Frequently Asked Questions

The DAAS degree consists of 10 courses (30 credit hours), of which seven are core courses, including a capstone project class, and four are specialized electives. The seven core courses cover essential methods and tools in data analysis, applied statistics, computing, data visualization, and communication.

The DAAS degree's core foundation in statistics provides our students with the skills needed to assess the comparative advantages and limitations of various methods of analyzing data. It emphasizes interpretation of analyses for evidence-based decision-making and predictions. The core curriculum's courses in statistical computing provide students the skills needed to develop effective analysis programs and take advantage of contemporary programming languages and packages. 

Please see our course list and descriptions for more information on our courses. 

The DAAS program in Falls Church is only offered part-time. Most students take two 3-credit courses each semester for five to six semesters. 

Currently, we are teaching classes online due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. When classes are held in person, they take place at our Northern Virginia campus (NVC) in Falls Church, VA. The NVC campus is within walking distance from the Metro - Orange line West Falls Church station. Parking is available for students who drive.

We have designed our curriculum with the working student in mind, so our semesters blend one synchronous class, one evening per week, and one asynchronous course. We want to maximize learning time and minimize commuting time. Students interact with their classmates and instructors through our interactive learning platform, Canvas, Zoom, and other shared cloud-based services.

The Capstone project gives students experience solving complex data-driven problems from real-world data sets. This approach gives students experience using the skills and knowledge acquired during their course of study and provides them with a robust portfolio piece to show future employers. 

Students can begin their degree in the Fall semesters. Semester start dates are set by the Virginia Tech University calendar. 

Fall 23 Deadline (international): April 15, 2024

Fall 23 Deadline (domestic): August 1, 2024

Yes, we require all incoming students to have taken the GRE and have scored higher than the 60th percentile on the quantitative section and higher than the 50th percentile on the verbal section.

GRE waivers are available to students who can demonstrate current and sufficient math and computing proficiencies. If you are interested in applying for a GRE waiver, please get in touch with Cherie Nelson (crnelson@vt.edu) to set up an appointment to talk with our faculty advisor. 

A successful applicant will have had Calculus I and II and an introductory Statistics class as an undergraduate and have done well in those courses. Also, a strong applicant will have had some experience in computer programming, either in a classroom or professional setting.

Please send official transcripts to the Graduate School at Virginia Tech. Please see How to Submit Transcripts for more information. 

Not generally, no. We expect that most of our students are working professionals who have been out of school for several years. Most students draw upon professional references for their applications. Some more recent graduates with less work experience may choose to contact their undergraduate professors for recommendations. 

You should contact our Program Coordinator, Cherie Nelson, at crnelson@vt.edu. She can help you troubleshoot your application.

That is hard to say. Workload will differ from class to class, and students will naturally learn at different paces. Generally, we expect that students will spend 6 -10 hours per week working on coursework. 

The degree was approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) in June 2015.  We currently offer the degree in Blacksburg as a simultaneous master’s degree for current master's and Ph.D. students.  

Students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Student International Students office for more details. Please note, however, that since we are a part-time-only program, we are not F-1 visa eligible. 

The program is 30 credits. Currently, the State of Virginia has set tuition at $1075 per credit ($3,225 per 3-credit course). You can learn more about our tuition and course fees by visiting the VT Bursar's office. 

No. Because we are a designated part-time program, we do not have GTA/GRA positions available. If you are interested in pursuing a full-time master's degree program with our department, we would suggest the M.S. degree in Statistics at the Blacksburg campus. Please get in touch with the Statistics department at the Blacksburg campus about GTA/GRA availability with that program.