Master of Science in Math and Statistics

The primary mission of the MS degree program in Mathematics and Statistics is to prepare students for professional careers in disciplines which make use of the mathematical and statistical sciences. The curriculum is intended for individuals who have strong backgrounds, but not necessarily baccalaureate degrees, in mathematics. It is the only such program in the greater DC area, and it culminates in an MS degree in Mathematics and Statistics. The program derives its philosophy from government and industry organizations in the DC area and has placed graduates into government agencies, defense and financial firms and nonprofits. There is a steady demand for highly trained professionals in data analytics, applied mathematical and statistical modeling and cloud computing, and our students have proven to be exceptionally competitive in the job market. A thriving internship program in mathematical and statistical consulting helps to train and place students and graduates into exciting jobs and satisfying careers. The degree requires 10 graduate courses and is built around a core of four applied mathematics and statistics courses consisting of probability, applied mathematics, mathematical statistics and numerical mathematics. The curriculum is filled out with math/stat electives, and every student is also encouraged to take a non-math/stat elective as well. Math/Stat electives include computational science (Matlab, SAS, R), regression analysis, stochastic processes, financial mathematics, time series, data mining, Bayesian statistics, linear programming, machine learning, data analytics, mathematics of climate, sparse sampling and representation, social network analysis and survey sampling. Some examples of non-math/stat electives are Biostatistics, Computer Science, econometrics, public policy surveys and computational neuroscience. From this rich and diverse curriculum our students emerge with key practical skills in areas of national priority. In addition to the career-enabling aspects of the degree, our students also develop a love and appreciation for the beauty and excitement of the world of applied mathematics and statistics.