WEST LAFAYETTE – Predictive analytics has become a crucial organizational resource. Organizations – from corporations to government agencies – are swimming in massive amounts of data that must be collected, sorted, and analyzed to be useful.
Because data is so important to modern organizational decision-making, the demand for skilled professional statisticians has skyrocketed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in statistics are expected to grow by 35% through 2029 – much faster than the average for other fields.
To meet the growing demand for statistical analysts, The Department of Statistics at Purdue University is offering a new online Master of Science in Applied Statistics. The 33-credit-hour program can be completed in 24 to 30 months. All courses are offered fully online, so students can enroll from anywhere in the world and complete courses at a flexible pace.
“Our online MS in applied statistics has been created with the working professional in mind,” said Timothy Keaton, professor of practice in Purdue University’s Department of Statistics. “If you don’t want to put your career on hold to learn the data analysis skills you need in today’s market, then our program gives you that flexibility. Classes are asynchronous but follow a typical semester calendar to still provide structure.”
The new program will teach students marketable skills in probability, statistical theory, statistical methods, experimental design, and data management. All courses are taught by faculty in Purdue’s Department of Statistics, one of the largest and most computationally modernized statistics departments in the United States. Students in the online program take the same courses and earn the same degree as students completing the on-campus applied statistics graduate program.
“Our classes cover the essential areas of applied statistics, including model building, computational methods, quality control, time series, and consulting,” Keaton said. “Across these classes, students will learn and use multiple statistical programming languages.”
The program’s curriculum focuses on giving students the tools and context they need to apply advanced statistical skills in their job roles. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work in a wide range of industries as statisticians, data scientists, business analysts, market research analysts, and in other roles that require expertise in statistics.
“One of the primary strengths of this program, and of our department as a whole, is our long-standing Statistical Consulting Service,” Keaton said. “This service provides students the opportunity to work on real-world problems alongside our experienced faculty to design, analyze and, importantly, communicate results on studies across a variety of fields.”
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and at least one semester of calculus on their undergraduate transcript. It is recommended that applicants also complete an undergraduate course in statistics before enrolling in the program.
“We are excited to offer this program to a greater number of students outside of just West Lafayette,” Keaton said. “The opportunity to work with new students with a variety of backgrounds and work experiences will add strength to our department while also equipping those students for greater work ahead.”
For more information on the online Master of Science in Applied Statistics, including how to apply and application deadlines, visit the program’s webpage.
Information: Rachel Barton, barton53@purdue.edu
Source: Timothy Keaton, keatont@purdue.edu
