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.

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 022ALinear Algebra3
Computer Science Engineering
ECS 032AIntroduction to Programming4
or ECS 032AV Introduction to Programming
or ECS 036A Programming & Problem Solving
Statistics
Choose one:4
Elementary Statistics
Elementary Statistics
Gateway to Statistical Data Science
Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
STA 032 or STA 100 preferred
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal20-23
Depth Subject Matter
Core Coursework
Statistics24
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
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
Only one of STA 141B or STA 141C can be used as an elective.
Big Data & High Performance Statistical Computing
Only one of STA 141B or STA 141C can be used as an elective.
Sampling Theory of Surveys
Bayesian Statistical Inference
Practice in Statistical Data Science
Optimization
With advisor approval, one of STA 194HA or STA 194HB or STA 199 may be used as an elective. The course must be taken for four units.
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 Subtotal45-48
Total Units65-71