Graduate Degrees discusses the university’s basic requirements for the MS degree. The following are specific departmental requirements.

The MS in Statistics and the MS in Statistics, Data Science track are intended as terminal degree programs and do not lead to the PhD program in Statistics. Students interested in pursuing doctoral study in Statistics should apply directly to the PhD program.

Admission

Prospective applicants should consult the Graduate Admissions and the Statistics Department admissions webpages for complete information on admission requirements and deadlines.

Recommended preparatory courses include advanced undergraduate-level courses in linear algebra and statistics/probability and proficiency in programming.

Stanford students interested in the Data Science track (subplan) in Statistics must apply as external candidates. Visit Graduate Admissions to start an application.

Coterminal Master’s Program

Stanford undergraduates who want to apply for the coterminal master’s degree in Statistics must submit a complete application to the department by the deadline published on the department’s coterminal admissions webpage.

Applications are accepted twice a year in autumn and winter quarters for winter and spring quarter start, respectively. The general GRE is not required of coterminal applicants.

Students pursuing the Statistics coterminal master’s degree must follow the same curriculum requirements stated in the Requirements for the Master of Science in Statistics section.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this Bulletin. Coterminal Master’s Program discusses university requirements for the coterminal master’s degree. Graduate Degrees discusses university requirements for the MS degree.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request a transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. Transferring courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The university requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The university also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.