MPS APPLIED STATISTICS DEGREE PROGRAM POLICIES
OBJECTIVE:
The MPS is intended for students with a quantitatively oriented Bachelor's degree in the agricultural, biological, computer, engineering, mathematical, physical or social sciences, who are interested in professional statistical careers in business, industry or government. (It is not intended as a pre-MS/PhD degree for students pursuing academic careers.)
ADMINISTRATION:
The MPS is administered by the MPS Committee of the Department of Statistical Science; the Director of the MPS program is the Chair of this committee.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON / ADVISOR:
Each MPS student studies under the immediate supervision of a faculty advisor, known as the Special Graduate Committee Chairperson (although a full Special Graduate Committee is not required in this field). The advisor aids in planning and development of the student's program. This advisor need not be the same as the project advisor (see below).
RESIDENCY - REGISTRATION UNITS:
Students must complete 2 registration units which is equivalent to 2 semesters of full time satisfactory study in residence.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Thirty credits (minimum) are required for the MPS degree.
In order to count toward the 30 credits required for the MPS degree, courses must be numbered 4xx or higher, relevant to the MPS program, and approved by the student's adviser. NOTE: Some permanent exceptions to this policy have been authorized, including ILRST310 and ILRST312.
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 pass/fail (S/U) and still count it toward the 30 credits; this may not be one of the required courses.
The following courses are required:
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ST501/502, the “core course.” NOTE: There is an attendance policy for 501/502 as follows. In each semester 4 unexcused absences are allowed (in addition to excused absences for, e.g., job interview, illness, etc. – it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor regarding these). If there are more than 4 unexcused absences the instructor will decrement the student’s final course grade at the instructor’s discretion. ST501/502 must be taken in consecutive semesters in the same academic year.
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A two-semester sequence in mathematical (calculus-based) probability and statistics equivalent to STBTRY408/409. Some alternative sequences are allowed with the prior approval of the Director.
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At least two semesters of general applied statistics such as STBTRY601/602. Some alternative sequences are allowed with the prior approval of the Director.
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One semester of statistical consulting.
WAIVER OR SUBSTITUTION FOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Waivers or substitutions of some requirements may be possible, upon presentation of evidence of equivalent coursework or training elsewhere, but require the prior approval of the Director.
MPS PROJECT:
This is an in-depth, extended applied statistical analysis of real data, that is, a statistical consulting project. The client for the project may be (preferably) external to Cornell, or alternatively a Cornell faculty member or researcher. Identification of a suitable client and project is the responsibility of the student, but the Department of Statistical Science will make every effort to collect information about potential clients, and to facilitate student/client interaction. The use of SAS software is required. The student is expected to identify one (or more) potential project(s) by November of the Fall semester (mid-ST501 class), and to complete the project before the end of the ST502 class in Spring semester. 70% of the grade for ST502 is based on the project. There are three final requirements for the project:
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An executive summary in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, presented to the ST502 class and to the client
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A listing of SAS code
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A written report.
TEACHING REQUIREMENTS:
None
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
None
THESIS/DISSERTATION:
There is no thesis or dissertation for the MPS, but see “MPS Project” above.
EXAMS:
There are no general or qualifying exams for the MPS.
RECOMMENDATION FOR DEGREE:
Students are recommended for the Degree by the Director of Graduate Studies upon satisfactory completion of all MPS requirements.
SPECIAL NOTES:
MPS students and post-graduation course work
A student who has completed all degree requirements (coursework + MPS project)
in May must graduate with the MPS degree. (If the student has no problem with
US visa status, he or she may take courses extra-murally thereafter as desired.)
A student may only continue as an enrolled student in the MPS program if he or
she has not completed all program requirements by May. All applicable immigration
law applies and is monitored and explained on the ISSO website http://www.isso.cornell.edu/ .
