Why Statistics?
Statistics is concerned with the interrelationships between observation and theory and deals with the formulation and application of the scientific method. Important components of statistical studies include probability, mathematical statistics, model building, statistical computing, quality, and process control, time series analysis, regression theory, nonparametric function estimation, experimental design, Bayesian analysis, stochastic processes, sampling theory, and simulation.
Why a Professional Master’s Degree in Statistics?
Statisticians make critical contributions in business, medicine, economics, defense and engineering. The demand for statisticians at all education levels is one of the highest for any professional group.
Rice's Professional Master in Statistics (MStat) program prepares students for careers as professional statisticians. It includes a solid foundation in statistical computing, statistical modeling, experimental design, and mathematical statistics, plus electives in statistical methods and/or theory. Students have the opportunity to concentrate on theory or applications, or a combination of the two. It is a bridge to industry, designed to provide advanced learning and training in the applied aspects of statistics theory, methodology, and techniques, beyond the typical undergraduate program.
The program is oriented towards strong students with degrees in the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences who wish to develop strong analytic skills in preparation for a career in business, industry, non-profit, or government statistical work, and other quantitative fields.
Why Rice?
At Rice University you will be exposed to faculty who are world-class leaders in their fields, with research areas comprising nonparametric function estimation, stochastic processes including branching processes, biomathematics, time series, and spatial-temporal processes, survival analysis, computational statistics, simulation, and Bayesian methods. Current key application areas include model building, bioinformatics, and statistical genetics, biostatistics, bio-imaging, graphical analysis of high-dimensional data, computational finance, risk management, environmental statistics, massive data sets, multivariate methods, quality control, spatial and spatial-temporal processes, and homeland defense.
The Department of Statistics at Rice is a community of ten core faculty, nine joint faculty, and twenty-two adjunct faculty. The Department has a strong and diverse student population of doctoral, professional master's, and undergraduate students. Enrollments and degrees awarded in the School of Engineering are available here. The Department of Statistics regularly hosts visitors from all over the world and maintains an active post-doctoral program through NSF and NIH sponsorship. The department is one of nine in the George R. Brown School of Engineering and is located in Maxfield Hall.