Statistics, B.S.

Undergraduate Degree

Statistics is the science and art of learning from data. It is an area of science that involves the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, as well as appropriate communication and presentation of data-driven results. The field of statistics provides useful critical-thinking techniques and procedures for evaluating ideas and discovering the world around us.

The study and practice of statistics can be very exciting—and enable you to work in so many diverse settings, including supporting research to make medicine more effective; analyzing information from space on continuous changes in global climatic weather; working at social network sites like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn; or helping to protect endangered species. The ways in which statisticians make the world a better place are vast. Diverse and numerous amounts of data are collected continually and everywhere—and you can be part of how this information is used throughout our world.

Statistics can be applied to a vast number of fields and issues, ranging from the environment and public safety to healthcare and sports. According to the American Statistical Association, statistician was ranked the best business job, and the second-best job in America, by U.S. News & World Report in January 2019.

Earning your Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Statistics at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, will prepare you for exciting and challenging careers, with among the fastest-growing and top-paying jobs in the country.

Why Study Statistics at Marshall?

Our B.S. program in Statistics has a strong background in Mathematics, with diverse and well-structured courses in Statistics that also prepare you for advanced degrees in mathematical and statistical sciences.

Our Department of Mathematics has award-winning faculty who continue to make significant contributions in the fields of mathematics and statistics. Average class sizes are small, providing a closer interaction between faculty and students. Students also can be involved in faculty research projects and are mentored by research faculty in their capstone projects. Travel funds are available for you to attend and present your research work at local, regional and selected national conferences.

Career Outlook for Statistics Majors

Whether you are called a statistician, statistical scientist, data scientist or data analyst, one thing is common to all—using statistics to draw valuable insights or inferences from data. Many education and career paths may lead to becoming a statistician, and employment opportunities are available in a multitude of areas, providing statisticians with professional flexibility, and exciting and rewarding career opportunities.

Employment of statisticians is projected to grow 34 percent through 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Growth is expected to result from more widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed business, healthcare and policy decisions. In addition, the large increase in available data from the Internet will open up new areas for analysis.

Demand for statisticians is growing and their salaries are strong. The median annual wage for statisticians was $87,780 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $139,350.

As of May 2018, the median annual wages for statisticians in the top industries in which they worked were:

Federal government – $106,670
Research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences – $96,290
Insurance carriers and related activities – $81,660
Healthcare and social assistance – $79,370
Colleges, universities and professional schools; state, local, and private – $73,360

Future Prospects

A degree in Statistics from Marshall University opens up many employment opportunities in West Virginia and beyond, including:

Engineering, industry, banking / finance and actuarial positions
Secondary education
Insurance companies
Healthcare industry
Government agencies such as the National Security Agency and federal research laboratories

In addition, statisticians will be needed in the scientific research and development services, and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industries. The aging of the U.S. population is expected to prompt pharmaceutical companies to develop new treatments and medical technologies. Biostatisticians will be needed to conduct the research and clinical trials necessary for companies to obtain approval for their products from the Food and Drug Administration.

If you earn your bachelor’s degree in Statistics, you also will be prepared to go for a graduate program in the statistical sciences, mathematics, economics, engineering and other fields, or professional school in business, law, medicine and related fields.

Opportunities for Statistics Majors

Special Programming

Each semester, the Department of Mathematics offers Math Colloquium talks on a variety of mathematical topics.

The department’s Advanced Research Initiative series features distinguished guest speakers who also meet and talk with undergraduate and graduate students.

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Mathematics mentors and sponsors undergraduate research. Examples of available research programs include:

The Differential Analyzer Laboratory, supervised by Dr. Bonita Lawrence, has several ongoing student research projects.
The Mathematical Biology research group, mentored by Dr. Anna Mummert, is actively studying the spread and control of influenza using discrete mathematical modeling. This research was funded by an NSF mathematical biology research grant.
Individual student projects funded by the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) grant program.
A PIC Math grant to facilitate applied student research projects. The department continues to offer courses in the same style in which teams of students serve a mathematical consultants for local governments and organizations.

77%
Of Undergraduate Students Received
Some Form of Financial Aid
$94M
In Total Financial Aid Awarded
One of the most affordable universities in America
Marshall was named one of the top 100 most affordable universities in America by Best Value Schools.
$17.5M+
Awarded in Federal Grants
$23M
In Institutional Scholarships and Grants Awarded
Mathematics Chair & Professor
Mathematics Associate Chair & Associate Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies & Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies & Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Instructor
Instructor
Instructor
Professor
Assistant Professor
Instructor
Assistant Professor
Instructor
Professor
Assistant Professor
http://Stephen%20Deterding%20headshot
Assistant Professor
Instructor

 Bison icon - General Education Course

 Mortarboard Icon - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

Four Year Plan

The Marshall University Department of Mathematics prepare students for careers in the mathematical sciences and related disciplines. Graduates of our mathematics programs have had successful careers in government and industry. Our graduates have also earned advanced degrees in mathematics, statistics, engineering, and economics. Our degree programs may also be used to prepare for secondary mathematics certification and for professions such as law or medicine. The department has a dynamic and engaged faculty who focus both on excellent teaching and on many areas of mathematical research.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
FYS 100 First Yr Sem Critical Thinking 3
ENG 101 Bison image Beginning Composition 3
MTH 229 Bison image  Cap graduation image Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) 5
Core II Fine Arts 3
UNI 100 Freshman First Class 1
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
MTH 230 Bison image  Cap graduation image Calculus/Analytic Geom II 4
Core I Critical Thinking
CMM 103 Bison image Fund Speech-Communication 3
CS 110 Computer Science I 3
Core II Social Science 3
 Credit Hours13
Second Year
First Semester
MTH 231 Bison image  Cap graduation image Calculus/Analytic Geom III 4
MTH 300 Intro to Higher Math 4
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition 3
Core II Physical/Natural Science 4
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
MTH 331 Linear Algebra 4
300/400 Level Elective 3
Free Elective 4
Physical/Natural Science Elective 4
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
First Semester
MTH 427 Advanced Calculus I 3
STA 445 Probability & Statistics I 3
Physical/Natural Science Elective 3
Multicultural or International Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Humanities Elective 3
Writing Intensive Elective 3
STA 446 Probability & Statistics II 3
300/400 MTH or STA Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
First Semester
STA 412 Regression Analysis 3
STA 435 Statistical Data Mining 3
300/400 MTH or STA Elective 3
Writing Intensive 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
STA 413 Experimental Designs 3
STA 420 Nonparametric Statistics 3
MTH 490 Bison image
or MTH 491 Bison image
Internship in Mathematics
or Senior Seminar
2
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours117

 Bison icon - General Education Course

STA 150 Bison image  Foundations of Statistics3 Credit hours   

A critical thinking course on the basic foundation of Statistics for non-majors, allowing them to better prepare, develop and harness discipline-specific skills.

Pre-req: (ACT Math with a score of 17 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 460 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 400 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 237) and STA 150L (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

Concurrent PR: STA 150L
Attributes: Core II Mathematics, Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 150B Bison image  Foundations of Stats-Expanded4 Credit hours   

A critical thinking course on the basic foundation of Statistics for non-majors with algebra review, allowing them to better prepare, develop and harness discipline-specific skills.

Pre-req: STA 150L (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

Concurrent PR: STA 150L
Attributes: Core II Mathematics, Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 150L Bison image  Foundations of Statistics Lab1 Credit hour   

A lab to provide training in using the SPSS software in Foundations of Statistics for non-majors.

Pre-req: STA 150 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D or STA 150B (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

Concurrent PR: STA 150 or STA 150B
Attributes: Core II Mathematics, Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 225 Bison image  Introductory Statistics (CT)3 Credit hours   

A critical thinking course in applied statistical reasoning covering basic probability, descriptive statistics and fundamental statistical inference procedures. Parameter estimation and hypothesis testing for variety of situations with wide applications.

Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 21 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 500 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 530 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 102 or MTH 121 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 123 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 127 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130E with a minimum grade of C or MTH 122 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 121B with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Mathematics, Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 326 Applied Statistical Methods3 Credit hours   

Use of statistical packages; introduction to descriptive, probability and sampling distributions; forecasting, inferences concerning one and two samples; simple and multiple regression, analysis of variance and covariance.

Pre-req: STA 225 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 229 with a minimum grade of C or STA 150 with a minimum grade of C or STA 150B with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 345 Applied Prob and Stat3 Credit hours   

Statistical methods in scientific/engineering research, with emphasis on applications. Probability modeling, experimental design/survey sampling, estimation/hypothesis testing procedures, regression, ANOVA/factor analysis. Implementation using statistical software such as Excel/SAS.

Pre-req: MTH 229 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 229H with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 412 Regression Analysis3 Credit hours   

Determining regression models; deriving parameter estimates using calculus; detailed coverage of tests of assumptions and remedial procedures (transformations and weithted least-squares); multiple and polynomial regression; tests and corrections for autocorrelation.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 413 Experimental Designs3 Credit hours   

Analysis of variance an covariance models with derivations using calculus; detailed testing of model assumptions and remedial measures (as transformations) to yield adequate models; use of various statistical designs.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 420 Nonparametric Statistics3 Credit hours   

Coverage of a variety of nonparametric or distribution-free methods for practical statistical inference problems in hypothesis testing and estimation, including rank procedures and randomization procedures.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 422 Time Series Forecasting3 Credit hours   

Finding statistical models to represent various time dependent phenomena and processes; coverage of a variety of forecasting techniques, with an emphasis on adaptive, regression, and Box-Jenkins procedures.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 425 Sampling Designs & Estimation3 Credit hours   

Coverage of the theory and applications of a variety of sampling designs; sample size determination; ratio and regression estimates; comparisions among the designs.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 435 Statistical Data Mining3 Credit hours   

Introduction to statistical learning techniques for analyzing high dimensional data. Topics include data mining strategy, explanatory analysis, predictive modeling techniques and model assessment.

Pre-req: STA 345 with a minimum grade of C or STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 445 Probability & Statistics I3 Credit hours   

Probability spaces, conditional probability, and applications. Random variables, distributions, expectation, and moments.

Pre-req: MTH 230 with a minimum grade of C and MTH 231 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C.

Concurrent PR: MTH 231
Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 446 Probability & Statistics II3 Credit hours   

Statistical inference: estimation of parameters, tests of hypotheses. Regression, analysis of variance.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 464 Statistical Computing3 Credit hours   

Introduction to the commonly used statistical computing techniques, procedures and methods, with extensive use of R language and environment, and SAS for statistical computing and graphics.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 466 Stochastic Processes3 Credit hours   

Review of probability theory. Topics include stationary processes, discrete and continuous time Markov chains, Markovian queuing systems, random walks, renewal processes, Brownian motion and Markov Chain Monte Carlo.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 470 Applied Survival Analysis3 Credit hours   

Survival and hazard functions, parametric and non-parametric methods, models and inferences for survival data, and regression diagnosis.

Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 480 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Courses on special topics in statistics not listed among the current offerings.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
STA 485 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   

A faculty, supervised, indvidualized course of study of a topic in statistics.

Attributes: Statistics
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
Take the Next Steps

Learn How to become part of the Marshall family!