Statistics (MA)

Program Overview

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a professionally oriented Master’s of Arts degree program in statistics. The lively and versatile curriculum focuses on training that is applicable in the real world, and the program aims to prepare skillful statisticians for professional careers in industry. The track includes an integral lab component that emphasizes the practice of contemporary data analysis and exposes students to methods, software and theory commonly used in applications of statistics.

The program requires courses specific to the area of statistics, and the student is required to finish 10 courses and two 1-credit capstone seminars for a total of 42 credits. An exit exam or final thesis is not required.

Degrees Offered

• MA in Statistics

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

The MA is designed to provide students with a solid foundation of practical knowledge to work with statistics in depth, for future careers in the public and private sectors as statistical scientists, consultants and engineers to manage and analyze data. The department emphasizes faculty guidance and support; there are regularly seminars such as the annual Peter Hilton Memorial Lecture, where distinguished mathematicians and scholars are invited to discuss their research.

After You Graduate

Due to retirements, the McKinsey Global Institute projected in a recent study that by 2018 the United States will need 140,000 to 190,000 professional statisticians. The New York State Department of Labor also estimates optimistic employment opportunities for statisticians. Graduates of the program will be trained to pursue careers in a variety of fields that require data-crunching and quantitative analysis such as electrical and computer engineering, bioengineering, pharmaceutics, economics, finance, management and many more.

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for graduate study, you must:

• Provide a complete set of your undergraduate (and, if applicable, graduate) transcripts showing one of the following:
  • You have earned a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • You are within one academic year of earning a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • You are eligible to apply as part of a memorandum of understanding between your current institution and Binghamton University
• Have earned, at minimum, one of the following:
  • A 3.0 GPA over your entire undergraduate career
  • A 3.0 GPA during your last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of your undergraduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "pass/fail")
  • A 3.0 GPA in a graduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "pass/fail")
  • In consideration of the different grading scales used around the world, each academic department evaluates international transcripts to determine on a case-by-case basis whether they demonstrate one of the above requirements.

To apply, you must submit the following materials. For general guidelines for these materials, see the Admission Requirements website.

• Online graduate degree application with graduate degree application fee
• Transcripts from each college or university that you have attended
• Personal statement of 2 to 3 pages describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your career aspirations, your special interests within your field, and any unusual features of your background that might need explanation or be of interest to the graduate admissions committee
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores are accepted, but not required

International students must also submit the following materials. For more information about these materials, see the International Students section of the Admission Requirements website.

• International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) form
• Supporting financial documentation (such as bank statements, scholarship or sponsor letters, etc.)
• Proof of English proficiency (such as official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Academic/Duolingo* scores)
  • *In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate School at Binghamton University has temporarily approved the use of the Duolingo English Test as proof of English proficiency through the 2023 application cycle.

This information is subject to change. While we make every effort to update these program pages, we recommend that you contact the department with questions about program-specific requirements.

Deadlines

Accelerated/4+1 Degrees

You may also be interested in our accelerated/4+1 degree programs which allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years!

For more information, visit the Statistics website.