Bachelor of Science with a Major in Statistics
Today, data are pervasive in the physical and biological sciences, technology, health care and business. Making valid conclusions, predictions and decisions based on data is statistics. Graduates with a bachelor of science in statistics can do a wide variety of jobs, including:
- Analysis of investment data in the banking industry;
- Identification of patterns in transaction data for online sales;
- Estimation of actuarial risk in insurance industry;
- Analysis of political surveys;
- Analysis of performance data in manufacturing.
Many graduates will choose to enter master or doctoral programs in statistics, biostatistics, computational biology, finance or the social sciences for employment in such industries as:
- Health care;
- Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology;
- Academia;
- Medical research;
- High-volume retail;
- Manufacturing;
- Banking.
The demand for statisticians has been increasing steadily and is projected to grow further [1,2]. “The United States alone faces a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts to analyze big data and make decisions based on their findings.” [2, page 3] Salaries for statisticians are comparatively high for holders of bachelor, master or doctoral degrees [3].
- “For today’s graduate, just one word: statistics”, New York Times, Technology, August 5, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/technology/06stats.html
- “Big Data: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Competition, and Productivity,” McKinsey Global Institute, May, 2011.
- Amstat News, American Statistical Society, Oct., 2011.
Requirements
The requirements for the degree include courses that develop a strong foundation in the methods of applied mathematics and data analysis, while allowing students to also take courses in a wide variety of application areas. The specific requirements for the bachelor of science in statistics, beyond the university and college requirements are as follows.
- Chemistry (CHEM 10171, 10122 or CHEM 10171, 10172)1
- Physics (PHYS 10310, 10320)1
- Calculus I, II (MATH 10550, 10560)1
- Introduction to Applied Mathematics Methods, I, II (ACMS 20550, 20750)
- Scientific Computing (ACMS 20210 or 20220)
- Applied Linear Algebra (ACMS 20620)
- Introduction to Probability (ACMS 30530)
- Mathematical Statistics (ACMS 30550)
- Statistical Methods and Data Analysis (ACMS 30600)
- ACMS statistics electives (9 credits in ACMS statistics courses chosen from a list of approved courses)2
- MATH or ACMS elective (3 credits in MATH or ACMS courses numbered 30000 or above)3
- Science elective (3 credits)
These requirements total 43 credits in ACMS and MATH and 61 credits in Science.
View the Bachelor of Science in Statistics flyer.
STAT Sample Curriculum:
First Year
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Math 10550. Calculus I | 4 | MATH 10560. Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 10171. Chemical Principles | 4 | CHEM 10172 or 10122 | 4 |
| PHYS 10310. General Physics I | 4 | PHYS 10320. General Physics II | 4 |
| History or Social Science | 3 | Philosophy or Theology | 3 |
| WR 13x00. Writing | 3 | University Seminar | 3 |
| FYS 10101. First Year Experience | 1 | FYS | 1 |
| Total Credits | 19 | Total Credits | 19 |
Sophomore Year
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMS 20550. Applied Math Methods I | 3.5 |
ACMS 20750. Applied Math Methods II |
3.5 |
| ACMS 20620. Applied Linear Algebra/ ACMS Scientific Computing | 3/3.5 | ACMS 20620. Applied Linear Algebra/ ACMS Scientific Computing | 3/3.5 |
| Elective | 3 | ACMS 30530. Introduction to Probability | 3 |
| Philosophy or Theology | 3 | Language | 3 |
| Language | 3 | Philosophy or Theology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15.5/16 | Total Credits | 15.5/16 |
Junior Year
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
ACMS 30600. Stat Mthd & Data Analysis I |
3.5 | ACMS Statistics Elective | 3 |
| ACMS 40390. Numerical Analysis*/ ACMS/MATH Elective | 3 | ACMS 40390. Numerical Analysis* / ACMS/MATH Elective | 3 |
| Language | 3 | Literature or Fine Arts | 3 |
| Philosophy or Theology | 3 | Science Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ACMS Statistics Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15.5 | Total Credits | 15 |
*ACMS 40390 is a suggested elective, but it can be replaced by other ACMS/MATH elective.
Senior Year
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMS 30550. Mathematical Statistics | 3 | ACMS Statistics Elective | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | Electives | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 | Total Credits | 12 |
- Equivalent or higher sequences in science may be substituted, e.g., MATH 10850, 10860 for MATH 10550, 10560.
- The acceptable elective courses are:
- ACMS 30810 Design of Experiments
- ACMS 40842 Time Series Analysis
- ACMS 40852 Advanced Biostatistical Methods
- ACMS 40855 Spatio-Temporal Statistics
- ACMS 40875 Statistical Methods in Data Mining
- ACMS 40878 Statistical Computing with R
- ACMS 40950 Topics in Statistics
- Any graduate ACMS course in statistics or probability
- Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning (MATH 20630) is also an acceptable elective.
- A student should take three core requirement courses during the first year, including one course that is designated a University Seminar. It is recommended that one course in history or social sciences be taken in the first year and one philosophy and one theology be taken by the end of sophomore year.