Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and departmental approval. 

Tracks

Mathematical Statistics and Applied Statistics 

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours 
• 6 credit hours of college writing 
• 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination 

General Education Requirements

• A total of ten courses, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course in an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas 
• No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in the same discipline 

Major Requirements

• Mathematical Statistics:  47 credit hours with grades of C or better 
• Applied Statistics:  54–55 credit hours with grades of C or better 

Course Requirements

Mathematical Statistics

• CSC-280 Introduction to Computer Science I (4) 
• MATH-221 Calculus I (4) 
• MATH-222 Calculus II (4) 
• MATH-313 Calculus III (4) 
• MATH-310 Linear Algebra (3) 
• MATH-501 Probability (3) 
• STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4) 
• STAT-502 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (3) 
• STAT-515 Regression (3) 
• STAT-516 Design of Experiments (3) 
• Four additional courses at or above 300 in the department, of which two must have the prefix STAT- (STAT-514 cannot be used and STAT-300 and STAT-302 cannot both be used) as approved by an advisor. CSC-281 may substitute for a course with a prefix of MATH-. 

Applied Statistics

• CSC-280 Introduction to Computer Science I (4) 
• MATH-211 Applied Calculus I (4) and 

MATH-212 Applied Calculus II (3) 

or 

MATH-221 Calculus I (4) and  

MATH-222 Calculus II (4) 

• MATH-310 Linear Algebra (3) 
• MATH-501 Probability (3) 
• STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4) 
• STAT-300 Business and Economic Statistics (3) 

or 

STAT-302 Intermediate Statistics (3) 

• STAT-502 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (3) 
• STAT-515 Regression (3) 
• STAT-516 Design of Experiments (3) 
• Two additional courses selected from the department as approved by a student’s advisor 
• At least five additional courses in a related field, as approved by an advisor. The courses may be selected from more than one teaching unit, but must have a common theme or subject area in which statistics are applied. 

University Honors Program

All University Honors students must complete at least 12 credit hours of advanced-level (300-level and above) Honors courses including a 3 to 6 credit hour Honors Senior Capstone Project. Students may graduate with University Honors in the major if they complete at least 12 advanced-level Honors courses including the Senior Capstone Project in the department. Each department has three levels of University Honors requirements: Level I Options (100-200-level Honors classes); Level II Options (300-level and above Honors classes); and Level III Options (Honors Senior Capstone). The department Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. For more information, go to www.american.edu/academic.depts/honors/ . 

Combined B.S. in Mathematics or Statistics and M.S. in Statistics

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master’s degree requirements. Bachelor’s/master’s students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor’s degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs. 

Students receive both a B.S. in Mathematics or Statistics and an M.S. in Statistics. 

Requirements

• Interested students should apply by the end of their junior year. Applicants should have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 in major courses and complete MATH-501 Probability and STAT-502 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics by the end of the junior year. 
• All requirements for the B.S. in Mathematics or Statistics (mathematical statistics track) 

Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work to satisfy the requirements of both degrees. 

• All requirements for the M.S. in Mathematics, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded.Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.