Statistics, B.S.

Program Description

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Statistics is the study of designing experiments and surveys, and evaluating the collected data. This rapidly growing science is widely used to make predictions about future events based on patterns observed in the past and to draw accurate inferences about large groups on the basis of a representative sample from the group. Economic forecasts and public opinion polls are examples of these kinds of statistical methods.

The methodology of statistics can be adapted to many types of problems. Due to the extensive development of computers and the collection of large databases, the need for statistical techniques has greatly expanded in the past few decades. A society like ours, which has become increasingly dependent on its data, has a growing need for statisticians.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a Statistics, B.S. from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

apply basic computational skill in descriptive statistics and graphical displays; hypothesis testing and confidence intervals; modeling and error analysis;
communicate to others results involving descriptive statistics and graphical displays; hypothesis testing and confidence intervals; modeling and error analysis;
analyze data using appropriate statistical computer software and to interpret the results covering descriptive statistics and graphical displays; hypothesis testing and confidence intervals; modeling and error analysis.

Career Opportunities

• Actuary
• Biostatistician
• Business Executive
• Census Analyst
• Credit Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Economist
• Financial Modeling Specialist
• Forms Analyst
• Information Systems Analyst
• Insurance Agent
• Market Researcher
• Oddsmaker
• Quality Control Specialist
• Research Statistician
• Sales Analyst
• SAS Programmer
• Statistician
• Survey Designer
• Systems Analyst
• Teacher

Preparation

For Advanced Placement course equivalencies, see Registration.

The theory of statistics rests on a mathematical foundation. Even for statisticians whose primary interest is in applications, challenging mathematical problems arise continually. Calculus and computer programming are required for the major. An elementary course in linear algebra is highly recommended.

Courses in areas to which statistics is applied will also be helpful. Examples are business, biology, chemistry, geography, social sciences, psychology, and physics.

Community college students are advised to complete the sequence of elementary calculus and analytic geometry courses before transferring to Cal State East Bay. Another excellent lower-division requirement to complete before transferring is a course in introductory computer programming.

Honors in Statistics

Students earning a GPA of 3.6 or higher in courses comprising their major in Statistics will be awarded Honors in the degree provided the coursework applied toward the degree includes the courses listed in areas I and II below.

I. Required Courses for Honors (16 units)

• MATH 2101 Elements of Linear Algebra  
• MATH 2304 Calculus III  
• MATH 3100 Linear Algebra  
• STAT 3402 Introduction to Probability Theory II  

II. Required Honors Course (4 units)

• STAT 4401 Introduction to Stochastic Processes   or STAT 4601 Regression  taken as a special honors course with permission of the instructor and the Director of the Honors Program.

Major Requirements (B.S.)

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Please consult an advisor in your major department for clarification and interpretation of your major requirements. The major consists of 68-77 units; the B.S. degree requires a total of 180 units.

Credit/No Credit Courses

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It is the policy of the department that no course taken on a “CR/NC” basis may be applied toward any of the requirements of Section II above. Individual petitions for waiver of this policy will be treated according to the same procedures as petitions to waive other degree requirements.

Double Major

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A knowledge of statistical methods is of increasing importance to students in many areas, especially the physical, computing, decision, environmental, biological, political, and social sciences and administrative studies (including business, health care, and education). A second major in statistics along with a major in one of these areas may result in better preparation for employment or graduate study. The following three factors combine to make such a double major feasible in many cases:

1. The Statistics major allows for a relatively large number of completely unrestricted elective units. The student may elect courses required for the other major among these.
2. Up to twenty units in certain areas outside of Statistics may be applied toward the Statistics degree. (See Area of Emphasis requirement, III.2.)
3. Some other majors require Statistics courses that also count towards the Statistics major (e.g., STAT 3010 , STAT 3031 , STAT 3401 , STAT 3502 , etc.).

To obtain an illustrative program contact the Department of Statistics and Biostatistics.

Other Degree Requirements

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In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University requirements for graduation which are described in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements chapter in the front of this catalog. These include the General Education-Breadth requirements; the second composition (ENGL 1002 ) requirement; the cultural groups/women requirement; the performing arts/activities requirement; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing Skills Requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.