Students will:

• Be able to distinguish between observational studies and designed experiments and understand the issues related to the data collection method, including sampling bias, sampling error, sample size determination, statistical power, association versus causation, and the design and analysis of randomized experiments;
• Use critical thinking skills to translate substantive questions into well-defined statistical problems and choose appropriate statistical methods and graphical summaries for a given problem;
• Use computer software to manage data, carry out exploratory data analyses and computer simulations, produce numerical and graphical summaries of data, and apply basic statistical methodology;
• Be able to clearly communicate study results to non-statisticians, and write accurate and meaningful reports that describe the statistical analyses and summarize important findings; and
• Understand the mathematical tools underlying statistical methods, including distribution theory, uncertainty quantification via probability, estimation theory, and the probabilistic basis of formal statistical inference.

The Bachelor of Science with a major in statistics requires a minimum of 120 semester hours, including at least 47 semester hours of work for the major. Students must maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Students who earn the major in statistics may not earn the major in data science.

Students complete 10 core courses that provide essential instruction in statistical methods, applications, and theory. In addition, they may concentrate on an interest area by selecting appropriate elective courses.

All students complete the following 10 core courses.

Students complete 15 s.h. of electives with a maximum of 6 s.h. coming from domain electives.

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the university's four-year graduation plan. Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.

Much of the course work in statistics is sequential, so students must begin requirements for the major as soon as possible. Individual study plans must be made carefully. Students who first enroll for a spring semester must consult their advisor to confirm a four-year plan.

Courses must be taken in sequence, so students must begin work early.

Before the fifth semester begins at least four courses in the major, including:

• MATH:1850 Calculus I
• MATH:1860 Calculus II
• STAT:2010 Statistical Methods and Computing 

Before the seventh semester begins, seven or eight courses in the major and at least 90 semester hours earned toward the degree.

Before the eighth semester begins, nine or ten courses in the major must be earned.

During the eighth semester, enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining GE CLAS Core courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate must be completed.