Statistics (BS): Data Science Concentration
The Bachelor of Science in Statistics curriculum provides foundational training for careers in statistics and data science, and also prepares students for graduate study in statistics or related fields such as analytics. The Data Science Concentration adds to that strong foundation with courses designed to prepare graduates for careers in the rapidly evolving Data Science sector. While our curriculum is centered on statistics, mathematics, and computer programming, it is also designed to have a flexible interdisciplinary flavor. Each statistics major works with their advisor to formulate an individualized plan for the use of "Advised Electives鈥� that typically leads to a minor or second major in fields including business and finance, agriculture and life sciences, computer science, industrial engineering, or the social sciences.
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| 颁翱厂听100 | Science of Change (verify requirement) | 0 |
| Communication & Advanced Writing | ||
| Select one of the following Communications courses: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| Mathematics & Sciences | ||
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听225 | Foundations of Advanced Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices 1 | 3 |
| 辞谤听惭础听405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
Students considering graduate school are strongly encouraged to select 惭础听405 | ||
| GEP Natural Sciences | 11 | |
Selected courses must include (i) at least two laboratory classes and (ii) at least three 3- or 4-credit courses. | ||
| Data Science and Statistical Computing | ||
| 笔贬滨听227 | Data Ethics | 3 |
| 顿厂颁听202 | Introduction to Data Visualization | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听405 | Data Wrangling and Web Scraping | 1 |
| 厂罢听114 | Statistical Programming 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听307 | Introduction to Statistical Programming- SAS 1 | 1 |
| 厂罢听308 | Introduction to Statistical Programming - R 1 | 1 |
| 厂罢听445 | Introduction to Statistical Computing and Data Management 1 | 3 |
| Introduction to Data Science: Select one of the following 1 | 3 | |
| Mathematical Foundations of Data Science I | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Statistical Data Science Electives. Select two of the following courses: 1 | 6 | |
| Intermediate SAS Programming with Applications | ||
| Statistical Learning and Data Analytics | ||
| Advanced Computing for Statistical Reasoning | ||
| General Data Science Electives. Select 2 credits of DSC courses at any level. 1 | 2 | |
| Advanced Data Science Electives. Select 2 credits of DSC courses at the 400 level. 1 | 2 | |
| Statistics | ||
| 厂罢听311 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听312 | Introduction to Statistics II 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听421 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听422 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听430 | Introduction to Regression Analysis 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听431 | Introduction to Experimental Design 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听432 | Introduction to Survey Sampling 1 | 3 |
| ST Electives 400 Level 1 | 3 | |
| Advised Electives | ||
| Advised Electives 1,2 | 6 | |
A documented plan for the 6 credits of the Advised Electives will be created in conjunction with the student鈥檚 academic advisor. These courses may or may not be statistics courses. Students are encouraged to use Advised Elective credits to pursue a minor or second major. Note that many courses used as Advised Electives might have prerequisites or other restrictions. | ||
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
- *
No more than 6 total credits from undergraduate research, independent study, credit by examination, or other similar types of courses may be used to meet program requirements (credit from AP exams or transfer credits is not included under this restriction). If you are unsure if a course falls into this category, please confer with your advisor.
ST Electives 400 Level
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 厂罢听404 | Epidemiology and Statistics in Global Public Health | 3 |
| 厂罢听405 | Applied Nonparametric Statistics | 3 |
| 厂罢听412 | Long-Term Actuarial Models | 3 |
| 厂罢听420 | Statistical Principles of Clinical Trials | 3 |
| 厂罢听413 | Short-Term Actuarial Models | 3 |
| 厂罢听421 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| 厂罢听422 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| 厂罢听430 | Introduction to Regression Analysis | 3 |
| 厂罢听431 | Introduction to Experimental Design | 3 |
| 厂罢听432 | Introduction to Survey Sampling | 3 |
| 厂罢听433 | Applied Spatial Statistics | 3 |
| 厂罢听434 | Applied Time Series | 3 |
| 厂罢听435 | Statistical Methods for Quality and Productivity Improvement | 3 |
| 厂罢听437 | Applied Multivariate and Longitudinal Data Analysis | 3 |
| 厂罢听440 | Applied Bayesian Analysis | 3 |
| 厂罢听442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| 厂罢听445 | Introduction to Statistical Computing and Data Management | 3 |
| 厂罢听446 | Intermediate SAS Programming with Applications | 3 |
| 厂罢听451 | Sports Analytics | 3 |
| 厂罢听452 | Statistical Learning and Data Analytics | 3 |
| 厂罢听453 | Advanced Computing for Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| 厂罢听491 | Statistics in Practice | 3 |
| 厂罢听495 | Special Topics in Statistics | 1-6 |
| 厂罢听497 | Professional Experience in Statistics | 1-3 |
| 厂罢听498 | Independent Study In Statistics | 1-6 |
| 厂罢听499 | Research Experience in Statistics | 1-3 |
General Data Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 顿厂颁听205 | Data Communication | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听225 | Data Science for Social Good | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听235 | Introduction to Data Science for Cybersecurity | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听295 | Introductory Special Topics in Data Science | 1-3 |
| 顿厂颁听406 | Exploratory Data Analysis for Big Data | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听410 | Data Internship Preparation for Social Impact | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听412 | Exploring Machine Learning | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听495 | Special Topics in Data Science | 1-3 |
| 顿厂颁听595 | Graduate Special Topics in Data Science | 1-3 |
Advanced Data Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 顿厂颁听406 | Exploratory Data Analysis for Big Data | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听410 | Data Internship Preparation for Social Impact | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听412 | Exploring Machine Learning | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听495 | Special Topics in Data Science | 1-3 |
| 顿厂颁听595 | Graduate Special Topics in Data Science | 1-3 |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 颁翱厂听100 or 贰听115 | Science of Change or Introduction to Computing Environments | 2 |
| 厂罢听311 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I (CP) 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Statistical Programming (CP) | ||
| Introduction to Computing: Python | ||
| Introduction to Computing - Java | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II (CP) 1 | 4 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| 厂罢听312 | Introduction to Statistics II (CP) 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听307 | Introduction to Statistical Programming- SAS (CP) 1 | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III (CP) 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听225 | Foundations of Advanced Mathematics (CP) 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听445 | Introduction to Statistical Computing and Data Management 1 | 3 |
| 笔贬滨听227 | Data Ethics Provides 3 credits of Humanities GEP credit | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂罢听308 | Introduction to Statistical Programming - R 1 | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 厂罢听431 | Introduction to Experimental Design 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听305 or 惭础听405 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices (CP) 1 or Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| 顿厂颁听202 | Introduction to Data Visualization 1 | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听405 | Data Wrangling and Web Scraping 1 | 1 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 厂罢听421 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听430 | Introduction to Regression Analysis (CP) 1 | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Data Science 1 | 3 | |
| General Data Science Elective 1 | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂罢听422 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II (CP) | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Natural Sciences | 4 | |
| Statistics Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Statistical Data Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GEP Natural Sciences | 3 | |
| Statistical Data Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| General Data Science Electives 1 | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂罢听432 | Introduction to Survey Sampling 1 | 3 |
| GEP Natural Sciences | 4 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Advanced Data Science Electives 1 | 2 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
At most one D level grade is permitted in Advised Electives, Statistics Electives, or required MAT, ST, or CSC courses. C- or better is required in 厂罢听307 Introduction to Statistical Programming- SAS, 厂罢听311 Introduction to Statistics, 厂罢听312 Introduction to Statistics II and 厂罢听421 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I.
Career Opportunities
The importance of sound statistical thinking in the design and analysis of quantitative studies is reflected in the abundance of job opportunities for statisticians. Because one can improve the efficiency and use of increasingly complex and expensive experimental and survey data, statisticians are in demand wherever quantitative studies are conducted.听Statisticians are highly valued members of teams working in such diverse fields as biomedical science, global public health, weather prediction, environmental monitoring, political polling, crop and livestock management, and financial forecasting. Statistics is at the core of Data Science and Analytics, and our department provides an outstanding environment to prepare for careers in these areas. In addition to finding exciting careers in industry and government, our graduates are also very successful moving on to graduate programs in statistics and related fields at top universities around the globe.
Career Titles
- Actuary
- Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineer
- Aerospace Engineering Technician
- Air Traffic Controller
- Astronomer
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist
- Bank and Branch Managers
- Biopsychologist
- Budget Analyst
- Buyer
- Compensation Administrator
- Computer and Information Scientists
- Computer Programmer
- Database Administrator
- Financial Aid Counselor
- Financial Analyst
- Government Budget Analyst
- High School Teacher
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Math Professor
- Mathematical Technician
- Mathematician
- Meteorologist
- Middle School Teacher
- Operations Research Analyst
- Physicist
- Psychometrist
- Purchasing Manager
- Securities and Commodities Sales Agent
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Statistical Assistants
- Statistician
- Technical Publications Writer
Learn More About Careers
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