Write a statement of purpose describing your experience and interest in data science and survey methodology.  These goals and interests can include but are not limited to:

• Survey Management
• Budgeting and Cost Modeling / Sample Design and Selection
• Questionnaire Design and Pretesting
• Survey Data Entry, Coding, and Data Management / Weighting and Imputation
• Estimation and Analysis of Survey Data / Writing Survey Reports
• Integration of Data Science and Survey Analysis

The online application will ask applicants to provide their references' names and email addresses. The references will then be contacted via email with instructions on how to electronically submit a letter of recommendation. This process can begin prior to submission of the application.

The admissions committee uses letters of recommendation to help judge how well you might perform in the graduate programs. There are two equally important criteria to use in choosing people to ask for recommendations:

1. That the individuals know you well, and
2. That they can comment on your academic abilities in statistical and research methodology.

   Persons knowledgeable about the demands of technical graduate programs often can make the most informed judgments about the likelihood of your success in such a program.

Applicants who are returning to school after years in the workforce face a more difficult task in seeking recommendations from persons with the attributes listed above. The admissions committee is aware of this difficulty and seeks to take that into account when evaluating applications. In these cases, persons who have current knowledge about the applicant's aptitude and skills are more desirable recommenders than professors whose knowledge pertains only to academic performance many years earlier.

Important: Recommenders should focus their evaluation on your academic aptitude in statistical and research methodology.

Applicants are asked to upload a scanned version of their transcript(s) issued by each institution attended (in the original language, with literal English translation). Upon enrollment, you will need to have an official copy sent to the Graduate School by each institution.  For a full description of the transcript requirements, see Transcripts and Diplomas/Degree Certificates.

• Successful MS applicants for admission should hold at least a BS or BA degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
   
• Successful PhD applicants for admission should hold a master’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.75 (on a 4.0 scale). Provisional admission status may be granted to candidates with an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and other evidence of outstanding potential.

Applicants will be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores if you do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from one of the English-speaking countries listed on the UMD Graduate School website.

• TOEFL: Minimum score of 96 (iBT) 
  • For the University of Maryland to receive your TOEFL score, please use the reporting code 5814.
• IELTS: Minimum score of 7.0
  • The University of Maryland downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account.  IELTS test takers should contact their IELTS test center directly to request electronic test scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account:

    University of Maryland - The Graduate School
    The Graduate School
    2123 Lee Building
    College Park Maryland, 20742

    • Note: The Graduate School will not accept paper IELTS test report forms.
       
• PTE: Minimum score of 68 (total) and 68 (writing)
  • PTE test takers can send their score reports to the University of Maryland through their Pearson Account.

More information about graduate school English language proficiency requirements. 

MS Applicants

• The online application will ask you to select one of three specializations: Social and Psychological Science, Statistical Science, or Data Science. 
• Submit the Graduate Admission Supplementary Form (PDF) to indicate which one you have chosen. In the form, describe the courses you have previously completed that are necessary for your specialization.
   
  • Statistical Science: Provide information about your prior coursework in calculus (three courses); linear algebra (one course); and statistics (one course).
  • Social and Psychological Science: Provide information about your prior coursework that includes at least two undergraduate courses in the social sciences and two quantitative courses, at least one of which must be a statistics course.
  • Data Science: Provide information about your prior coursework in programming (two courses); statistics (one course); and your background in computer science

PhD Applicants

• The online application will ask you to select one of three specializations: Social and Psychological Science, Statistical Science, or Data Science.