Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Major in Statistics

The curriculum in liberal arts and sciences with a major in statistics is designed to prepare students for (1) statistics positions in business, industry or commerce, nonprofit institutions, and in state or federal government; and (2) graduate study in statistics. Positions include the following types of work: statistical design, data visualization, analysis and interpretation of experiments and surveys; data processing and analysis using modern computation facilities and statistical computing systems; application of statistical principles and methods in commercial areas such as finance, insurance, industrial research, technology, marketing, manufacturing, sports analytics, quality control, and nonprofit organizations, such as institutions involved in health care or medical research.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the undergraduate degree in statistics should have a broad understanding of the discipline of statistics. Upon graduation, students should be able to:

  • Design observational studies and experiments in order to efficiently collect data to help answer questions about science, technology, and society.
  • Analyze data arising from observational studies and experiments in order to help answer questions about the world around them.
  • Use modern statistical computing to aid in the collection and analysis of data.
  • Explain and apply the mathematical and theoretical basis for probability and statistical inference to help answer questions about the world around them.
  • Effectively communicate statistical findings using oral, visual and written formats.

 

Abagail Ohmer, woman with chestnut curly hair smiling for portrait
What I like best about statistics is how they can help uncover patterns, make decisions, and tell meaningful stories with data. I like bridging the gap between raw data and meaningful insights.
Abagail Ohmer (2024), BI Analyst, John Deere

Requirements for B.S. in Statistics

Further Study

Given the application of statistical work to a broad range of fields, students majoring in statistics often obtain a minor, certificate, or double-major in a field of application, such as:

Your academic advisor can assist you in developing your program of study including other majors, minors, or certificates.