Programs of Study The Master of Science program in applied statistics serve students interested in careers as statisticians or operations analysts in industry and government. These degree programs do not require a thesis and are usually completed in two years. Students in the programs are encouraged to participate in the department's consulting service. The Doctor of Philosophy program in statistics prepares students for careers in university teaching and research or in government or industrial research. Students spend three or four semesters acquiring a basic background in probability, mathematical statistics, and applied statistics and take general examinations on these subjects.
More specialized study follows with the thesis research.
This research may be concentrated in any area of statistics or probability in which a faculty member is interested. Students also have the opportunity to gain experience in applied statistics through participation in statistical consulting. Completion of the Ph.D. program normally requires three to five years. The main campus of Purdue University is in West Lafayette, Indiana, a city of about 26,000 residents. The larger Lafayette-West Lafayette area of Tippecanoe County has a population of about 130,000.