Statistics encompasses course work in designing and analyzing experiments, planning and interpreting surveys, and exploring relationships among variables observed on social, physical, and biological phenomena. The applied nature of the program allows the student to develop data analysis tools for such diverse areas as business and economics, crop and animal production, biological sciences, human behavior, education, engineering, and natural resource management. The statistics program thus supports major programs in other disciplines. Within the Department of Mathematics, a statistics option is available under applied mathematics leading to a baccalaureate degree.

Graduate study in statistics is designed for two types of students. Students whose undergraduate degrees are in subject matter disciplines will prepare for a career involving the application of statistical methods to their particular area of interest. Students with degrees in mathematics, computer science, or similar areas will prepare for a career in technical data analysis, statistical computing, and teaching of introductory-level statistics.

All students who wish to do graduate work in statistics should have a background in quantitative methods including Math 275, Analytic Geometry and Calculus III, and 6 hours of statistics including Stat 401 or equivalent. Additionally, students should have knowledge of at least one higher level programming language.

Faculty members in the Department of Statistics will be happy to answer questions about specific programs and courses. Such questions can also be addressed to the department chair (Brink 415; phone 208/885-4410).

See Part 6 for courses in Statistics (Stat) or click here.

Math 160 Survey of Calculus or Math 170 Analytic Geometry and Calculus (4 cr)

Stat 251 Statistical Methods, Stat 301 Probability and Statistics, or Stat 271 Statistical Inference and Decision Analysis (3-4 cr)

Stat 401 Statistical Analysis (3 cr)

Stat 422 Sample Survey Methods (3 cr)

Three of the following courses (9 cr):

Bus 421 Marketing Research and Analysis (3 cr)

Math 330 Linear Algebra (3 cr)

Math 451 Probability Theory (3 cr)

Math 452 Mathematical Statistics (3 cr)

Stat 423 Beginning SAS Programming (1 cr)

Stat 424 Intermediate SAS Programming (1 cr)

Stat 425 Topics in SAS Programming (1 cr)

Stat 433 Econometrics (3 cr)

Stat 437 Statistics for Business Decisions (3 cr)

Stat 446 Six Sigma Innovation (3 cr)

Stat 456 Quality Management (3 cr)

Stat 514 Nonparametric Statistics (3 cr)

Stat 519 Multivariate Analysis (3 cr)

Candidates must fulfill the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and of the Department of Statistics. See the College of Graduate Studies section of Part 4 for the applicable general requirements for M.S. degree.

An individual graduate program is tailored for the student, but all students must complete a basic core requirement of 18 credits and either i) a thesis (Stat 500), ii) an internship report (Stat 598), or iii) a research course (6 credits of Stat 599). The core requirements are Stat 451-452, 501 (4 credits [required but usually not counted on Study Plan]), 507, 519, 550 and 565. A maximum of 6 credits of Stat 500 may be counted toward the thesis degree option.