Undergraduate Degrees in Statistics

Statistics is a combination of classical mathematics, the theory of probability, and new concepts related to inductive reasoning that have developed during the past 75 years.

Almost all activities of plants and animals (including people) depend to some degree on chance events, and most decisions made by people depend on sampling information—which also depends on chance events, and hence on probability. Consequently, fields of interest and activities for a statistician potentially are very broad.

Likewise, the professional activities open to a trained statistician are varied. The existence of modern-day computers relieves the statistician of tedious computations and elevates his or her professional activity to dealing with people and/or engaging in basic research.

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees

Students who major in statistics may seek a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree by satisfying the general requirements of that degree and by completing the following:

• MATH 220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 hours)
• MATH 221 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4 hours)
• MATH 222 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (4 hours)
• One of: CIS 200 Fundamentals of Software Design (4 hours) or CIS 111 Fundamentals of Computer Programming (3 hours)
• One course selected from MATH 551, CIS 209, CIS 300 (3 hours)
• ENGL 516 Written Communication for the Sciences (3 hours)
• One of STAT 325, 340 or 350 (3 hours) (Note: STAT 320 and 330 are now combined into STAT 325.)
• STAT 341 or 351 (3 hours) (Note: STAT courses at the 400 level or higher may replace either or both of the 300-level STAT courses.)
• STAT 510 >Introductory Probability and Statistics I (3 hours)
• STAT 511 Introductory Probability and Statistics II (3 hours)
• STAT 704 Analysis of Variance and Covariance (2 hours)
• STAT 705 Regression and Correlation Analyses (2 hours)
• One of STAT 710, 720, or 722 (2-3 hours)
• One additional STAT course at 700 level (2-3 hours)
• Upper-division quantitative electives to give a total of 46 credit hours. Courses must be at the 400 level or above, and may include IMSE 541, math, computer science, statistics, or course in other area with substantial quantitative content. Note that STAT courses at the 400 level or higher may replace either or both of the 300 level STAT courses.
• A minimum of 2.0 GPA in STAT courses taken as part of the major is required for graduation.

Additional information about undergraduate degrees in Statistics is available in K-State’s Undergraduate Catalog.

Statistics minor

Students interested in quantitative methods to complement their major area of study may select a minor in statistics. The requirements are:

1. One of: STAT 325, 340, 350, 510
2. One of: STAT 341, 351, 511
3. Both: STAT 704 and 705
4. Five additional hours that require statistics as a prerequisite. Courses may be statistics courses or quantitative courses from another department containing substantial statistical content. These courses should be pre-approved by the Department of Statistics.

Dual majors and dual degrees

Students may major in statistics and another discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences. The degree requirements of both departments must be met. For instance, it is possible to complete a dual statistics-mathematics degree in four years.

Students may obtain a dual degree in statistics and a field in another college such as business administration or engineering. The degree requirements of both colleges must be met and a minimum of 150 hours must be completed. Students who choose this option should complete the calculus sequence by the end of the sophomore year.