Statistics is the science and art of making inferences from data under conditions of uncertainty. The practice of statistics requires not only an understanding of statistical techniques, but also some understanding of the nuances of the problem requiring statistical analysis - whether it is in the social or physical sciences, engineering, medicine or business.
The major program leading to a B.S. in Statistics, offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is geared toward the above goal. The educational program is designed to give students a broad perspective on the theory and applications of statistics. In particular, the interdisciplinary curriculum structure of the program helps develop skills in the application of statistical methods to a variety of disciplines. The university's state-ofthe-art computing facilities are available to all students and are used in conjunction with instruction.
UMBC is the only institution in Maryland offering an undergraduate major in statistics. Students from other fields may obtain a minor in statistics.
Students may graduate with departmental honors by completing all major requirements with a GPA of 3.6 or higher and by completing, in addition to other requirements for a major in statistics, a senior thesis (STAT 497) with a grade of "A" or "B." Students wishing to graduate with departmental honors must notify the department by the beginning of their senior year.
Majors in mathematics also may pursue a second major in statistics to obtain greater depth than the concentration in statistical sciences provides. At least five upper-division electives beyond core requirements in mathematics must be mathematics courses if a student is to receive a double major or dual degree in mathematics and statistics.
Students may tailor their program of study by choosing one of two tracks: the applied statistics track or the mathematical statistics track. Students in the applied statistics track take courses that help develop skills in the application of statistics to real problems. This track is recommended for students who wish to prepare for employment in government or industry. The applied statistics track is also appropriate for those who wish to pursue graduate study in statistics, with an emphasis on applications. The track in mathematical statistics provides the necessary background and stimulation for graduate study in statistics, applied mathematics or other quantitative fields such as computer science or engineering.
The Bachelor of Science in Statistics consists of at least 64 credits.
All majors in the applied statistics track must successfully complete:
All of the following courses:
One Course From:
All of the following courses:
Majors in the applied statistics track must successfully complete nine elective courses, with at least four courses in statistics. Electives are to be chosen with departmental approval. Some suggested electives are:
Electives in mathematics and statistics:
Electives in other fields:
Select one course: 3 Credits
Note: Other electives will be permitted with departmental approval.
All majors in the mathematical statistics track must successfully complete:
Majors in the mathematical statistics track must successfully complete nine elective courses, with at least six courses in mathematics and statistics. The electives may be chosen from the suggested list of electives for the applied statistics track. The electives are to be chosen with departmental approval. Electives other than those among the suggested list will be permitted with departmental approval.
All statistics majors in either track must demonstrate their proficiency in English by passing ENGL 393 - Technical Communication and by passing a course in speech. (SPCH) Note that ENGL 393 satisfies the GEP writing intensive requirement.
Mathematics majors who are considering courses to satisfy General Education Requirements will satisfy the biological/physical science requirements if they take PHYS 121 and PHYS 122 and a lab course. For the social science (SS) General Education Requirement, good choices would be ECON 101 and ECON 102, which are prerequisite to supplementary requirement courses ECON 311, ECON 374, ECON 417 and ECON 421. These are recommended in particular for those pursuing the concentration in actuarial science or, to a lesser extent, concentrations in statistics science or optimization and operations research. PHIL 146 and PHIL 248 are recommended as choices for AH General Education Requirement courses. The latter is also a supplementary requirement for the major. Note that those pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree need only take one culture course. Both MATH 432 and MATH 481 satisfy the GEP writing intensive requirements. Students may also wish to consider ENGL 393.
Note: Before registering in any mathematics course up to MATH 151 or MATH 155, students must have completed a placement test administered by the Learning Resources Center if they have not completed the prerequisite college-level course with a "C" or better. This is normally done prior to the first semester at UMBC.
Passage of AP Calculus exams with a suitable score is considered the equivalent of MATH 150, MATH 151 or MATH 152. The AP Statistics exam with a score of 4 or 5 is equal to STAT 121.
Otherwise students must complete MATH 106 with a "C" or better. Even higher algebra skills are recommended for MATH 150 or MATH 155.
The specific courses listed as prerequisites indicate the level of maturity necessary for the course. A student who does not have a formal prerequisite for a particular course must request the consent of the instructor to take that course. Prerequisites for all mathematics courses must be satisfied with a grade of "C" or better.
All courses for major or minor requirements must be passed with a grade of "C" or better.