B.A./B.S. in Statistics

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a B.A. or B.S. in statistics.

What is Statistics?

Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, and interpreting data. The goal of statistics is not merely to perform computations and make graphs with data, but also to learn from data. You’ll gain special training to draw conclusions and make decisions through the analysis of data in the face of uncertainty. Understanding statistics, including its misuses and limitations, is a critical component of being an informed citizen in our increasingly data-driven world.

Why Statistics?

With a Valpo degree in statistics, you can pursue a career in a wide array of fields, such as medicine, public health, education, manufacturing, marketing, finance, and government. Statisticians serve in many important capacities, including studying the safety of nuclear power plants, evaluating the environmental impact of pollution, determining the effectiveness of new drugs, estimating the U.S. unemployment rate, and analyzing consumer demand for products.

Employment opportunities in statistics are growing quickly, and there are too few people trained in data analysis to meet the strong demand in the job market. A major in statistics provides students with a foundation in statistical theory and focuses on how to appropriately conduct statistical analyses in real applications.

You will take a broad range of statistics and mathematics classes with particular focus on research and analysis. Students who complete the major in statistics will gain quantitative, problem-solving, and communication skills.

*Statistics majors may not pursue a minor in applied statistics.

*Statistics majors who are also pursuing either the mathematics major or the complementary mathematics major may not use courses with a STAT prefix to fulfill any of the upper-level elective requirements for the mathematics major or the complementary mathematics major.