Oct 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Statistics (STAT) - BS Major


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Stat program image


64 credits (no minor required)

2.0 GPA required.

Letter grade required in all major courses unless otherwise noted.

Statistics Major Map  

Overview

The BS Statistics Program provides students with instruction in the basic techniques, applications, and theories of mathematics and statistics. Students choosing statistics may complete a statistics project under the supervision of a faculty member. This provides students the opportunity to work with a faculty member on a consulting project or research problem. For students planning to attend graduate school, the research project is recommended. Internship opportunities also exist for students in the statistics major. Recent graduates have completed internships at Mayo Clinic, insurance companies, local industries, and non-profit organizations. Both consulting projects and internships are good choices for students seeking employment upon graduation.

Required Courses (52 credits)


Data Science (6 credits)


Statistics First Course (3 credits)


Choose one:

Professional Development (9 credits)


For each capstone experience, a project proposal must be developed in consultation with a faculty member.

Choose one (3 credits)


Electives (9 credits)


In consultation with an advisor, choose 9 elective credits. Courses outside the department with a significant mathematical/statistical component may be taken with department approval.

  • CS 234 or above
  • DSCI 310 or above (excluding DSCI 325)
  • (3 credits)
  • MATH 313 or above (excluding MATH 337)
  • STAT 320 or above

Areas of Specialization


Students who are interested in actuarial science or biostatistics should consider the following information.

Actuarial Science


To become a certified actuary, candidates must pass a series of examinations that are administered by the Society of Actuaries (SOA). Some of the examinations can be successfully completed while the student is still in college. In fact, some companies hire only candidates who have successfully completed at least one of the examinations. WSU offers the following courses that will prepare students for the first exam on Probability (SOA Exam P1).

Actuaries are also required to be certified in three key subject areas through their college coursework that are not covered on the SOA examinations. This certification is called Validation through Educational Experience (VEE). Subject areas and courses for VEE certification are listed below.

VEE Economics

VEE Applied Statistical Methods

VEE Corporate Finance

Biostatistics


Biostatistics is the application of statistics to public health. Students interested in biostatistics are advised, in addition to the core statistics curriculum, to take courses in public health and health-related sciences such as:

Legend


◎ = Oral Intensive

◆ = Math/Critical Analysis Intensive

△ = Writing Intensive

✽ = Physical Development and Wellness Graduation Requirement

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