A student in the Masters Program should demonstrate mastery in the following areas:

 

1. Communication Skills
a) Public speaking and presentation skills
b) Report-writing skills
c) The ability to use graphical methods to display and interpret information
d) The ability to work and communicate with researchers in other disciplines

 

2. Computer Skills
a) The ability to use spreadsheets, word processors, and graphics packages
b) Statistical computing skills / ability to use at least one statistical software package

 

3. Fundamental Statistical Knowledge
a) An understanding of fundamental ideas of statistical theory
b) An understanding of fundamental ideas of linear model theory
c) An understanding of fundamental ideas of study design

 

4. Applications of Statistics
a) An understanding of practical application of statistics to real problems
b) An understanding of the research process / scientific method

 

5. Extension of Basic Statistics to Complex Problems
a) The ability to link theory and applications
b) The ability to draw parallels between different kinds of statistical methods
c) The ability to investigate and implement new statistical methods

 

Summary of Activities for Assessment of the Masters Degree

 
The following assessment activities have been completed (as of Spring 2009):

· Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and the alignment matrix have been posted on the Department of Statistics website.
· Assessment forms have been created for Statistics 713, 710, 720, 722, 770, 771, and 860.
· Assessment rubrics have been created for Statistics 945 (Consulting Seminar) and the Masters Defense.

 
Current assessment activities (as of Spring 2009):

· Data is being collected from faculty instructors in Statistics 713, 710, 720, 722, 770, 771, and 860.
· Data is being collected upon a student’s completion of a consulting project for Statistics 945.
· Data is being collected from faculty observers of Masters Defenses.

Updated: 6-15-09