UCLA Department of Statistics and Data ScienceCore courses, electives, internship, and individual study options

Available courses

Build depth across statistical foundations, computing, modeling, and communication.

MASDS students complete required core courses and choose electives that support their technical interests and professional goals.

Required core

Required core courses
CourseTitleArea
Statistics 400Introduction to Probability ModelsProbability
Statistics 401Survey of Methods in Modern StatisticsMethods
Statistics 402Applied RegressionModeling
Statistics 403Mathematical StatisticsTheory
Statistics 404Statistical Computing and ProgrammingComputing
Statistics 405Data ManagementData
Statistics 421Advanced Statistical CommunicationCommunication

Elective options

MASDS students complete at least four 4-unit elective courses. Electives must follow MASDS rules and may include approved 400-level statistics courses, certain 200-level courses, internship credit, or individual study.

Elective course options
CourseTitle
Statistics 411Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Statistics 412Advanced Regression and Predictive Modeling
Statistics 413Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Statistics 414From Predictive Artificial Intelligence to Generative Artificial Intelligence
Statistics 415Introduction to Forecasting
Statistics 416Spatial-Temporal Point Processes and Geostatistical Applications
Statistics 417Models in Finance
Statistics 418Tools in Data Science
Statistics 419Experimental Design
Statistics 420Causal Inference
Statistics 422Data Visualization
Statistics 423Longitudinal Data Analysis
Statistics 424Teamwork & Leadership in Data Science
Statistics 425Large Language Models in Text Mining
Statistics 426Deep Learning
Statistics 427Applied Bayesian Statistics
Statistics 428Applied SQL for Data Science

Elective rules

400-level statistics electivesElective courses can emphasize statistical modeling, programming, applied analytics, and advanced methods.
Approved 200-level coursesMASDS students may request selected 200-level courses numbered between 203 and 283, subject to restrictions and space.
Course waiversUp to three core courses may be waived if equivalent graduate-level coursework has already been completed. Waived core courses are replaced with electives.
Enrollment notesStudents outside MASDS may not take MASDS 400-level courses. Some 200-level requests may be limited by course capacity.

Example course timelines

Schedule disclaimer: These examples illustrate possible pacing only. Course offerings and the quarters in which courses are offered vary from year to year. Students should confirm the current schedule with the MASDS program before planning enrollment.

Thesis work is completed with faculty guidance and does not add course units in the sample schedules below.

Two courses per quarter Complete the MASDS program in two years by taking two courses most quarters.
Sample schedule with two courses in most quarters
TermSample courses
Fall Year 1Stats 400, Stats 401
Winter Year 1Stats 402, Stats 403
Spring Year 1Stats 404, Stats 405
Fall Year 2Stats 421, Elective 1, thesis work
Winter Year 2Elective 2, Elective 3, thesis work
Spring Year 2Elective 4, thesis work
One course most quarters The maximum time to complete the program is 10 regular quarters. Students can meet this timeline by taking one course most quarters and two courses in at least one quarter. Additional time may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Sample schedule with one course per quarter
TermSample courses
Fall Year 1Stats 401
Winter Year 1Stats 402
Spring Year 1Stats 404
Fall Year 2Stats 400, Stats 421
Winter Year 2Stats 403
Spring Year 2Stats 405
Fall Year 3Elective 1
Winter Year 3Elective 2, thesis work
Spring Year 3Elective 3, thesis work
Fall Year 4Elective 4, thesis work

Selected 200-level replacements

Some 200-level courses replace similar 400-level courses. These courses are usually taken by PhD students and are generally taught during the day. Students may not take both the 200-level course and its corresponding 400-level equivalent.

Selected 200-level course replacements
200-level courseSimilar 400-level course
211 Topics in Econ and Machine LearningSimilar to 425
M231A Pattern Recognition and Machine LearningSimilar to 413
240 Multivariate AnalysisSimilar to 411
256 CausalitySimilar to 420
C161/C261 Introduction to Pattern Recognition and Machine LearningSimilar to 414