MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM IN STATISTICS
Introduction
The graduate program in Statistics in Sultan Qaboos University is to prepare graduates to work as
statisticians in business, industry, education, medicine, government, and any research
establishments. The program aims at providing a sound general coverage of the subject that will
set a basis for an appreciation of the theory of statistics, developing computational skills in
solving real life statistical problems, and fostering the ability to effectively communicate results
to decision makers. As the institutions and the economy of Oman develop, the need for good
statisticians to analyze and make sense of huge amount of quantitative information becomes even
more crucial, to assist in better and more scientific decision-making. The program also prepares
graduates who intend to proceed to do higher degrees in either statistics or probability.
Objectives
On successful completion of the program, the graduate will have attained the following
objectives:
• Gain an appreciation of the general principles of statistical inference and their role in data
analysis.
• Gain the knowledge and skills of applying and adapting statistical techniques to solving
real life statistical problems.
• Gain the computational skills and competence in the use of statistical packages to be able
to do a wide range of statistical analyses.
• Gain skills in completing an independent study of a statistical problem and of presenting
the results in a dissertation.
• Develop an interest and positive attitudes in statistics to allow for lifelong learning of new
knowledge and expertise in the subject, to allow for a successful career in statistics.
Admission requirements
The normal admission requirement is a BSc degree in Statistics from SQU or from any other
university whose degree in statistics is considered equivalent to that of SQU. Applicants must
also satisfy all admission requirements outlined in the General Guidelines for Masters Degrees
published by the university. Candidates with deficient statistical background will also be able to
enter the program on successful completion of a Bridging year, to bring them to the level of a
Statistics major student. Applicants who hold a degree in a subject other than Statistics may be
considered for the program. In particular, applicants shall present proof that they have
successfully completed the prerequisite courses or their equivalence.
(i)
STAT3334 Inference
(ii)
STAT3336 Computational Techniques in Statistics
(iii)
STAT4432 Regression Analysis
(iv)
STAT4433 Design and Analysis of Experiments
(v)
MATH2202 Liner Algebra I
(vi)
MATH3109 Calculus III
Applicants whose academic records do not include the successful completion of all or some of
these courses, will be required to complete the missing course with a minimum cumulative GPA
of 3.00. They will be considered to be conditionally admitted to the program during the period of
study for the pre-requisite courses.
Degree requirements
(A)
The Master of Science degree in Applied or Pure Mathematics /Statistics is a 24credit
course spread over two academic years. The student will be required to successfully
complete a 9 credit Core (spread over the first two semesters) plus 15 credits of
electives (spread over the fours semesters). Additionally, the student will be required to
produce a thesis of sufficient merit over the third and fourth semesters. It is a College of
Science requirement that the students complete a 12 contact hour Philosophy of Science
course. Although this course will not be formally examined, the students will be
required to write an essay of suitable (pre-determined) length. The list of core/elective
courses is as follows.
(B)
CORE COURSES
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(vi)
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
6002
6011
6012
6014
7001
Philosophy of Science
Statistical Inference
Computational Statistics
The Generalized Linear Model
Project in Statistics
ELECTIVE COURSES
(1)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
6013
6021
6022
6023
6024
6025
6026
6027
6028
6030
6031
6032
5536
5537
Probability moved to electives
Experimental design
Advanced Multivariate Analysis
Theory of Statistics
Sampling Theory
Advanced Time Series Analysis
Nonparametric Methods in Statistics
Stochastic models
Special topics
Demography New
Bayesian Analysis New
Advanced Categorical Analysis New
Time series analysis
Multivariate analysis
The list of electives, in any of the group above, is not exhaustive: the list may be added to or
subtracted from dependent upon the specialization available within the University.
(C)
SUPERVISED THESIS
The student would have completed 9 credits of Core and 9 credits of electives by the
end of the first year of this MSc. At the end of the first semester/beginning of the second
semester of his MSc program, the student will be given a list of thesis projects being
offered by the department. The students will choose a project before the end of the
second semester, and will work under supervision on the project during semesters 3 and
4. The student will be required to submit and defend a thesis at the end of the fourth
semester.
(D)
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE REQUIRMENT
Philosophy of Science Course (12 contact hours)
The names of academic staff, with their research specialization, are given below:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Khidir Abdelbasit - Applied statistics and design of experiments
Charles Saki Bakheit - Data analysis
Mohd Idrees Ahmed - Statistical modeling
Mazharul Islam – Demography
Faisal M. Ababneh – Bioinformatics
Amadou Sarr - Generalized Multivariate Analysis
Ahmed Y. Al-Hadhrami - Environmental and health statistics