Program Structure and Enrollment Status

The MA program may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Students in F-1 status must enroll full-time and complete the program within a maximum of three semesters.

For detailed information on the Residence Unit, please visit the GSAS website.

Full-Time Enrollment

Typical Full-Time Schedule:

  • Fall (Year One): 1 Residence Unit (RU) — required

  • Spring (Year One): 1 Residence Unit (RU) — required

  • Summer: Optional coursework

  • Fall (Year Two): Extended Residence (ER), if needed

Students who complete all degree requirements within two semesters are expected to graduate at that time.

Part-Time Enrollment

Part-time students must:

  • Enroll in at least one course per semester

  • Complete a minimum of two Residence Units (RUs)

  • Finish the program within four years of their first semester of registration

Students on an F-1 visa are not eligible to enroll part-time.

MA Program Requirements

The MA in Statistics program requires:

  • Two Residence Units (RUs) (Residence Units)

  • A minimum of 30 credits, typically 10 courses (most courses are 3 credits)

Detailed information on degree requirements for each MA Track can be found here.

Required Coursework Students must complete the following requirements:

  • Three core courses

  • One capstone course

  • Six elective courses (18 credits total), of which at least three must be offered by the Statistics Department

  • Professional Development Course (0 credits)

Students must receive a letter grade in all courses needed to count toward graduation. Courses taken with Pass/Fail or R credit will not count toward graduation, with the exception of STAT GR5391: Professional Development, which is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Mentored Research and Fieldwork

Mentored Research (STAT GR5398) and Statistical Fieldwork (STAT GR5399) may be applied toward the 30-credit requirement under the following conditions:

  • Each course must be taken for a letter grade

  • The two courses may be combined for a maximum of 3 credits

  • The same course cannot be taken twice in the same semester

Faculty Advising and Academic Standing

Students are responsible for consulting their assigned Faculty Adviser to approve courses to count toward graduation. It is recommended that students check the Approved Electives page to ensure that the course(s) will count toward graduation before registration.

Students experiencing academic difficulty should contact their Faculty Adviser and/or the Academic and Student Affairs team immediately (see Good Academic Standing).