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:
Future Prospects
A degree in Statistics from Marshall University opens up many employment opportunities in West Virginia and beyond, including:
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:
- General Education Course
- 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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| ENG 101
|
Beginning Composition | 3 |
| MTH 229
|
Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 5 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MTH 230
|
Calculus/Analytic Geom II | 4 |
| Core I Critical Thinking | ||
| CMM 103
|
Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| CS 110 | Computer Science I | 3 |
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MTH 231
|
Calculus/Analytic Geom III | 4 |
| MTH 300 | Intro to Higher Math | 4 |
| ENG 201
|
Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MTH 331 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| 300/400 Level Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Physical/Natural Science Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| STA 413 | Experimental Designs | 3 |
| STA 420 | Nonparametric Statistics | 3 |
| MTH 490
or MTH 491
|
Internship in Mathematics or Senior Seminar |
2 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 117 | |
- General Education Course
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Statistical inference: estimation of parameters, tests of hypotheses. Regression, analysis of variance.
Pre-req: STA 445 with a minimum grade of C.
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.
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.
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.
Courses on special topics in statistics not listed among the current offerings.
A faculty, supervised, indvidualized course of study of a topic in statistics.