Students admitted to the accelerated MA program in statistics may, while still undergraduates, enroll in up to 12 hours of approved course work that will count toward BOTH the undergraduate degree and an MA in Statistics.  The “double-counting” of course work permits students to complete both the bachelors and master’s degrees in a total of five years (a so-called “4+1 program”).

Program notes

• Designed for high-achieving and highly motivated students.
• During year #1 (senior year), students may enroll in up to 12 credit hours of approved 7000+ level courses, which may count toward BOTH the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. During this time students are considered undergraduates, pay undergraduate tuition for all courses, and may receive undergraduate financial aid.
• During year #2 (after the bachelor’s degree is awarded), students are considered full graduate students and are eligible to work as graduate assistants and receive tuition waivers.

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the accelerated MA program in statistics, a student must

• Have complete at least 90 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
• Have at least one (preferably two) semesters of undergraduate enrollment remaining before completion of a bachelor’s degree.
• Have completed the following courses each with grades of “B” or higher (a “B minus” is not sufficient):
  • The calculus sequence (Math 1500, 1700, and 2300 or equivalent).
  • A course in matrix theory (Math 4140 or equivalent).
  • A calculus-based course covering statistical inference (Stat 4710 or 4760 or equivalent).
  • A course in statistical modeling (Stat 3500 or 4510 or equivalent).
• Have a GPA of at least 3.0 in all math and statistics courses completed and have earned at least a “B” (not “B minus”) in each statistics course completed.(NOTE: It is expected that the vast majority of an applicant’s math and statistics course work will have been completed in residence at MU.Students who have transferred a substantial amount of math and statistics credit from other universities may still apply to the program.These students will be evaluated individually based on both the grades earned in the transferred course and the stature of the university from which the courses were transferred.)
• Have produced an academic record that suggests the student will likely complete an MA degree in statistics.
• An undergraduate major in statistics is not required.Applications from any major who satisfy the above criteria are welcome.

Sample program appears below. Adjustments may be made depending on undergraduate courses student has completed prior to the senior year and variable departmental course offerings. (Course work shown for Year 1 is only that which is double-counted. Students would presumably complete additional, purely undergraduate course work as well.)

Year 1 of Master’s  (as senior undergraduate / provisional graduate student)

Year 2 of Master’s (As graduate student)

Application

• For full consideration, students must apply by June 1 for fall admission and Jan. 1 for spring admission.Later applications will be considered on a space available basis.
• At the beginning of the semester in which the admitted student will earn a bachelor’s degree, those interested in working as TAs during the second year should apply to the Committee on Graduate Admissions and Financial Support for consideration. Note that students are eligible for support during year #2 (following completion of the bachelor’s degree), but that such support is not guaranteed at the time of admission to the program.
• Information or to apply: Contact Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Statistics, 146 Middlebush Hall.