2007-2008 Academic Catalog

Degree Programs


Statistics

College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
(907) 474-7332
www.dms.uaf.edu

B.S., M.S. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 120 credits

Downloadable PDF (PDF 121K)

Statistics is a collection of methods and theories for making decisions or estimating unknown quantities from incomplete information. Statistical techniques are useful, for example, in estimating plant, animal and mineral abundances; forecasting social, political and economic trends; planning field plot experiments in agriculture; performing clinical trials in medical research; and maintaining quality control in industry. Employment opportunities are excellent for statisticians in many of these areas of application.

The curriculum for the B.S. degree program in statistics was developed using guidelines proposed by the American Statistical Association and provides graduates with a strong mathematics, computation and statistics background and integrates this with an area of application. The program allows considerable flexibility in the choice of the area of application by requiring a minor in any area offered by UAF.

The statistics program is administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In addition to the B.S. in statistics, the department offers a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with an emphasis in statistics. A minor in statistics is also available.

Major--B.S. Degree

  1. Complete the following pre-major requirement:
    1. Students must be ready to matriculate into MATH 200X before they will be allowed to declare statistics as their major.
  2. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete MATH 200X*. ENGL 314 is recommended to fulfill one of the writing intensive course requirements.)
  3. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete MATH 201X*.)
  4. Complete the following statistics core courses:*
    MATH 202X--Calculus--4 credits
    MATH 314--Linear Algebra--3 credits
    MATH 371--Probability--3 credits
    MATH 408--Mathematical Statistics--3 credits
    STAT 200X--Elementary Probability and Statistics (3)
         or STAT 300--Statistics (3)--3 credits
    STAT 401--Regression and Analysis of Variance--4 credits
    STAT 402--Scientific Sampling--3 credits
    STAT 498--Senior Project--3 credits
  5. Complete two of the following statistics or mathematics electives:*
    MATH 307--Discrete Mathematics--3 credits
    MATH 310--Numerical Analysis--3 credits
    MATH 401W--Advanced Calculus--3 credits
    MATH 402--Advanced Calculus--3 credits
    MATH 460--Mathematical Modeling--3 credits
    STAT 461--Applied Multivariate Statistics--3 credits
    STAT, MATH or statistical discipline oriented course approved by the statistics program coordinator--3 credits
  6. Complete two of the following computational electives:*
    CS 103--Introduction to Computer Programming (3)
         or any higher-level CS course (3)--3 credits
    AIS 101--Effective Personal Computer Use--3 credits
    NRM 338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits
    NRM 341--GIS Analysis--4 credits
  7. Complete a minor in any discipline in which UAF offers a minor. A mathematics minor is completed by all statistics majors and may be used to meet this requirement.
  8. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
Note: A double major in statistics and math may be obtained by completing the following: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 above, MATH 215, 308, 401W, 490O and 9 additional credits in upper-division math or statistics. A math elective package is MATH 371 and MATH 408, and STAT 401 and STAT 402 plus 8 credits upper-division MATH or STAT. The statistics elective package is MATH 215 and MATH 401W. Minimum credits required is 60 including MATH 200X and MATH 201X. Other double majors are available.

Minor

  1. Complete the following:
    STAT 200X--Elementary Probability and Statistics (3)
         or STAT 300--Statistics (3)--3 credits
    STAT 401--Regression and Analysis of Variance--4 credits
    MATH 371--Probability*--3 credits
    MATH 408--Mathematical Statistics--3 credits
    MATH, STAT or STAT related course work**--3 credits
  2. Minimum credits required--16 credits

*MATH 371 requires MATH 200X, 201X and 202X as prerequisites.
** e.g., BA 360, GEOS 430, ANTH 424, MATH 460, etc.
Note: Courses completed to satisfy this minor can be used to simultaneously satisfy other major or general distribution requirements.
Note: Fisheries majors selecting the research option need only complete MATH 371 and MATH 408 in addition to their fisheries requirements to obtain a minor in statistics.