Recommendations/Learning Outcomes for Master's Degree Programs in Statistics: Report of ASA Workgroup

• Activity Number: 260
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): A. John Bailer*+ and Roger W. Hoerl and David Madigan and Jill Montaquila and Tommy Wright
• Companies: Miami University and GE Global Research and Columbia University and Westat and US Bureau of the Census/Center for Statistical Research and Methodology
• Keywords: Graduate degrees ; Statistical foundations ; Programming ; Communication ; Non-routine problems ; Internships

Abstract

A workgroup was formed by Bob Rodriguez, 2012 ASA President, to address the following charge: Develop guidelines, framed as learning outcomes, for master's degree programs in statistics and biostatistics that are responsive to the needs of stakeholders who employ such graduates. A summary of a survey of recent Master's graduates and a separate survey of employers of Master's graduates will be presented. The following topics will be addressed: background and description of the study process; recent Graduates responses; employer responses; and learning outcomes suggested by this process. These outcomes included: 1) a solid foundation in statistical theory and methods; 2) Programming skills; 3) Communication skills; 4: Collaboration, teamwork, and leadership development should be part of graduate education; 5) encounter non-routine, real problems throughout their graduate education. 6) internships, co-ops or other significant immersive work experiences; and 7) periodically survey recent graduates and employers to evaluate the success of programs.