Admission Requirements

Students may apply for the accelerated BS/MS program from the second semester of the sophomore year through the second semester of the junior year (when they have accumulated 75 credit hours toward the BS degree). Students may apply with higher credit-hour accumulation or during the first semester of their senior year with special permission from the Department Head or the Director of Graduate Studies of the Statistics department.

• Students must have completed MATH 220 , MATH 221 , MATH 222 , STAT 225 , STAT 240  or STAT 250  (or higher), STAT 341  or STAT 351 , STAT 610 , and one additional STAT course at the 500-level or higher, either at K-State or by transfer credit. Students may use STAT 510  instead of STAT 610  with special permission from the Director of Graduate Studies of the Statistics department.
• Minimum standards to apply to the accelerated program are a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a GPA of 3.25 in the STAT/MATH Core (above) courses, with a recommended GPA of 3.5 or higher in STAT/MATH for successful admission. Retention in the program requires maintenance of a 3.00 GPA in both undergraduate and graduate coursework.

Application Process

The application process will be the same as for the traditional MS degree except completion of the BS degree is not required. The following steps are required:

• Fill out the online KSU graduate application. Required supporting documents should be uploaded to the online application as requested in the application.
• All supplemental documents required by the Statistics Department (e.g., statement of objectives, scanned copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation) will be re- quested as the on-line application is completed.
• A copy of an applicant’s statement of objectives is to be uploaded. A written personal statement of academic objectives, giving specific reasons for the selection of the discipline of Statistics for study, contemplated research areas and professional plans. In addition, the statement can also mention one or more KSU faculty with whom the applicant has an interest in working.
• An electronic copy (PDF preferred) of applicant’s transcript(s) from each college or university where applicant completed any undergraduate coursework and completed any post-baccalaureate course work or degrees is to be uploaded.
• Provide three references. Recommenders will upload their letters of recommendation directly to the applicant’s application.

Program Format and Guidelines

A maximum of 9 credit hours will count toward both the BS and MS degrees. The 9 credit hours counted toward both degrees will typically be courses among the following: STAT 713 , STAT 720 , STAT 722 , STAT 770 , or STAT 771 , but may be any Statistics course numbered 700-999 that qualifies for the MS program in Statistics. These courses may be used either to fulfill the specific Statistics BS requirements or additional 700-level STAT courses or upper division electives.

Upon acceptance into the accelerated degree program, the student will be assigned a provisional graduate advisor from the Graduate Faculty in Statistics. The student will work closely with the provisional advisor to choose appropriate coursework and a major professor by the end of the first full semester following the student’s acceptance into the accelerated degree program, or the second semester of the student’s junior year, whichever is later. The undergraduate advisor will advise the student in the academic progress toward the BS degree, and the provisional advisor and major professor will supervise the student’s academic progress and preparation for the MS degree capstone (examination or report). A typical MS program of study for students in the accelerated program would be identical to that for students in the traditional MS program:

• Examination Option: The student must take 36 hours of course work and pass a comprehensive exam approved by the supervisory committee.
• Report Option: The student must take 30 credit hours of course work and write a report for 2 additional credit hours (STAT 898 ).