Courses for the onsite programs may not be taken online. Onsite courses include those for JPSM MS and PhD programs.
The Joint Program offers a Master of Science in Survey Methodology from the University of Maryland, with three areas of concentration:
- Statistical Science
- Social and Psychological Science
- Data Science
The statistical science area of concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in areas such as sample design, estimation in complex samples, variance estimation, statistical measurement error models, and statistical adjustments for missing data.
The social science area of concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in areas such as questionnaire design, design of interviewing systems, computer assistance in data collection, effects of mode of data collection, cognitive psychological insights into survey measurement, and efforts to reduce various nonsampling errors in data collection.
The data science area of concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in the more computational aspects of survey methodology and research involving "big data," including data visualization, management and analysis of large and messy data sets, human-computer interaction in survey research, and machine learning algorithms.
The three areas of specialization share a set of courses in the core curriculum, including a two term survey practicum, a course in data collection methods, two terms of statistical methods, a two term course in total survey quality, and a survey design seminar.
The key components of the program are:
- total of 46 credit hours with an average grade of B, or better
- 3-month internship with a government agency or private survey firm
A student who has already taken courses in probability and statistical theory, statistical methods, or social statistics at the levels of the required courses in these subjects may, with the approval of his or her faculty advisor, replace these courses with more advanced courses.
M.S. students can not apply more than one grade of C towards their graduation requirements. Students who are working in a job related to survey methodology during the time of their matriculation can use that job to satisfy the internship requirement. The degree must be completed within five years of date of entry.
