Admission: 
=========

Q: I already have an MS in physics. Do I still need to take the GRE? 
A: GRE can be waived if you already have an advanced degree from a US
institute.  

Q: I need to take some caculus and linear algebra classes to meet your
entry requirements. What courses would you recommend:  
A: calculus - Math 150, 151, 252
   linear algebra - math 254
   prob - stat 551A
   programming language - stat 325 or a CS class.

Q: I am interested in your graduate program. What are the admission
requirements:  
A: The admission requirements are posted at 
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/math_stat/grad_admission.htm
http://www.math.sdsu.edu/stats_grad_home.htm#MSStats
Please follow the application procedure also posted on our web sites. 


Course work: 
===========

Q: If I get a C in STAT 670A the first time, how many more times can I
retake the course?  
A: Each course can be taken for two times. If you fail both times, you
have to file a petition and get approval before you may be allowed to
take it for the third time.  

Q: Can I take STAT 790 for one unit towards the 30 unit requirement
for an MS degree in stat/biostat?  
A: It depends. STAT 790 is only open to graduate teaching assistants
who are teaching STAT 119.  The course is specifically designed for
teaching this course and covers many organizational details. If you
are a TA teaching STAT 119, you are required to take STAT 790 and it
can be counted as one unit towards the 30 unit requirement for the
plan B (non-thesis) option.  

Q: I have a degree in biology. Can I substitute the science
application courses with a stat course?  
A: Yes, you can. You can substitute one or both of the science
application courses with a 500 or 600 level stat course. You need to
file a petition and get approval from the graduate advisor. (I will
need to see an official transcript or degree certificate before I can
sign your petition.) 

Q: I got an undergraduate stat degree at SDSU and already took 560 as
part of my BS degree requirement. What should I do?  
A: You can substitute 560 with a 500 or 600 level stat course. You
need to file a petition and get approval from the graduate advisor.  

Q: I took some courses through Open University. Can I apply them to a
Masters degree?  
A: Once you are admitted into our M.S. programs, you may apply up to 9
units of approved course work to a Masters degree.  

Q: I am getting an MPH with an emphasis in biometry and am considering
an MS in statistics as well. Could the coursework that I complete for
the MPH count toward an MS as well?
A: Unfortunately, you can not count a course twice, for two different
degrees. Some of the courses from your MPH may be used to waive the
electives in the Biostats degree, but you would need to replace them
with other (stats) units. 

Thesis committee and sign up for MS exams: 
=========================================

Q: When can I form a thesis committee or sign up for MS exams?
A: You can not form a thesis committee or sign up for MS exams before
you are advanced to candidacy. The thesis committee has to be approved
before you can enroll in Stat 799A.  

Q: What do I need to do to advance to candidacy? 
A: You need to be in classified graduate standing and have completed
at least 12 units of coursework listed on the official program of
study with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B). 


Student status at SDSU: 
======================

Q: I am unable to take classes this semester. Do I need to fill out
any forms so that I can still continue in the program? 
A: If your legal status in the U.S. does not depend on being a full
time student, you may skip school for one semester without having to
fill out any form. For more than one semester, you need to file a
petition and get approval. Otherwise, you will be considered to have
dropped out of school.