Statistics program

Learn to collect, analyze and interpret data.

Statistics helps us understand and describe phenomena in our world from population health to weather forecasting to business profits. Using data, statisticians can draw reliable conclusions and help guide important decisions. Statistics can be studied by itself or in conjunction with other fields such as the biological and life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences.

The UW-La Crosse Department of Mathematics & Statistics serves a diverse group of students. The department nurtures all liberal arts students, giving students a solid foundation from which to study both the natural and social sciences and providing the tools needed in professional programs. The program is also dedicated to cultivating mathematics and statistics majors

Undergrad major Undergrad minor Graduate degree

Statistics

Statistics is the science of collecting, analyzing, and making inferences from data. There is no area of STEM, social science or business that does not require some form of statistical thought. It is an integral part of the liberal arts education and is the foundation for many areas of study.

Undergrad major Undergrad minor View a sample plan for Statistics Catalogfor Statistics Learn more for Statistics

Actuarial Science Concentration

Actuarial science is the use of mathematical and statistics tools to aid in decision making, particularly the assessment of risk.

 

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Applied Statistics

Graduate degree

Undergrad + graduate dual degree

This dual degree program enables students to earn both a Bachelor of Science degree with a statistics major and a Master of Science degree in applied statistics in five years.

Undergrad major Graduate degree View a sample plan for Undergrad + graduate dual degree Catalogfor Undergrad + graduate dual degree

A program within Mathematics & Statistics

Careers in statistics

Students who graduate with degrees statistics pursue a wide variety of careers. Many statistics majors go on to jobs in industry as analysts, statisticians, and actuaries while others go on to professional programs such as law, medicine and health professions, or business.

Positions

  • Statistics professor
  • Software engineer
  • Manager of manufacturing process engineering
  • Actuary
  • Plant Manager
  • Statistician
  • Data analyst
  • Supplier quality/component engineer

Further education

  • Applied mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Engineering
  • Computer science

What distinguishes UWL's Statistics program?

Strong complement to STEM and Social Science fields

A major or minor in Statistics works well in conjunction with almost any program at UWL, especially those in STEM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science) and the Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and Economics).

Small class sizes

Class sizes are small; calculus classes are typically 25 to 30 students and upper level classes are typically 10 to 20 students.

Faculty are excellent teacher-scholars

Faculty in the department are involved in research in areas of algebra, analysis, topology and geometry, statistics, applied mathematics, numerical analysis, education, and combinatorics and graph theory. This research is widely published in prestigious research journals, and many faculty have received numerous grants.

Mathematics and Statistics Club

A student run Mathematics and Statistics Club meets at various times during each semester. Activities include talks by students and invited speakers, picnics, travel to conferences and friendly sporting contests with other clubs or faculty.

Research opportunities

Many students participate in undergraduate research projects that result in publications and presentations at national conferences. The department has several research fellowships that provide funding for reserch.

Modeling contests

Students can participate in local, regional and international mathematics or statistics modeling contests.

Connect to study and socialize

Mathematics and Statistics Resource Room is located within the department. This room is a place for math majors to study and socialize. There are also computers available for use.

Tutoring opportunities

Math majors can work from 5-15 hours a week as a tutor in the Murphy Learning Center or as a peer teaching assistant.

Internship and part-time job opportunities

Students can obtain internships and part-time jobs with local business and engineering firms, public utilities, and medical and governmental research institutions.

Sample courses

STAT 345 Statistical Computing This is an introductory course covering fundamentals of modern statistical computing. Topics include core programming concepts such as functions, data structures and debugging. Stochastic simulations and random variable generation are introduced, as well as accessing, filtering, and analyzing data from other resources. The R language is used. Prerequisite: STAT 145 or STAT 245. Offered Spring.

STAT 405

STAT 445 Correlation and Regression Analysis This course is an introduction to simple linear regression, multiple regression, polynomial regression. Inferences, appropriateness of model, model diagnostics/adequacy, difficulties in the application of models are discussed. A computer package is used. Course participants are involved with hands-on statistical applications and consulting. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: grade of "C" or better in STAT 305 or STAT 345; junior standing. Offered Fall.

STAT 449 Applied Multivariate Statistics This course is an introduction to applied multivariate statistical methods covering multivariate analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of covariance, repeated measures design, factor analysis, principle component analysis, cluster analysis, discriminate analysis, and multivariate regression. Course participants are involved with hands-on statistical applications. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: grade of "C" or better in STAT 305 or STAT 345; junior standing. Offered Fall - Odd Numbered Years.