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Guide to Master's Degree

How to Get a Master's Degree in Wildlife and Forestry

What do Michael Jordan, JP Morgan, Lewis Carroll, John Maynard Keynes, and Leon Trotsky have in common?

They all started out as math majors. Of course, their careers developed in widely different directions, and your career will follow its own unique path. The point is, you can't pigeonhole where a person with an interest in mathematics and statistics might end up.

Instead, it is more accurate to talk about the breadth of possibilities which exist for someone with an advanced knowledge of mathematics and statistics. This guide will look at some of the fields that might be open to you if you earn a master's in mathematics & statistics, how you would go about pursuing that degree, and how to develop a career in the field.

These are big decisions, but as with any calculation, the process can flow logically and smoothly if you break it down into its component parts. This guide will take you through the following sequence of steps:



1. Assessing the need for a master's in mathematics and statistics. This guide will provide you with information on the knowledge base you could develop with that degree, and career fields in which you could use that knowledge. That information should give you a better feel for whether you could benefit from earning a master's in mathematics and statistics.

2. Identifying graduate mathematics and statistics programs. Your options are many and varied: you could attend school full-time or part-time, and go to a traditional campus or earn a master's degree online. This guide will introduce you to resources that will help you consider all the possibilities.

3. Deciding where to pursue your master's in mathematics and statistics. Having choices is all well and good, but ultimately you must make a decision. This guide will help by describing a series of selection criteria you can apply to the different master's programs available, to determine which ones suit you best.

4. Applying to graduate schools in mathematics and statistics. Once you've decided on schools you might like to attend, the next step is getting accepted to those schools. By knowing what to expect, you can plan the application process to maximize your chance of success. This guide will let you know what the major components of the application process are likely to be.

5. Pursuing a career with an MS in Mathematics and Statistics. Besides earning your master's in mathematics and statistics (which will probably be a Master of Science, or MS degree) there are other things you can do to advance your career. This guide will conclude with some suggestions along those lines.

Just as you've often found with solving math problems, these individual steps are important, but so is the sequence of these steps. So, this guide will start at the beginning, by helping you assess the need for a master's in mathematics and statistics.

Assessing the Need for a Master's in Mathematics & Statistics

To help you decide whether earning an MS in Mathematics & Statistics would be a good move for you, this guide will describe the nature of this field of study, the benefits of earning a master's in this field, and some of the career possibilities that may be available in mathematics and statistics.

The Nature of Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematical operations focus on finding quantitative solutions to a variety of problems. The complexity of those operations can make higher math a fascinating field it its own right, but adding statistics to the mix adds a whole new dimension. The study of statistics brings an element of analysis to mathematics. Statistical analysis seeks insights about trends and characteristics involving people, the physical world, and economics. Often, then, what statistical analysis can add to the field of mathematics is the dimension of helping to define the problems to be solved, or attempting to analyze the mathematical solutions to those problems.


The Benefits of an MS in Mathematics and Statistics

If the realm of mathematics and statistics appeals to you, how can an MS help you pursue a career in this field? There are a few answers to that:

Career Possibilities

In a fast-changing economy, one of the most important attributes of any skill set is flexibility. With an MS in Mathematics and Statistics, you would have the ability to pursue a career in a wide variety of professions. Here are some examples of fields which employ statisticians:

If this is enough to interest you in earning an MS in Mathematics & Statistics, the next step is to find information on suitable graduate programs.

Identifying Graduate Mathematics and Statistics Programs

One of the great advancements in education over the years has been the improvement in access to college programs. Accelerated programs offer you a chance to earn a degree more quickly. Part-time programs allow you to advance your education while continuing to work. The ability to earn a master's degree online can give you access to master's programs from around the country without having to leave your home.

The key to obtaining this access to education is information. The following are some information sources that will help you identify options for continuing your education:

Once you've identified some suitable master's programs and assembled the relevant information about them, you can start deciding on where to apply.

Deciding Where to Pursue Your Master's in Mathematics & Statistics

There are many factors in deciding on a master's program: some are objective and quantitative, while others are more subjective and qualitative. To help you consider all the relevant issues, here is a list of selection criteria you can apply to your potential choices:

Once you've examined graduate mathematics and statistics programs in light of all the above considerations, you should find that many schools are eliminated, while some favorites start to emerge.

Applying to Graduate Schools in Mathematics & Statistics

It may not be practical to expect the above decision process to narrow down your choices to one single school, and as mentioned previously, it may be a good idea to have a fallback school or two in mind. At the very least though, you should narrow your search to about two or three schools, so you can focus on the application processes for those schools.

What should you expect from the application process? Every school may be a little different, but in general, the major elements will involve the following:

As soon as you've arrived at your short list, research the application requirements and deadlines for each school. Then, make a project calendar which accounts for each task, and allows as much lead time as possible for each item. Remember, some of these steps involve things that are beyond your direct control, and when juggling multiple priorities effective time management is always crucial.

Pursuing a Career with an MS in Mathematics & Statistics

Along with earning your MS in Mathematics & Statistics, here are some other career-enhancing moves you can make:



Each of these steps will add to the message that your MS in Mathematics and Statistics will communicate to potential employers and peers--that you are serious about a career in statistical analysis.

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Pursue your Mathematics & Statistics degree today.

Virginia College

Earn your associate's, bachelor's or master's degree from Virginia College. Our extensive programs are offered 100% online, so you can launch the career of your choice from the comfort of your own home.

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Strayer University

Get the right foundation for your future with a degree from Strayer University. Evening, weekend and online classes are all available to meet the needs of busy adults.

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