Statistics, Bachelor of Arts College of Letters & Science
Statistics enables us to make inferences about entire populations, based on samples extracted from those populations. Statistical methods can be applied to problems from almost every discipline and they are vitally important to researchers in agricultural, biological, environmental, social, engineering, and medical sciences.
The Program
Statistics majors may receive either a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Both the A.B. and the B.S. programs require theoretical and applied course work and underscore the strong interdependence of statistical theory and the applications and computational aspects of statistics. The B.S. degree program has five tracks: Applied Statistics Track, Computational Statistics Track, General Track, Machine Learning Track, and the Statistical Data Science Track. The A.B. degree program has one track.
A.B. in Statistics-Applied Statistics Track emphasizes statistical applications. This track is recommended for students who are interested in applications of statistical techniques to various disciplines, especially the social sciences.
Major Advisors
For a current list of faculty and staff advisors, see Undergraduate Advising.
Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor to plan a program as early as possible.
Career Alternatives
Probability models, statistical methods, and computational techniques are used in a great many fields, including the biological, physical, social, and health sciences, business, and engineering. The wide applicability of statistics is reflected in the strong demand for graduates with statistical training in both the public and private sectors. Employment opportunities include careers in data & policy analysis in government & industry, financial management, quality control, insurance & healthcare industry, actuarial science, engineering, public health, biological and pharmaceutical research, law, and education. Students with an undergraduate degree in statistics have entered advanced studies in statistics, economics, finance, psychology, medicine, business management & analytics, and other professional school programs.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Statistics Bachelor of Arts is 65.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Choose a series: | 9-12 | |
| Short Calculus and Short Calculus and Short Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine and Calculus for Biology & Medicine and Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus for Data-Driven Applications and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications | ||
| Calculus and Calculus and Calculus | ||
MAT 021 series preferred. | ||
| MAT 022A | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Computer Science Engineering | ||
| ECS 032A | Introduction to Programming | 4 |
| or ECS 032AV | Introduction to Programming | |
| or ECS 036A | Programming & Problem Solving | |
| Statistics | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or STA 013Y | Elementary Statistics | |
| Gateway to Statistical Data Science | ||
| Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 20-23 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Core Coursework | ||
| Statistics | 24 | |
| Applied Statistical Methods: Analysis of Variance | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods: Regression Analysis | ||
| Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | ||
| Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | ||
| Analysis of Categorical Data | ||
| Applied Time Series Analysis | ||
or STA 141A | Fundamentals of Statistical Data Science | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Applied Statistical Methods: Nonparametric Statistics | ||
| Multivariate Data Analysis | ||
| Applied Time Series Analysis | ||
| Fundamentals of Statistical Data Science | ||
| Data & Web Technologies for Data Analysis | ||
| Big Data & High Performance Statistical Computing | ||
| Sampling Theory of Surveys | ||
| Bayesian Statistical Inference | ||
| Practice in Statistical Data Science | ||
| Optimization | ||
| Special Studies for Honors Students | ||
| Special Studies for Honors Students | ||
| Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates | ||
| Note: A course used to fulfill a core requirement cannot be used as a restricted elective. | ||
| Cluster Electives | ||
| Choose three upper division elective courses outside of Statistics. | 9-12 | |
Cluster electives are chosen with and must be approved by the major advisor. Electives must follow a coherent sequence in one single disciple/cluster where statistical methods and models are applied and must cover the quantitative aspects of the discipline. A list of pre-approved electives can be found on the Statistics Department website. | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 45-48 | |
| Total Units | 65-71 | |