Overview 

The discipline of statistics is concerned with the processes by which data are collected and inferences are drawn from these data. Statistical methodology finds use in a wide variety of disciplines: social science, natural science and applied sciences such as agriculture, engineering, business and medicine.

Students in the Experimental Statistics Master's program receive extensive training and experience in statistical consulting in a practical hands-on manner. They are encouraged to specialize by developing consulting skills in a particular subject matter area. Consulting and course work also provides students with valuable experience using computers and statistical software.

The program of study is built upon the strengths, experience and interests of the Experimental Statistics faculty, all of whom are also statistical consultants in the University Statistics Center. These faculty have extensive past and on-going collaborative experience with researchers in a number of disciplines outside of statistics such as biology, agriculture, fishery and wildlife, psychology, education and engineering. The informal atmosphere of the department permits easy and constant contact between students, faculty and other researchers as they engage in educational, consulting and research activities.

The Experimental Statistics Master's program is designed to produce graduates proficient in the current practices of statistics, enabling them to take advantage of numerous career opportunities. The National Science Foundation predicts that, over the next decade, there will be more job openings for statisticians than applicants with appropriate statistical training. A variety of employment opportunities are constantly opening up in industry, government and academia. The melding of classroom instruction and hands-on training in the art of statistical consulting puts graduates of NMSU's Experimental Statistics Master program in an excellent competitive position for career opportunities as consulting statisticians.