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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Statistics

Bachelor of Science in Statistics

Students on Summer 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 requirements STATBS
The Bachelor of Science in Statistics provides students with an education in the science of data and data analysis, including statistical theory, statistical computation, and practical applications. It teaches students to think critically about quantitative methodologies and prepares them for careers that involve analyzing data, including the possibility of graduate study in statistics. The program focuses on statistics as the science of data. Data are numbers with a context; the particular context that gave rise to the numbers is important. In addition to a knowledge of mathematics, statisticians must learn about the scientific disciplines that generate data of interest to understand and explain the observational studies or the statistical experiments in question. For example, statisticians calculate probabilities for DNA paternity tests; design clinical trials to study the effectiveness of new medications; study economic time series data, such as gross domestic product from developing countries in Africa; and develop statistical models of responses from fMRI psychological experiments.

Requirements

The major requires at least 31 credit hours (46 credit hours including the Addenda Requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Core Statistics Courses.
    1. Statistical Inference. One (1) course:
      • STAT-S 320 Introduction to Statistics
      • STAT-S 350 Introduction to Statistical Inference
    2. Data Modeling and Inference.
      • STAT-S 352 Data Modeling and Inference
    3. Introduction to Statistical Theory. One (1) course:
      • STAT-S 420 Introduction to Statistical Theory
    4. Applied Linear Models. Two (2) courses:
      • STAT-S 431 Applied Linear Models I
      • STAT-S 432 Applied Linear Models II
    5. Statistical Consulting. One (1) course:
      • STAT-X 498 Statistical Consulting
  2. Probability. One (1) course:
    • MATH-M 463 Introduction to Probability Theory I
    • MATH-S 463 Honors Course in Probability Theory I
  3. Statistics Electives. Two (2) courses:
    • Any STAT-S 400–499 except STAT-S 420; STAT-S 431; STAT-S 432
  4. Computer Proficiency. One (1) course:
    • CSCI-C 200 Introduction to Computers and Programming
  5. Addenda Requirements*.
    • Calculus I. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
      • MATH-S 211
    • Calculus II. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 212 Calculus II
      • MATH-S 212 Honors Calculus II
    • Calculus III. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 311 Calculus III
      • MATH-S 311 Honors Course in Calculus III
    • Linear Algebra. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 301 Linear Algebra and Applications
      • MATH-M 303 Linear Algebra for Undergraduates
      • MATH-S 303 Honors Course in Linear Algebra
  6. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    5. Exceptions to major requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.