Statistical Science, B.S.

Statistical scientists specialize in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. An attractive aspect of the discipline of statistics is the wide variety of problems that it addresses:

• Government agencies such as the U.S. Census Bureau employ statisticians to conduct and analyze social and economic surveys; statisticians at the Food and Drug Administration have a critical role in the design of clinical trials and in the review of applications to market new drugs and devices.
• Manufacturing and related industries employ statisticians to work in areas such as quality control and process optimization.
• Banks and insurance companies hire statisticians to assist in modeling financial data.
• Medical schools, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies employ statisticians to work on research problems in clinical, population and basic science.

Statistical science is a collaborative, interdisciplinary subject that is valuable as a double major or minor. The B.S. in statistical science prepares students for a career in data science, or for advanced studies in statistical science, such as graduate work in the field or in a related discipline.

Admission to a Statistical Science Major

Prior to declaring the statistical science major, students must either:

1. Pass STAT 2331  (Introduction to Statistical Methods) with a C- or better, and pass either MATH 1338  (Calculus II) or MATH 1340  (Consolidated Calculus) with a C- or better; or
2. Pass STAT 4340 /CS 4340 /OREM 3340  (Statistical Methods for Engineers and Applied Scientists) with a C- or better.

SMU Degree Requirements

An SMU undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and must include completion of the University’s Common Curriculum , one major and a combination of electives and/or other majors or minors. Completion of certain majors requires more than 120 hours to finish the degree. The credit hours within this curriculum are distributed as follows: