senior year. This, in addition to two 3- or 4-credit 300-level STAT courses, will be “double counted” for both the B.S. and M.S. requirements. Students generally take the remaining 20-credits of 400-level classes during their fifth year. This schedule can be modified for students with AP or transfer credit who desire to finish the combined program in less than five years. Students in the program are expected to consult regularly with the Graduate Program Director to insure that they are on track for completion of both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. The following are required to complete the B.S./M.S. degree program in Applied Statistics:

• Successful completion of one of the B.S. degrees in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. It is expected that the student complete all degree requirements for their chosen B.S. degree at least one semester before completing the M.S. degree;
• All 400-level (23 credits) graduate statistics courses(including the core graduate statistics courses STAT 401, 403, 404*, 405*, 407 and 408 and the 3- or 4-credit 400-level STAT electives) must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher;

  *Students may not take both MATH/STAT 304 and 404, nor both MATH/STAT 305 and 405. In instances where a student has completed 304 and/or 305 as part of their undergraduate requirements, electives will be substituted in place of the corresponding 404 and/or 405 (subject to approval of the Graduate Program Director).

Further Information

If you have additional questions about the program, please contact Dr. Martin Buntinas, Graduate Program Director for Applied Statistics.