Undergraduate minor in Statistics

DEGREES AVAILABLE: Minor

photo: woman doing an equation

The Department of Statistics offers lower-division undergraduate courses designed to introduce students to the field of statistics (Statistics 7, 8, 67) and upper-division undergraduate courses on the theoretical foundations of probability and statistics (Statistics 120A-B-C, 121) and statistical methodology (Statistics 110-111-112).

The Department is in the process of planning an undergraduate degree program in Statistics. In the interim, students interested in focusing on statistics are encouraged to consider a minor in Statistics along with a major in a field of interest.

› Is the Statistics minor for me?
› What do I take?
› What can I do with this minor?
› Still not sure?

Is the Statistics minor for me?

Statistics is the field associated with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Statistical theory and methods are relevant in a wide range of fields in the social, physical, and biological sciences, as well as in a range of practical areas like public policy, education, engineering and medicine. The minor in Statistics is designed to provide students with exposure to both statistical theory and practice.

The minor requires a total of seven courses. These include a mathematics course, five core statistics courses, and an elective that may be taken from among several departments. Some of the courses used to complete the minor may include prerequisites that may or may not be part of a student's course requirements for their major. Because of this the minor is somewhat intensive, but it is a useful complement to a variety of undergraduate fields for mathematically inclined students.

The minor, supplemented with a few additional courses (mathematics and computing), would provide sufficient background for graduate study in statistics. Students considering a minor in Statistics should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Statistics as early as possible to plan their course work.

NOTE: Students may not receive both a minor in Statistics and a specialization in Statistics within the Mathematics major.

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What do I take?

SIX REQUIRED COURSES:
Mathematics 3A, Statistics 120A-B-C, Statistics 110-111.

ONE ELECTIVE COURSE:
Students select one course from the following list, or can substitute another with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies:

Statistics 7 or equivalent course (but only if taken prior to Statistics 110); Statistics 112; Statistics 121; Mathematics 105A or 105B; Mathematics 130B or 130C; Mathematics 132B or 132C; ICS 21.

There are two main routes by which students typically approach the statistics minor. More mathematical students will frequently take Statistics 120A-B-C first and find the statistical theory intriguing enough to pursue the minor.

Other students will initially be exposed to statistics in an introductory course (Statistics 7, Statistics 8, Statistics 67 or its equivalent) and then may choose to learn more about methodology in Statistics 110-111 and theory in Statistics 120A-B-C.

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What can I do with this minor?

photo: student doing an equation on a whiteboardThe Statistics minor will add a statistical perspective to a student's major field of study. The statistical perspective emphasizes the important role that uncertainty and variation play in understanding the world around us.

A student's enhanced quantitative reasoning skills will be useful in any future career path -- this includes study towards a professional degree (e.g., law or medicine), graduate study in a field of interest, or a position in industry or government.

Students who complete the minor requirements will be able to:

  • recognize the important role of uncertainty and variability in empirical studies of real world phenomenon
  • employ basic statistical methods to analyze and explore data
  • understand the theoretical underpinnings of basic statistical methods

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Special Programs and Learning Opportunities

There are several ways to add depth, scope, and experiential learning to your academic program of study. An academic counselor will help you determine the most efficient way to add another major, minor, or concentration to your academic plan, and will refer you to other campus programs and resources that support your interests and future goals.

» CONCENTRATIONS:


  • Engineering and Computer Science in the Global Context

    All Bren School majors in good standing may propose an academic plan that demonstrates the ability to complete the concentration and other requirements for graduation in a reasonable timeframe.

    The globalization of the marketplace for information technology services and products makes it likely that Bren ICS graduates will work in multicultural settings or be employed by companies with extensive international operations, or customer bases. The goal of the concentration is to help students develop and integrate knowledge of the history, language and culture of a country or geographic region outside the United States, through coursework both at UCI and an international host campus, followed by a technology related internship in the host country.

    Application:
    Each student's proposed program of study, specifying coursework and a guided internship experience in a region outside the U.S., must be approved in advance by the Bren School of ICS Associate Dean for Student Affairs. It is expected that each student's proposal will reflect a high degree of planning that includes the guidance of academic counselors and those at the UCI Center for International Education regarding course selection, as well as considerations related to internship opportunities, housing and financial aid. The academic counselors and the Associate Dean will be available to assist qualified students with the development of a satisfactory academic plan, as needed.

    Requirements:
    1. A minimum of eight courses at UCI or at the international campus with an emphasis on the culture, language (if applicable and necessary), history, literature of the country that corresponds to the international portion of the program, international law, international labor policy, global issues, global institutions, global conflict and negotiation and global economics;
    2. A one or two semester sequence of technical courses related to the major and, possibly, cultural, history, and literature courses taken at an international university;
    3. A two month or longer technical internship experience in the same country as the international educational experience.
» MINORS

Students inside and outside of the Bren School of ICS may want to pursue a minor, a coordinated set of courses which together take a student well beyond the introductory level in an academic field, subject, and/or discipline. Note: Some minor requirements may be fulfilled by the student’s major requirements. Some major/minor combinations are not allowed.

» OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONORS-LEVEL STUDY

Students who are majoring in Biomedical Computing, Business Information Management, Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, and Information and Computer Science, and ICS Undeclared Pre-Majors are invited to apply for admission to the Bren School of ICS's introductory honors sequence (ICS H21/H22/H23). These courses provide a uniquely challenging and intimate learning environment in which conventional course material is explored in greater depth.

A student must meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible to enroll in ICS H21:

  • Minimum 620 on each of 2 of 3 sections of the SAT; or
  • Member of the UCI Campuswide Honors Program; or
  • Verification of score of 3 or higher on AP Computer Science A exam; or

Eligible students will be provided an authorization code (required) for course enrollment at the time of their summer orientation/registration session.

» BREN SCHOOL OF ICS HONORS PROGRAM

Allows juniors and seniors majoring in Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Informatics, or Information and Computer Science to pursue advanced work in one of many research areas.

Students admitted to the program participate in an honors seminar, conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty member, and write a research paper.

More information about eligibility criteria and benefits of successful completion of the honors program is available at the Honors program web site.

» INDEPENDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

The School encourages all majors to take advantage of this valuable experience, and faculty advertise many research opportunities every year.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the campus Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), which offers guidance and grant funding for student-proposed independent research, and sponsors programs which provide summer stipends for students working on faculty-guided research.

» CAMPUSWIDE HONORS PROGRAM

Available to selected high-achieving students from all academic majors from their freshman through senior years. For more information see the CHP web site.

» EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAM

Upper-division students have the opportunity to experience different cultures while making progress toward degree objectives through the Education Abroad Program (EAP).

EAP is an overseas study program which operates in cooperation with host universities and colleges throughout the world.

» OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

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Still not sure?

Prospective and current students interested in learning more about the Bren ICS degree options are encouraged to meet with the Associate Dean, counselors and student ambassadors in the Bren ICS Student Affairs Office.

They will help you determine which of our majors and minors best support your academic strengths and interests.

CONTACT:
Bren ICS Student Affairs Office
Information and Computer Science Building I, Suite 352
Irvine, CA 92697-3430
Phone: (949) 824-5156
Email: ucounsel@uci.edu

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