Master of Arts in Statistics and Data Science,
Bridge to a Doctorate

Overview

Wharton’s Master of Arts in Statistics and Data Science, Bridge to a Doctorate, is a two-year research master’s (AM) degree program which provides advanced coursework and research experience to students who need additional preparation for admission to a doctoral program.

Bridge Fellows will work with faculty on an individualized curriculum built around their interests and goals.

The two-year intensive master’s program includes financial support (tuition, stipend, and health benefits) and additional benefits such as faculty mentorship for professional development and access to resources to apply to doctoral programs, including GRE test preparation and guidance on doctoral program applications. Bridge Fellows will not be required to teach in this program.

As part of the goal of the Statistics and Data Science Department, this bridge program seeks to prepare students for a doctoral program by providing strong mentorship and a learning environment dedicated to teaching methods of statistical modeling for effective decision making.

Eligibility

The Master of Arts in Statistics and Data Science, Bridge to a Doctorate, is for students who:

• Have a strong academic record in mathematics or statistics but require additional coursework and research experience for admission to a doctoral program.
• Demonstrate a strong interest in research and in earning a PhD.
• Have earned a bachelor’s degree at the time of enrollment.
• Are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.

And meet one (or more) of the following criteria:

• Have experienced personal disadvantages or obstacles in access to pre-baccalaureate and undergraduate training which have impeded preparation for graduate school.
• Are a first-generation college graduate from a low-income family.
• Have demonstrated a commitment to activities dedicated to ameliorating the negative effects of complex issues which are of vital concern to society.
• Have participated in rigorous, engaged research (i.e., studies about issues of public interest and societal challenges) which match the content areas of interest to Department faculty—including biostatistics, crime and the justice system, computer science, economics, environmental data science, genomics, health policy, neuroscience, policing, public health, social good, as well as others listed under faculty profiles.

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year open on January 21, 2025.