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BS 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 BS 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. Students pursuing the BS degree may elect to take an alternative to a foreign language. 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 1500Analytic Geometry and Calculus I5
MATH 1700Calculus II5
MATH 2300Calculus III3
MATH 4140Matrix Theory3
Applied track
MATH 1500Analytic Geometry and Calculus I5-6
or MATH 1300
MATH 1400
Finite Mathematics
and Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I
6 additional credits in statistics courses (beyond those used to fulfill the statistics requirements of the degree) or approved statistically-oriented courses; must be numbered 4000 or above
Statistics courses
Traditional Track
STAT 4970WJunior/Senior Seminar - Writing Intensive3
STAT 4710Introduction to Mathematical Statistics3
or STAT 4750 Introduction to Probability Theory
15 additional credits offered by the department, at least 12 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 4970WJunior/Senior Seminar - Writing Intensive3
STAT 4710Introduction to Mathematical Statistics3
or STAT 4760 Statistical Inference
or STAT 3500 Introduction to Probability and Statistics II
21 additional credits offered by the department, at least 18 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
CMP_SC 1300Computing with Data in Python3-4
or INFOTC 1040 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming
or CMP_SC 1050 Algorithm Design and Programming I
CMP_SC 2300Introduction to Computational Data Visualization3-4
or CMP_SC 2050 Algorithm Design and Programming II
or STAT 4110 Statistical Software and Data Analysis
(NOTE: STAT 4110: Statistical Software and Data Analysis may be used as part of this requirement only if it is not counted in statistics group above.)
Professional writing, communication, or additional computing
Both tracks
ENGLSH 2030Professional Writing3
or COMMUN 1200 Public Speaking
(NOTE: May also be met by completing three hours of computer science at the 2000+ level beyond what is used to meet the computing requirement above.)

Second Language Option for Students Pursuing a BS Degree

Students pursuing the BS degree may elect to take an alternative to a second language. Such students must complete no fewer than 12 upper-class credits that are not from the parent department, are not normally required of departmental majors and do not appear elsewhere in the graduation plan. This program must be carefully planned to form a coherent unit and must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.

The following are examples of foreign language alternatives:

  • mathematical sciences
  • biological sciences
  • behavioral sciences
  • physical sciences
  • business
  • engineering
  • economics

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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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 1160+5MATH 15005
ENGLSH 1000+3INFOTC 10403
Hum/Fine Arts Elective+3Soc/Behav Science Elec+3
American History of Government+3Bio/Phys Science lab+5
Elective3 
 17 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 17005MATH 23003
STAT 25003STAT 35003
ENGLSH 20303Hum/Fine Arts Elective+3
Hum/Fine Arts Elective+3WI Elective+3
Elective3Elective3
 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 41403STAT 45103
STAT 41103STAT 47103
Elective6Soc/Behav Science Elective*3
Second Language Substitute*3Second Language Substitute*3
 Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
STAT 47503STAT 47603
STAT 45203STAT 4970W3
Electives3Electives4
Second Language Substitute*6 
 15 10
Total Credits: 120
*

Course used as area in lieu of second language

+

Course meets University General Education and/or campus requirements

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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/.

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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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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