SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
The Minor in Statistics
Program Chair: Mr.
Terry Blakney
814-898-6195; tmb9@psu.edu
Why choose a Statistics minor?
Statistics originated from the simple study of games of chance and grew into one of the most important applications of human knowledge. One cannot read a newspaper or watch the evening news without being exposed to some sort of statistic or graphic used to describe everything from approval ratings to medical studies. A statistical background enables people to critically analyze and interpret this information.
It is obvious that to survive in today's world, people need information for personal and industrial uses. The key is obtaining and analyzing that information. For example, it is impossible to stop and ask everyone what he or she thinks of the president. Sampling a small group of people from the population and then calculating an estimate of the approval rating can solve this. Using this technique, valuable information can be obtained at a lower cost in less time.
Who can benefit from the minor?
A biologist who is proficient in statistics will be able to explore the interactions between species and their environment. An actuarial fellow will use statistics to determine premium rates for different insurance risks. An engineer will be able to fit mathematical models to experimental data to determine product safety, reliability, and maintainability.
A social scientist can conduct sample surveys to study social attitudes and cross-cultural differences. An economist will predict changes in economic conditions and measure indicators such as volume of trade or standard of living. An educator will be able to develop tests to investigate students' aptitude and assess effectiveness of teaching methods.
What is involved?
The requirements for degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering majors usually include several of the calculus and statistics courses needed for the statistics minor. A student could enroll in several additional statistics classes, such as Regression Analysis, Analysis of Variance, Mathematical Statistics, or Operations Research to fulfill the requirements of the minor.
Statistics Minor Requirements
Select 6 credits of 400-level STAT or STABD courses, or selected MTHBD courses. A minimum of 18 credits of statistics and related courses, and 10 credits of the calculus sequence are required for the minor.
Career Opportunities
Many jobs or professions involve statistical reasoning and knowledge. Areas in which a solid background in Statistics is a strong asset include:
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actuarial science
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agriculture and fisheries
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biology
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business
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economics
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education
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engineering
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health and medicine
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psychology
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quality controls
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social sciences