Courses and MPS Project Requirements
The MPS degree requires a minimum of 2 registration units. One registration unit corresponds to the satisfactory completion of one academic semester of full-time study and research. 30 credits are required for the MPS degree, courses must be numbered 4xx or higher, relevant to the MPS program, and approved by the student's adviser. Most students take 5 courses per semester. A course with a grade of less than C- will not be counted for MPS credit. A GPA of at least 2.5 is required for continued good standing in the program. You may take one elective course per semester for a grade of s/u (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) toward the 30 credits; this may not be one of the required courses.
Specific Course Requirements
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A two-semester mathematical probability/statistics course sequence equivalent to STBTRY 408 Theory and Probability and STBTRY 409 Theory of Statistics
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At least two semesters of applied statistics equivalent to or superceding STBTRY601,and 602 Statistical Methods I, and II
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One semester of statistical consulting
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The core course:Applied Statistics 501/502 - The 2 semester core course consists of a series of modules on various topics in applied statistics. We expect to draw on the expertise of practitioners for some of the modules. A part of the course is dedicated to working on the MPS Project and presentation skills.
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An in-depth MPS Project - In parallel with the core course you are expected to complete a year-long, in-depth data analysis project. In addition to its intellectual interest, the result of this project will serve as a credential when seeking employment after graduation. The projects are presented at the end of the year.
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Electives - All applied statistics courses offered by the Department of Statistical Science, and a number of other courses as well (e.g., in finance, electrical engineering, etc.) are suitable electives. A list of current Statistics courses is available on the Department's website, and information on all Cornell University courses is available here. (If you would like to see a list of courses taken by recent MPS Applied Statistics students, follow this link.)
Students with advanced background can complete the degree requirements in two academic semesters. Students with minimum background may need additional semesters to complete prerequisites and general program requirements. (for more detail see "Apply").
