BA in Statistics
Degree Program Description
Statistics is a modern science concerned with making decisions and inferences from empirical data subject to random variability and error. It deals with designing experiments, sample surveys, summarizing numerical information, building and analyzing statistical models, prediction and choosing between alternate actions. Statistics can tell us how much safer it is to fly than drive, the odds of winning the lottery, our life expectancy and who is likely to win the next election. The BA in Statistics allows students to pursue either a traditional track or an applied track. Students who are interested in graduate study are strongly encouraged to follow the traditional track. All students are encouraged to supplement their work in statistics with courses from areas such as economics, biology, accounting, finance, marketing, management, psychology, sociology, engineering, agriculture and atmospheric science. Because of its importance as a scientific method, the demand for trained statisticians has grown in education, medicine, government, business and industry as well as in the biological, social and physical sciences. Students are trained to meet this demand and develop careers in teaching and research.
Major Program Requirements
In addition to Department Degree Requirements, University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
| Mathematics courses | ||
| Traditional track | ||
| MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 1700 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 2300 | Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 4140 | Matrix Theory | 3 |
| Applied track | ||
| MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5-6 |
| or MATH 1300 & MATH 1400 | Finite Mathematics and Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I | |
6 additional credits in statistics (beyond those used to fulfill the statistics requirements of the degree) or approved statistically-oriented courses; must be numbered 4000 or above and may not include STAT 4050 Connecting Statistics to Middle and Secondary Schools
| Statistics Courses | ||
| Traditional Track | ||
| STAT 4510 | Applied Statistical Models I | 3 |
| STAT 4710 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 4750 | Introduction to Probability Theory | |
| STAT 4970W | Junior/Senior Seminar - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| 12 additional credits offered by the department, at least 9 of which must be numbered 3000 or above and may not include STAT 4050: Connecting Statistics to Middle and Secondary Schools or more than 3 credits of STAT 4999: Departmental Honors in Statistics | ||
| Applied Track | ||
| STAT 4510 | Applied Statistical Models I | 3 |
| STAT 4710 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 4760 | Statistical Inference | |
| or STAT 3500 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics II | |
| STAT 4970 | Junior/Senior Seminar | 3 |
| 18 additional credits offered by the department, at least 15 of which must be numbered 3000 or above and may not include STAT 4050: Connecting Statistics to Middle and Secondary Schools or more than 3 credits of STAT 4999: Departmental Honors in Statistics | ||
| Computing Courses | ||
| Both tracks: Select one course | ||
| CMP_SC 1300 | Computing with Data in Python | 3 |
| or INFOTC 1040 | Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming | |
| or CMP_SC 1050 | Algorithm Design and Programming I | |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CMP_SC 1300 or INFOTC 1040 | 3 | STAT 2500 | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | MATH 1500 | 5 |
| MATH 1160 (Math and Quantitative Reasoning) | 5 | Biological or Physical Science Lab | 4 |
| Humanities from Arts and Science | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| STAT 3500 | 3 | MATH 2300 | 3 |
| MATH 1700 | 5 | Behavioral Science, Arts and Science Diversity Requirement | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | Humanities, First Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second Language Requirement | 4 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| STAT 4510 | 3 | STAT 4970W | 3 |
| STAT 4710 or 4750 | 3 | MATH 4140 | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Social Science, 2000+ level | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Stat, 4000-level | 3 | Stat, 4000-level | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Stat, 4000-level | 3 |
| Missouri State Law Requirement: Social Science from Arts and Science | 3 | Humanities, 2000+ level | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.