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Statistics Concentration

Statistics is based on the science of gathering and analyzing numerical data to draw conclusions, whether about the data as a whole or subsets of data taken from representative samples. Statistical methods and thinking help businesses and organizations think critically about the data and information they product.

Those who are employed as statisticians help streamline, communicate, and provide context and insight into data. They use mathematical models as essential predictive tools and frameworks for analyzing data and its variations. Statisticians solve real-world problems in business, engineering, healthcare, and many other fields.

Why study statistics at Â鶹ֱ²¥?

According to the (ASA), being a statistician is the “coolest job you’ve never heard of.”

• Understanding statistics is useful for anyone who wants to work in highly technical or specialized fields. Studying statistics will increase your reasoning, logic, and analytical skills. It will also help you make educated, informed decisions.
• Statisticians help protect endangered species, manage impacts of climate change, help make medicines more effective, and reduce hunger and disease. Simply put, they help make our world a better place.

If you like to ask real questions and find real answers, statistics is an excellent career choice with a good future. And being knowledgeable about statistics will make you a more informed consumer.

What will you study?

If you pursue a concentration in statistics at Â鶹ֱ²¥, you’ll complete courses such as:

• Probability theory
• Applied linear models
• Numerical methods
• Statistical inference and data analysis
• Number theory

Sample Four-Year Plan

Checklist

What career paths are available?

The ASA reports statisticians work in virtually every economic sector. They work in agriculture and technology. They fight against social injustice and human rights abuses. They work for social media companies and Internet service providers. 

• Many statisticians work for local, state, and federal government agencies.
• Others work for scientific research and development (R&D) firms.
• Some travel or work in the field to collect data and oversee data surveys.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• The employment outlook through 2024 is expected to grow by a whopping 34 percent, much faster than average.
• The growth is expected to result from widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed business and healthcare decisions.
• The median salary for a statistician in 2016 was just over $80,000 annually.

Job titles held by students who earn a B.S. in mathematics with a concentration in statistics could include:

• Data analyst
• Statistical manager
• Risk manager
• Consumer data specialist
• Project manager
• Consultant
• Mathematical statistician