Fifth Year Applied Statistics M.S. Degree

This program allows West Lafayette Purdue graduates of the Mathematical Statistics option in the undergraduate Statistics major to complete the M.S. in Applied Statistics in one calendar year after satisfying the requirements of the B.S. degree. Admission requires a strong background, preferably the Honors undergraduate program in Statistics. Students should consult an advisor early in their undergraduate program, and should plan to arrange excess credits that can be applied to their graduate plan of study. Students at Purdue are encouraged to let the Statistics Graduate Secretary (graduate@stat.purdue.edu) know of their interest early in their undergraduate career. Students who exercise the 5th year option are encouraged to take the General GRE prior to completing their MS in Statistics.
Who can apply? This program is available to prepared undergraduates at the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University.
Preparation: At the end of the sophomore year or at the beginning of the junior year, the undergraduate student should meet with their advisor to review their course work plan and preparation for the 5th year MS. The student should be certain to have enough course work taken (as an undergraduate), so that a MS in Statistics can be achieved with only one additional year past the BS. Students should consult the sample program below, and plan accordingly.
How to apply: Letters of recommendation are required. Applications are made through the normal graduate application process. Please visit How To Apply for further information.
Funding: The fifth year MS program offers no funding.
M.S. Plan of Study: The M.S. plan of study includes STAT 51400, 51600 (or 51900), 51700 (or 52800), 52500, 52600, 58200, and 598G and at least two of STAT 50600, 51300, 52000, 52200, 52400 and 529K. A total of 33 credit hours is required.
Fifth-Year M.S. Sample Program:
This sample program assumes that a student takes the Mathematical Statistics option in the undergraduate Statistics major. The program includes two courses taken as undergraduate excess in the senior year and one course taken in Maymester (STAT529K) after taking STAT 517 in the senior year. Many variations are possible; consult your advisor. Special topics courses in Statistics are often suitable as electives. Students should volunteer to work in the Statistical Consulting Service, probably during their second M.S. semester.

Sample Program

Senior Year (Excess Credit) STAT 51600 (Fall) STAT 51700 (Spring)    
Maymester Optional STAT 529K      
M.S. Year (Fall) STAT 51400 STAT 52400 STAT 52500 Elective
M.S. Year (Spring) STAT 52600 STAT 598G STAT 58200 Elective
Once accepted into the 5th year MS program, the student will be a graduate student in Statistics at Purdue University, and is expected to complete the MS in Statistics in one calendar year.