Learning Outcomes

Students will:

be able to distinguish between observational studies and designed experiments and understand the issues related to the data collection method, including sampling bias, sampling error, sample size determination, statistical power, association versus causation, and the design and analysis of randomized experiments;
use critical thinking skills to translate substantive questions into well-defined statistical problems and choose appropriate statistical methods and graphical summaries for a given problem;
use computer software to manage data, carry out exploratory data analyses and computer simulations, produce numerical and graphical summaries of data, and apply basic statistical methodology;
be able to clearly communicate study results to non-statisticians, and write accurate and meaningful reports that describe the statistical analyses and summarize important findings; and
understand the mathematical tools underlying statistical methods, including distribution theory, uncertainty quantification via probability, estimation theory, and the probabilistic basis of formal statistical inference.

The Bachelor of Science with a major in statistics requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 47 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Students complete 10 core courses that provide essential instruction in statistical methods, applications, and theory. In addition, they concentrate on an area of interest by completing four or five courses in one of the major's three emphasis tracks: statistics in business, industry, government, and research; statistical computing and data science; or mathematical statistics.

Statistics and probability are vital to many fields, so the demand for well-trained statisticians is strong. Statisticians work in medicine, engineering, law, public policy making, marketing, manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, varied social and natural sciences, and numerous other areas.

When students graduate, they will be prepared to fill entry-level positions as statisticians or go on to graduate school. An advisor assists students in locating internship opportunities as well as the best-fitting graduate programs.

• Statistics in Business, Industry, Government and Research Track
• Statistical Computing and Data Science Track
• Mathematical Statistics Track