Loyola’s Master of Science in Applied Statistics emphasizes applied statistics and predictive modeling which gives students an advantage in evidence-based fields such as biomedical, environmental, marketing, educational, financial, and contract research (CRO) sectors. Our program can also be completed on a part-time basis and while working full-time.

The Applied Statistics (MS) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year.  Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.

Related Programs

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
STAT 401	Introduction to Applied Statistics Using R	1
STAT 403	SAS Program & Applied Statistics	3
STAT 404	Probability & Statistics I	3
STAT 405	Probability & Statistics II	3
STAT 407	Statistical Design	3
STAT 408	Applied Regression Analysis	3
STAT 495	Statistical Consulting Capstone	2
Elective Courses		12
Select four from the following:
STAT 406	Stochastic Processes
STAT 410	Categorical Data Analysis
STAT 411	Applied Survival Analysis
STAT 421	Math Modeling & Simulation
STAT 426	Advanced Statistical Inference
STAT 436	Topics in Biostatistics
STAT 438	Introduction to Predictive Analytics
STAT 444	Longitudinal Data Analysis and Mixed Modeling
STAT 451	Applied Nonparametric Methods
STAT 460	Bayesian Statistical Methods
STAT 464	Multivariate Statistical Methods
STAT 488	Topics in Statistics
STAT 498	Independent Study Statistics
Total Hours		30

Specializations

Our flexible program allows students to focus on their interests by choosing a specialization. Possibilities include:

Specializations

Specialization	Description
Biostatistics	The Biostatistics specialization covers non- and pre-clinical statistical methods, bioassay, statistical genetics, clinical trials, and bioinformatics.
Environmental Statistics	The Environmental Statistics specialization addresses Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial statistics, and environmetrics.
General Applied Statistics	The specialization in General Applied Statistics includes non-medical applications such as actuarial, commercial, data-mining, industrial, marketing, and national defense.
Predictive Analytics/Modeling	The Predictive Modeling specialization focuses on big data analytics and modeling.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection. 

Traditional Master's Program

The below suggestion is for Fall full-time entrants. Adjustments are made for Summer or Spring entrants.  Adjustments are also done on a case-by-case basis for part-time students or if discussed with the Graduate Program Director.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
STAT 401	Introduction to Applied Statistics Using R	1
STAT 403	SAS Program & Applied Statistics	3
STAT 404	Probability & Statistics I	3
STAT 408	Applied Regression Analysis	3
	Hours	10
Spring
STAT 405	Probability & Statistics II	3
Two 400-level STAT Electives		6
	Hours	9
Summer
One 400-level STAT Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
Year 2
Fall
STAT 407	Statistical Design	3
STAT 495	Statistical Consulting Capstone	2
One 400-level STAT Elective 1		3
	Hours	8
	Total Hours	30

¹

If no elective is taken during the Summer term, it is expected that students will take two (2) 400-level STAT courses in Fall term Year 2.

Accelerated Master's Pathway

Students can take up to 13 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP.  These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.

With only very rare exception, AMP students should take the one-credit STAT 401 course in their undergraduate career as a double-count course. Additionally, the following list is suggested and specific courses should be worked out between the individual student at the Graduate Program Director. Essentially any additional (to the above one credit) 12 credits from 400-level STAT classes can be taken as double-count courses.  Suggested courses include STAT 403, STAT 404, STAT 405, STAT 408, and any 400-level STAT electives.  Most of these students should take STAT 408 as a double-count course.

Plan of Study Grid

Senior
Fall		Hours
STAT 401	Introduction to Applied Statistics Using R	1
STAT 403 or STAT 404	SAS Program & Applied Statistics or Probability & Statistics I	3
STAT 408	Applied Regression Analysis	3
	Hours	7
Spring
STAT 400-Level Elective		3
STAT 400-Level Elective		3
	Hours	6
Master's
Summer
STAT 400-Level Elective 1		3
	Hours	3
Fall
STAT 404 or STAT 403	Probability & Statistics I 2 or SAS Program & Applied Statistics	3
STAT 407	Statistical Design	3
STAT 495	Statistical Consulting Capstone	2
	Hours	8
Spring
STAT 405	Probability & Statistics II	3
STAT 400-Level Elective 1		3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	30

¹

If no elective is taken during the Summer term, it is expected that students will take additional elective in Master's year.

²

Students will take whichever course not completed in Senior year.

Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways

In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.

Admission and Matriculation

Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.

Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.

Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.

Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.

Advising and Registration

Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.

Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.

Shared Credits

Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.

In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.

Degree Requirements and Conferral

Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.

The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.

If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.

Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.

Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of our MS program in Applied Statistics, students are expected to have:

• Mastered the art and science of choosing and/or developing the appropriate statistical model(s) for a given dataset-situation, and have mastered the skill of interpreting the chosen model.
• Received sufficient exposure to basic theorems and proofs used in introductory probability and statistical inference.
• Worked with data from application fields such as public/global health, medical, industrial and environmental research.
• Received training to ethically apply statistical training in the real world.
• Obtained hands-on experience and assimilated course material via our 2cr Statistical Consulting capstone/practicum class.
• Sufficiently mastered the course and practicum material to either obtain gainful employment in the field of attend a Ph.D. program