DEGREES AVAILABLE: Minor
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.
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.
What can I do with this minor?
The 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
Still not sure?
Students are encouraged to contact undergraduate coordinator Jessica Utts or Department Chairman Hal Stern if they are interested in discussing the Statistics minor further.
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
