Undergraduate Brochure
The Department of Statistics offers undergraduate programs
leading to both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science
degree in statistics. The undergraduate program is aimed both at
preparing students for careers in statistics and serving as a
good foundation for graduate work in the area. The department
also offers graduate programs leading to the MA and PhD degrees. A
minor in statistics also is available.
The field of statistics is a rapidly expanding one, both at
the theoretical and applied levels. Statisticians are in demand
not only from the business community and various branches of
state and federal government but also in the bio-medical areas.
Some specific examples of problems that statisticians work on
include: designing and analyzing the results of experiments to
determine which of two or more methods of performing a task is
most effective; estimating the quality and/or lifetimes of items
such as pacemakers, tires, transistors, etc.; public opinion
surveys on political issues and consumer behavior and
preferences; estimating mortality and accident rates for various
segments of the population and determining the associated premium
rates; and the reduction, analysis, and interpretation of data
that have been collected by space vehicles.
In addition to the Albert
Winemiller Scholarship, the department offers limited
finaical support. The availability and amount of support varies
from semester to semester. Advanced undergraduate students may be
used as graders; applications are available in the department
office. Also, the department frequently is called upon to
recommend qualified students as tutors.
BS and AB Requirements for Statistics Degrees
Requirements for the BS Degree: Traditional
Track
· Statistics: 21 credit hours of
course work, including STAT 302 (the capstone course).
· Mathematics: MATH 80, MATH 175, and MATH 201 (Calculus I, II,
and III); MATH 331 (Matrix Theory) or MATH 340 and MATH 341
(Abstract Algebra).
· Additional Departmental Requirements: CECS 101 (Introduction
to Problem Solving and Programming), one additional 3--credit
course in computing at the 100+ level, ENGL 162 (Professional
Writing).
· Foreign Language / Special Emphasis Area: The foreign language
requirement consists of 12 credit hours of course work. Students
may elect to substitute a special emphasis area in place of a
foreign language, which consists of 12 credit hours of course
work at the 100+ level in an area of specialization: e.g.,
mathematical sciences, biological sciences, behavioral sciences,
physical sciences, business, engineering.
· General Education Requirements: Includes 9 credit hours chosen
from courses in the social and behavioral sciences, and 9 credit
hours chosen from courses in the humanities and fine arts.
Requirements for the BS Degree: Applied Track
· Statistics: STAT 150 and STAT
250, STAT 305, STAT 307, STAT 385, STAT 395, STAT 302, plus 6
credit hours of approved 300+ level course work in statistics or
statistical applications. Possible course choices for the 6
elective hours include STAT 300, STAT 345, STAT 360, STAT 370,
SOC 375 (Social Statistics), SOC 376 (Advanced Social
Statistics), PSYCH 419 (Advanced Psychological Statistics I),
PSYCH 420 (Advanced Psychological Statistics II), PSYCH 421
(Advanced Techniques in Psychological Statistics), ECON 368
(Macroeconomic Forecasting), BUS 324 (Managerial Statistics), BUS
326 (Managerial Decision Science), MKTG 313 (Marketing Research),
MKTG 360 (Quantitative Analysis in Marketing).
· Mathematics: MATH 60 (Finite Mathematics), MATH 61 (Elements
of Calculus).
· Additional Departmental Requirements: CECS 101 (Introduction
to Problem Solving and Programming), one additional 3--credit
course in computing at the 100+ level, ENGL 162 (Professional
Writing).
· Foreign Language / Special Emphasis Area: The foreign language
requirement consists of 12 credit hours of course work. Students
may elect to substitute a special emphasis area in place of a
foreign language, which consists of 12 credit hours of course
work at the 100+ level in an area of specialization: e.g.,
mathematical sciences, biological sciences, behavioral sciences,
physical sciences, business, engineering.
· General Education Requirements: Includes 9 credit hours chosen
from courses in the social and behavioral sciences, and 9 credit
hours chosen from courses in the humanities and fine arts.
Requirements for the AB Degree: Traditional
Track
· Statistics: 21 credit hours of
course work, including STAT 302 (the capstone course).
· Mathematics: MATH 80, MATH 175, and MATH 201 (Calculus I, II,
and III); MATH 331 (Matrix Theory).
· Additional Departmental Requirements: CECS 101 (Introduction
to Problem Solving and Programming).
· Foreign Language: Consists of 12 credit hours of course work.
· General Education Requirements: Includes 5 or 6 credit hours
chosen from courses in the behavioral sciences, 9 credit hours
chosen from courses in the social sciences, and 12 credit hours
chosen from courses in the humanities and fine arts.
Requirements for the AB Degree: Applied Track
· Statistics: STAT 150 and STAT
250, STAT 305, STAT 307, STAT 385, STAT 395, STAT 302 plus 6
credit hours of approved 300+ level course work in statistics or
statistical applications. Possible course choices for the 6
elective hours include STAT 300, STAT 345, STAT 360, STAT 370,
SOC 375 (Social Statistics), SOC 376 (Advanced Social
Statistics), PSYCH 419 (Advanced Psychological Statistics I),
PSYCH 420 (Advanced Psychological Statistics II), PSYCH 421
(Advanced Techniques in Psychological Statistics), ECON 368
(Macroeconomic Forecasting), BUS 324 (Managerial Statistics), BUS
326 (Managerial Decision Science), MKTG 313 (Marketing Research),
MKTG 360 (Quantitative Analysis in Marketing).
· Mathematics: MATH 60 (Finite Mathematics), MATH 61 (Elements
of Calculus).
· Additional Departmental Requirements: CECS 101 (Introduction
to Problem Solving and Programming).
· Foreign Language: Consists of 12 credit hours of course work.
· General Education Requirements: Includes 5 or 6 credit hours
chosen from courses in the behavioral sciences, 9 credit hours
chosen from courses in the social sciences, and 12 credit hours
chosen from courses in the humanities and fine arts.
A minimum of 15 hours in statistics courses at the 200
level and above, chosen in consultation with and approved by
a departmental adviser.
One of the following courses must be included in the 15
hours of study: Stat 207 Statistical Analysis (3), 250
Introduction to Probability and Statistics II (3), 320
Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (3), 325 Introduction
to Probability Theory (3), or 326 Statistical Inference (3).
A maximum of 3 of t he 15 hours may be in 300 Problems (1-3)
or 301 Topics (cr. arr.)
- 25 INTRODUCTORY STATISTICAL REASONING (3).
- Statistical concepts and critical reasoning needed to
evaluate conclusions based on quantitative information in
health studies, opinion polls, etc. Prerequisite: Grade C
or better in Math 10, 14, or 15 or MM PT score 26 or
above. Students may not receive credit for both
Statistics 25 and 31.
- 31 ELEMENTARY STATISTICS (3).
- Collection and presentation of data; averages;
dispersion; introduction to statistical inference,
regression, and correlation. Prerequisite: Grade C or
better in Math 10 or 14 or 15 or an MMPT score of 26 or
above.
- 150 INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I (3).
- Designed primarily for students in the College of
Business and Public Administration. Probability theory;
random variables; expectation; probability distributions;
descriptive statistics; sampling distributions. Computer
is used to assist in learning concepts. Prerequisite:
Grade C or better in Math 60. f, w,s.
- 185 STATISTICAL METHODS IN NATURAL RESOURCES (3).
- Statistical methods with emphasis on applications to
natural resources and including computer exercises.
Prerequisite: Math 108 and a college level computer
course. No credit if student has had 150 or 250.
- 207 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS (3).
- For graduate students and superior seniors with no
previous training in statistics. Intensive study of
concepts, techniques of statistical analysis, and their
applications. Prerequisite: Math 10 or equivalent. f, w,
s.
- 215 ELEMENTS OF PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS (3).
- Primarily for middle and secondary mathematics education
students. Probability, random variables, expectations,
descriptive statistics, estimation, hypothesis testing,
and regression. Introduction to materials for middle and
secondary school use. Prerequisite: Math 61 or Math 80 or
equivalent.
- 250 INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS II (3).
- Continuation of 150. Estimation; hypothesis testing;
regression; correlation; statistical decision theory;
Bayesian inference. Computer is used to assist in
learning concepts. Prerequisite: Grade C or better in
Stat 150. f, w, s.
- 292 STATISTICAL METHODS IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES (3).
- Basic inference methods, both parametric and
nonparametric, appropriate for answering questions
arising in health sciences research. Computer exercises
involving data from real experiments from health science
area. Prerequisite: Math 10 and graduate standing or
instructor's consent.
- 298 HONORS (2).
- Special work for honors candidates in statistics.
- 299 HONORS (2).
- Special work for honors candidates in statistics.
- 300 PROBLEMS (1- 3).
- Independent investigations; reports on approved topics.
Prerequisite: instructor's consent. f, w, s.
- 301 TOPICS (cr. arr.)
- Organized study of selected topics. Subjects and earnable
credit may vary from semester to semester. Repeatable
with departmental consent. Prerequisite: junior standing
and instructor's consent.
- 302 SENIOR SEMINAR (3).
- A capstone course required of and open only to senior
statistics majors. Students will participate in
statistical consulting, attend colloquia, and review
articles in professional journals. Writing of reports
will be emphasized.
- 305 STATISTICAL SOFTWARE AND DATA ANALYSIS (3).
- Programming with major statistical packages emphasizing
data management techniques and statistical analyses for
regression, analysis of variance, categorical data,
descriptive statistics, nonparametric analyses, and other
selected topics. Prerequisites: any 200 or above course
in the Statistics Department or instructor consent.
- 307 NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICAL METHODS (3).
- Statistical methods when the functional form of the
population is unknown; applications emphasized;
comparisons with parametric procedures; goodness-of-fit;
chi-square; comparison of several populations; measures
of correlation. Prerequisite: Stat 207 or 250 or 215 or
320 or equivalent.
- 320 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS (3) (same as
Math 320).
- Introduction to theory of probability and statistics
using concepts and methods of calculus. Prerequisite:
Math 201 or instructor's consent. No credit for both 215
and 320. f, w, s.
- 321 STATISTICAL COMPUTING AND SIMULATION (3).
- Computing known statistical formulae using statistical
software; graphs in three dimensions; computing new
formulae and simulating operating characteristics using
higher languages. Prerequisite: Stat 320 or equivalent or
instructor's consent. f.
- 325 INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY THEORY (3) (same as
Mathematics 325).
- Probability spaces; random variables and their
distributions; repeated trials; probability limit
theorems. Prerequisite: Math 201 or instructor's consent.
f, w, s.
- 326 STATISTICAL INFERENCE (3) (same as Math 326).
- Sampling; point estimation; sampling distribution; tests
of hypotheses; regression and linear hypotheses.
Prerequisite: Stat 325. w.
- 327 THEORY OF NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS I (3).
- A first course in nonparametric statistical methods based
on ranks. Both theory and application are emphasized.
Two-sample problems; K-sample problems; tests for
independence; contingency tables; goodness-of-fit tests.
Prerequisite: Stat 320 or instructor's consent.
- 328 INTRODUCTION TO STOCHASTIC PROCESSES (3).
- Study of random processes selected from: Markov chains,
birth and death processes, random walks, Poisson
processes, renewal theory, Brownian motion, Gaussian
processes, white noise, spectral analysis, applications
such as queuing theory, sequential tests. Prerequisite:
Stat 325.
- 329 APPLIED PROBABILITY (3).
- Probability in its applied context. Designed for senior s
and beginning graduate students. Construction of
probability models; examples in physical and behavioral
sciences; multivariate normal and exponential
distributions; extreme value distributions; stochastic
processes; queuing. Prerequisite: Stat 325 or equivalent.
- 345 CATEGORICAL DATA ANALYSIS (3).
- Discrete distributions; frequency data; multinomial data;
chi-square and likelihood ratio tests; logistic
regression; loglinear models; rates; relative risks;
random effects; case studies. Prerequisite: Stat 326 and
working knowledge of one computer programming language.
- 360 DEMING PHILOSOPHY & STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL
(3).
- Statistical control charts; economic design of control
charts; acceptance sampling; pareto chart and other
graphical procedures; Deming philosophy; Taguchi methods.
Prerequisite: Stat 320 or 326 or instructor's consent.
- 370 SAMPLING TECHNIQUES (3).
- Theory of probability sampling designs; unrestricted
random sampling; stratified sampling; cluster sampling;
multistage or subsampling; ratio estimates; regression
estimates; double sampling. Prerequisite: Stat 207 or 250
or 215 or 320 or 326. w.
- 375 OPERATIONS RESEARCH (3).
- Study of mathematical and statistical models employed in
operations research. Prerequisite: Stat 207 or 250 or 215
or 320 or 326. f.
- 380 STATISTICAL FORECASTING (3) (same as Mangmt 380,
Mrktng 380, Finance 380).
- 385 REGRESSION AND CORRELATION ANALYSIS (3).
- Measurement of relationships among variables including
multiple regression, partial correlation, and some
nonparametric methods. Prerequisite: Stat 207 or 250 or
215 or 320 or 326 and Math 80. f, w.
- 386 APPLIED TIME SERIES ANALYSIS (3).
- A study of univariate and multivariate time series models
and techniques for their analyses . Emphasis on
methodology rather than theory. Examples are drawn from a
variety of areas including business, economics, and soil
science. Prerequisite: Stat 326 or both Stat 320 and 385
or instructor's consent.
- 395 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE (3).
- Study of analysis of variance and related modeling
techniques for cases with fixed, random, and mixed
effects. Exposure to designs other than completely
randomized designs including factorial arrangements,
repeated measures, nested, and unequal sample size
designs. Prerequisite: Stat 207 or 250 or 215 or 320 or
326. f, w, s.
Graduate
Courses
The University of Missouri-Columbia does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national
origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, status as disabled
veteran, or veteran of the Vietnam era. Any person having
inquiries concerning the University of Missouri-Columbia's
compliance with implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, is directed to contact the Assistant
Vice Chancellor, Human Resource Services, University of
Missouri-Columbia, 130 Heinkel Building, Columbia, MO 65211,
(573) 882-4256, or Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S.
Department of Education.
In addition to the prohibited
discrimination listed above, equal opportunity shall be provided
to all regardless of sexual orientation. Any person having
inquiries concerning the University of Missouri-Columbia's
compliance with this nondiscrimination re solution is encouraged
to contact the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resource
Services, University of Missouri-Columbia, 130 Heinkel Building,
Columbia, MO 65211, (573) 882-4256.
If you have special needs as addressed by
the Americans with Disabilities Act and need special
arrangements, you may contact the ADA Coordinator of the
Department of Statistics, 222 Math Sciences, 882-6376. Reasonable
efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.
For more information on an undergraduate
degree in statistics from the University of Missouri - Columbia,
send email to: undergrad@stat.missouri.edu
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© 1996 MU.
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