OATdb Archive

2012 - 2013

Statistics MS

Goal
Deliver A Curriculum With Appropriate Discipline Specific Skill Sets
The curriculum will provide students with opportunities to develop the skills typically required of professionals in the area of study.

Objective
Foundation Areas In Probability And Statistics
Students will have a working knowledge of the foundational topics including regression analysis, design of experiments, multivariate analysis, and mathematical statistics (Bayesian analysis, biostatistics, quality control, nonparametric statistics, sampling theory, and statistical computing).

Indicator
Comprehensive Oral Examination
A comprehensive oral examination, given by a committee of three faculty members, will be administered to candidates for the degree of M.S. in Statistics which will examine the candidate's knowledge of the primary areas of concentration within the program, as well as the candidates own communication abilities. The committee will then judge the candidates' knowledge of the material according to a previously agreed upon rubric with three levels of comparison: High Pass, Pass, and Fail.

Criterion
Mulitvariate Analysis
All candidates will receive a mark of either "High Pass" or "Pass" for the Multivariate Analysis component of the comprehensive oral exam.  The rubric used is the same one shown in the "Mathematical Statistics" criterion.

Finding
Mulitvariate Analysis
Six students took the comprehensive exam.  Three high passes, two-passes and one of students had to take it for the second time and passed it at the second time.

The student who took it twice is an international student and the statistics faculty understood that it is mainly due to issues with her English speaking ability.


Criterion
Regression Analysis
All candidates will receive a mark of either "High Pass" or "Pass" for the Regression Analysis component of the comprehensive oral exam.  The rubric used is the same one shown in the "Mathematical Statistics" criterion.

Finding
Regression Analysis
Six students took the comprehensive exam.  All six students passed the test. Four high pass, two-pass.


Criterion
Mathematical Statistics
All candidates will receive a mark of either "High Pass" or "Pass" for the Mathematical Statistics component of the comprehensive oral exam.

Finding
Mathematical Statistics
Six students took the comprehensive exam.  Three high passes, two-passes and one of students had to take it for the second time and passed it at the second time.

The student who took it twice is an international student and the statistics faculty understood that it is mainly due to issues with her English speaking ability.


Criterion
Design Of Experiments
All candidates will receive a mark of either "High Pass" or "Pass" for the Design of Experiments component of the comprehensive oral exam.  The rubric used is the same one shown in the "Mathematical Statistics" criterion.

Finding
Design Of Experiments
Six students took the comprehensive exam.  Three high passes, two-passes and one of students had to take it for the second time and passed it at the second time.

The student who took it twice is an international student and the statistics faculty understood that it is mainly due to issues with her English speaking ability.


Action
Comprehensive Oral Examination
Statistics faculty decided to observe students closely and help with the non-English speaking students throughout the program. Statistics faculty also decided to offer two more core courses (Regression and Design of Experiments) every year instead of every other year. This will allow students to get the basics of the subject in their first year of the program.


Goal
Deliver A Curriculum That Emphasizes Communication Skills
The curriculum will provide students with opportunities to develop the appropriate speaking and writing skills to function as a professional in the area.

Objective
Communicating Mathematical Ideas - Oral
Students will be able to prepare and deliver oral presentations of mathematical material based on a statistics practicum. Students will  devlop the ability to critique problems, and provide their own solutions based on statistical analysis.

Indicator
Statistics Practicum
A statistics practicum, under the guidance of one of the faculty members, and assessed by a committee of four faculty members, will be administered to candidates for the degree of M.S. in Statistics which will examine the candidate's knowledge of the primary areas of concentration within the program, as well as the candidates own communicative abilities. The committee will then judge the candidates' ability to effectively communicate mathematical ideas according to a previously agreed upon rubric with three levels of comparison: High Pass, Pass, and Fail.

Criterion
Practicum Assessment
All candidates will receive a letter grade by the members of the examining committee during the practicum assessment according to the attached rubric.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

 All the students who planned to graduate successfully finished last year. There was one student who had to take the comprehensive exam twice. The student who took it twice is an international student and the statistics faculty understood that it is mainly due to issues with her English speaking ability. Implementing statistics minor is little slower. This is mainly due to shortage of faculty. Statistics faculty asked for two more faculty members.


Plan for continuous improvement The statistics faculty still believe this applies this year. They are constantly examining their program to make sure it reflects current trends and needs in their area. Statistics faculty decided to observe closely and help with the non-English speaking students throughout the program. Statistics faculty also decided to offer two more core courses (Regression and Design of Experiments) every year instead of every other year. This will allow students to get the basics of the subject in their first year of the program. Improving physical facilities such as lab spaces and office spaces for graduate students is also a key area that should be addressed.