Program Overview

Introduction to the Statistics, BS Program

The Statistics, BS program at Western Washington University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of statistical concepts and techniques. The program is organized around a core course of study in probability and statistics, which provides students with a background in the fundamentals of statistical thought and the application of common statistical analyses.

Program Description

The program is tailored to meet the growing demand for professionals with expertise in data analysis and interpretation. Students in the program will develop a diverse toolkit of analysis techniques and modeling choices that can be used to make sense of information coming from various data types. The program is suitable for students who wish to pursue careers in fields such as data analysis, statistical research, and data science.

Student Resources

• Department website: Mathematics
• Department advising: Visit the Advisors section of the Mathematics website
• Degree Works: Current students should log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers:
  • Actuary
  • Data Analyst
  • Data Scientist
  • Statistician
  • Biostatistician
  • Financial Analyst
  • Quantitative analyst
  • Operation Research Analyst
  • Market Researcher
  • Business Analyst

Admission and Declaration Process

Students who intend to complete a major in Statistics are urged to declare the major formally at an early point in their Western career. This allows for careful planning of a program of study in collaboration with a departmental advisor.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Program Requirements

The program requires a total of 87-95 credits, which are distributed among the following categories:

Mathematic Requirements (31 credits)

• Choose either:
  • MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 credits)
  • or MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors (5 credits)
• Choose either:
  • MATH 125 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (5 credits)
  • or MATH 135 - Calculus II Honors (5 credits)
• MATH 204 - Elementary Linear Algebra (4 credits)
• MATH 224 - Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I (5 credits)
• MATH 226 - Limits and Infinite Series (4 credits)
• MATH 304 - Linear Algebra (4 credits)
• Choose either:
  • MATH 302 - Introduction to Proofs Via Number Theory (4 credits)
  • or MATH 309 - Introduction to Proof in Discrete Mathematics (4 credits)

Core Requirements (28 credits)

• MATH 341 - Probability and Statistical Inference (4 credits)
• MATH 342 - Statistical Methods I (4 credits)
• MATH 343 - Statistical Method II (4 credits)
• MATH 441 - Probability (4 credits)
• MATH 442 - Mathematical Statistics (4 credits)
• MATH 445 - Computational Statistics (4 credits)
• Choose either:
  • CSCI 140 - Programming Fundamentals in C++ (4 credits)
  • or CSCI 141 - Computer Programming I (4 credits)
  • or MATH 307 - Mathematical Computing (4 credits)

Electives (16 credits)

• Choose four classes from the following:
  • MATH 443 - Linear Statistical Models (4 credits)
  • or MATH 543 - Linear Statistical Models (4 credits)
  • MATH 444 - Categorical Data Analysis (4 credits)
  • MATH 446 - Nonparametric Statistical Inference (4 credits)
  • MATH 447 - Multivariate Statistics (4 credits)
  • MATH 456 - Applied Time Series Analysis (4 credits)
  • or MATH 556 - Applied Time Series Analysis (4 credits)
  • MATH 457 - Bayesian Statistics (4 credits)
  • or MATH 557 - Bayesian Statistics (4 credits)
  • MATH 458 - Stochastic Processes (4 credits)
  • or MATH 558 - Stochastic Processes (4 credits)

Breadth Requirement (12-20 credits, or more)

Students must either complete one of the following sequences or complete a major or minor from another department in the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). Certain majors or minors outside of CSE may also qualify, subject to advisement.

• Actuarial Science sequence:
  • ACCT 245 - Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
  • ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (4 credits)
  • FIN 341 - Principles of Finance (4 credits)
  • FIN 440 - Investments (4 credits)
• Biology/Chemistry sequence:
  • BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab (5 credits)
  • BIOL 205 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab (5 credits)
  • CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I (5 credits)
  • CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II (5 credits)
• Chemistry sequence I:
  • CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I (5 credits)
  • CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II (5 credits)
  • CHEM 163 - General Chemistry III (5 credits)
• Chemistry sequence II:
  • CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I, Honors (5 credits)
  • CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II, Honors (5 credits)
  • CHEM 225 - General Chemistry III, Honors (5 credits)
• Computer Science sequence:
  • CSCI 145 - Computer Programming and Linear Data Structures (4 credits)
  • CSCI 241 - Data Structures (4 credits)
  • CSCI 301 - Formal Languages and Functional Programming (5 credits)
  • and one of:
    • CSCI 305 - Analysis of Algorithms and Data Structures I (4 credits)
    • CSCI 330 - Database Systems (4 credits)
    • CSCI 345 - Object Oriented Design (4 credits)
    • CSCI 401 - Automata and Formal Language Theory (4 credits)
• Economics sequence:
  • ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (4 credits)
  • ECON 306 - Intermediate Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • and one of:
    • ECON 333 - Introduction to Game Theory (4 credits)
    • ECON 470 - Economic Fluctuations and Forecasting (4 credits)
    • ECON 475 - Econometrics (4 credits)
• Math sequence:
  • MATH 312 - Proofs in Elementary Analysis (4 credits)
  • MATH 421 - Metric Spaces (4 credits)
  • MATH 422 - Analysis on Euclidean Spaces (4 credits)
• Physics sequence:
  • PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I (5 credits)
  • PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II (5 credits)
  • PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III (5 credits)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement