UCLA Department of Statistics and Data Science44 units, core courses, electives, and thesis

Program details

Graduate training in statistics, data science, and applied problem solving.

MASDS students complete at least 44 course units—seven required core courses and at least four electives—plus a written thesis based on original analysis.

The MASDS Curriculum

44 unitsMinimum course credit required for the MASDS degree.
7 core coursesRequired graduate courses in statistical theory, methods, computing, data management, and communication.
4 electivesAt least four 4-unit electives chosen to support technical interests and professional goals.
Original ThesisComplete original analysis under the supervision of a UCLA faculty member.
Browse courses

Flexible pacing for working professionals

Typical pacing is two yearsStudents who take two 4-unit courses per quarter will typically finish the program in spring of their second year. Students may take up to three courses in a single quarter to finish faster, but this heavy course load is not recommended for students who work full time.
Adjust when life gets busyStudents can choose to enroll in only one course per quarter during busier seasons and continue moving through the program at a manageable pace.
Finish within program limitsStudents may take up to 10 regular quarters to complete the program without additional approval. Summer quarters do not count toward the 10-quarter limit, so this is about three years and one quarter. Students who need more time may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Students may also request a leave of absence from the UCLA Graduate Division when they need to step away from their studies.

Course waivers

Up to three core coursesStudents may request waivers for up to three core courses if they have already completed equivalent graduate-level coursework.
Reviewed by the programThe Director, with consultation from the MASDS governance committee, reviews transcripts, syllabi, and other relevant materials.
44 units still requiredFor every core course waived, the student must complete additional elective coursework to satisfy the 44-unit degree requirement.

Thesis requirement

Every student completes original analysis on a real-world problem.

The MASDS thesis reports on research and analysis completed under the supervision of a UCLA faculty member and an industry partner when available. Thesis topics often originate from industry partners who propose problems and provide data sets.

The faculty advisor ensures the statistical integrity of the analysis, while the industry partner may provide domain context and feedback on the solution.

Students may work with proprietary data, but industry partners must agree that the thesis can be published and distributed.

Explore theses published by MASDS students to see examples of their research, analysis, and applied work.

View published MASDS theses

Thesis timeline and commencement

Students begin planning thesis work before the second year and complete program milestones with faculty and program guidance.

  1. 1

    Select a faculty advisor

    Students should begin thinking about a faculty advisor and committee chair before they begin thesis work.

  2. 2

    Nominate the master's committee

    Students complete the Nomination of Master's Committee form at least the quarter before advancing to candidacy.

  3. 3

    Advance to candidacy

    The Advancement to Candidacy petition and unofficial transcripts are submitted within the first two weeks of the quarter the student plans to graduate.

  4. 4

    File the thesis

    Students send a complete draft to all committee members at least two months before the thesis filing deadline, then upload the final thesis for committee approval.

Departmental policy for June Commencement eligibility is to complete MASDS coursework and file the thesis by the end of the Summer immediately after Commencement.