This is a named option in the Statistics MS. The Department of Statistics recognizes that many students wish to have significant training within statistics, but apply their knowledge paired with a domain field in which they will utilize their statistical knowledge. This option within the MS Statistics provides the opportunity to do this. It is expected that many students will wish to pursue this program as a double, dual, or joint MS degree or also pursue a PhD in their domain field.

The Applied Statistics option is distinct from the other MS statistics options in its interdisciplinary emphasis with domain-specific electives and research/project and its corresponding reduced depth in statistics. Students interested in training with statistical consulting as the primary focus should apply for the MS Statistics: Statistics.

Admissions

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline January 2
Spring Deadline The program does not admit in the spring.
Summer Deadline The program does not admit in the summer.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not required.
English Proficiency Test Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3

Applicants to the MS Statistics: Applied Statistics program may fall into two categories:

  1. Joint, double, or dual degree with another program on campus. For applicants who fall in to this category, they may apply either while they are applying to their domain program or once they are on campus.  It is strongly advised that applicants indicate their domain program in their statement of interest. For applicants already on campus, please contact admissions@stat.wisc.edu for information on how to apply.
  2. Stand-alone program applicants. For applicants who fall into this category, it is strongly advised to include information in your statement regarding your specific domain area, ideas for collaboration within the domain field, and address why you are choosing this option versus the traditional MS Statistics: Statistics.

Applicants to the MS Statistics: Applied Statistics program should have completed the following courses equivalent to the UW-Madison courses:

Undergraduate Calculus
MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 15
MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 24
MATH 234 Calculus--Functions of Several Variables4
Statistics
Complete one sequence below
Option 1
STAT/​F&W ECOL  571
& STAT/​F&W ECOL  572
 Statistical Methods for Bioscience I
and Statistical Methods for Bioscience II
Option 2
STAT 301
 Introduction to Statistical Methods
or STAT 324
 Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering
or STAT 371
 Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
STAT 303
 R for Statistics I
STAT 333
 Applied Regression Analysis
Option 3
POLI SCI 812
& POLI SCI 813
 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Political Science
and Multivariable Statistical Inference for Political Research
Option 4: or another similar introductory statistics sequence

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Information

Students admitted to the MS Statistics: Applied Statistics option will have the opportunity to apply for teaching assistantships within the Department of Statistics. Students applying to the program by the January 2 deadline will be considered for funding at the time of application. Questions about funding opportunities within the Statistics department should be directed to the graduate program coordinator.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Named Option Requirements

Mode of Instruction

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes No No No No

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement 30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements n/a
Assessments and Examinations Candidates must complete a project with an emphasis on the integration of statistics and science. A final oral examination is also required upon completion of the coursework and project.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required Courses

Introductory Mathematical Statistics
Complete using one of the following sequences6
STAT/​MATH  309
& STAT/​MATH  310
 Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics I
and Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II
STAT 311
& STAT 312
 Introduction to Theory and Methods of Mathematical Statistics I
and Introduction to Theory and Methods of Mathematical Statistics II
STAT 609
& STAT 610
 Mathematical Statistics I
and Introduction to Statistical Inference
Or equivalent one-year sequence
Domain Area Electives9
Statistics Graduate Electives 1
STAT courses numbered 600 or above6
STAT courses numbered 500 or above3
Applied Experience
STAT 678 Introduction to Statistical Consulting3
Research or Project (see details below)3
Total Credits30
1

Excluding STAT/​F&W ECOL  571, STAT/​F&W ECOL  572, STAT/​B M I  541, STAT 698, STAT 699, STAT 990 and any courses/sections reserved for MS Statistics: Data Science or Statistics-VISP students. Credits from suitable quantitative courses taught in other departments (e.g., mathematics) may be substituted.

Selecting Program Coursework

All students in the MS Statistics: Applied Statistics (MSAS) option will work directly with their Statistics advisor prior to initial enrollment. Students will also need to work with their Statistics advisor,and their domain committee member/co-advisor to select appropriate coursework during their first year of enrollment. This will be done by completing the MSAS course plan form (found in the program handbook).  Students are strongly encouraged to have all coursework pre-approved and multiple options of courses, in the case of the domain electives, to ensure that they are able to complete appropriate courses approved by their committee.

Domain coursework that covers statistical methodology is limited to a maximum of 3 credits.  Independent study or internship credits cannot be included in domain coursework.  Students will need to have a central theme to their domain coursework that can be selected from multiple, related departments.  Here are some examples of themes and courses:

The course plan will be reviewed by the student services coordinator prior to requesting the MS warrant to ensure that the correct and approve courses have been completed.

Research or Project

Each student must complete a project that represents an original contribution to applied statistics as the goal of this named option is to train statisticians who will work in a collaborative research environment. Examples of such contributions may include the creation and evaluation of a useful experimental design, the development and/or comparison of statistical methods, or a novel analysis of some interesting data related to their domain area.  All students will work directly with their Statistics advisor and domain committee member/co-advisor to identify an appropriate project.

The project results are to be presented in a manuscript with emphasis on the integration of statistics and science that is approved by the student's 3-member committee. This requirement will be formalized by enrolling in at least three credits of "Research'' or "Directed Study" (for example, independent study or research courses numbered 699, 799, or 999 in Statistics or in another department). 

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Named Option-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

No credits from an undergraduate degree are allowed to transfer toward the degree.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

No credits earned while a University Special student are allowed to transfer toward the degree.

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

Students are required to meet with their advisor near the beginning of each semester to discuss course selection and progress.  Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor and Graduate School: Committees (Doctoral/Master’s/MFA) policies.

Credits Per Term Allowed

15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.

Time Limits

If the student is enrolled in a concurrent PhD degree, the student should make application for both the master's and PhD degrees during the semester in which they defend. In other words, the Masters Statistics: Applied Statistics degree should be completed by the semester in which the concurrent PhD degree is completed. It is expected that all enrolled students will complete the program within three years. 

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals

Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.

Academic decisions that may be appealed include: 

  • Dismissal from the graduate program
  • Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
  • Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
  • Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards

Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:

  • A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
  • Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
  • Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
  • Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).

Appeal Process for Graduate Students

A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.

  1. The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
  2. If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
  3. If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
    1. To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
    2. The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case. 
    3. The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
  4. If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).

Other

n/a

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Program Resources

Students in the MS Statistics: Applied Statistics program are encouraged to participate in program-specific professional development events and work directly, one-on-one, with advisors as well. Information about events and resources will be made available to currently enrolled students via email.