Stats M.A. phd

[bruinbear]

Hey guys, I am new to the forum!!

And I was wondering how many of you guys actually did a master degree first before moving into phd.

Or you guys just went to phd straight forward from undergraduate!

And what are the advantages/ disadvantages?

Thanks!

[BoundByAxioms]

It depends on the school, I'd say. Some schools (University of Kentucky, Colorado State, Oregon State to name a few) explicitly state on their application websites that if you don't already have an M.S. in stats, that you should NOT apply directly into their PhD program, even if you're ultimately interested in a PhD. Upon successful completion of the master's degree, they may invite you to do PhD studies. Other schools, however, will tell you to apply directly to the PhD if your ultimate goal is a PhD. I've often read that an M.S. in stats is the industry standard for those wanting to be industry statisticians. Obviously, if you want to work in academia then a PhD is the way to go. There are plenty of non-academic statistician jobs that require (or at least prefer) a PhD, too.

[bruinbear]

Thank you so much for the input, BoundByAxioms.

It depends on the school, I'd say. Some schools (University of Kentucky, Colorado State, Oregon State to name a few) explicitly state on their application websites that if you don't already have an M.S. in stats, that you should NOT apply directly into their PhD program, even if you're ultimately interested in a PhD. Upon successful completion of the master's degree, they may invite you to do PhD studies. Other schools, however, will tell you to apply directly to the PhD if your ultimate goal is a PhD. I've often read that an M.S. in stats is the industry standard for those wanting to be industry statisticians. Obviously, if you want to work in academia then a PhD is the way to go. There are plenty of non-academic statistician jobs that require (or at least prefer) a PhD, too.

[hedgie]

It depends on the school, I'd say. Some schools (University of Kentucky, Colorado State, Oregon State to name a few) explicitly state on their application websites that if you don't already have an M.S. in stats, that you should NOT apply directly into their PhD program, even if you're ultimately interested in a PhD. Upon successful completion of the master's degree, they may invite you to do PhD studies. Other schools, however, will tell you to apply directly to the PhD if your ultimate goal is a PhD. I've often read that an M.S. in stats is the industry standard for those wanting to be industry statisticians. Obviously, if you want to work in academia then a PhD is the way to go. There are plenty of non-academic statistician jobs that require (or at least prefer) a PhD, too.

I have heard from multiple posts/people that the PhD is basically required to do much above coding or editing/copying & pasting SAS code.....is that fairly true from what you understand BoundByAxioms?

Thanks in advance.

[BoundByAxioms]

I have heard from multiple posts/people that the PhD is basically required to do much above coding or editing/copying & pasting SAS code.....is that fairly true from what you understand BoundByAxioms?

Thanks in advance.

I don't know for all cases. However, for instance, my statistics professor said that her dissertation largely consisted of writing and modifying an R script. I'd think it would depend on what kind of program you were in. A more theory based program would have you proving theorems and what not while a more applied program might have you writing scripts. I don't know this for sure, it's speculation on my part.

[rhskier029]

Where did you see that Colorado State wants you to have a masters first? Their website says, "A course of study leading to the PhD degree can be designed either for the student who has completed the MS degree or for the student who has completed the bachelor's degree." If what you're saying is true I need to change my application but I've read through their department information many times and I didn't see this requirement!

[BoundByAxioms]

Where did you see that Colorado State wants you to have a masters first? Their website says, "A course of study leading to the PhD degree can be designed either for the student who has completed the MS degree or for the student who has completed the bachelor's degree." If what you're saying is true I need to change my application but I've read through their department information many times and I didn't see this requirement!

Sorry, I was mistaken. You are correct. When I was looking for graduate schools to apply to, I was looking for programs that funded their master's students, and I know that CSU does this (I have called and emailed them about this). I automatically bunched them with Kentucky and Oregon State, who I KNOW require a master's before the PhD. In any case, I applied for the master's but stated that my overall goal was a PhD in my personal statement.