STATISTICS AT JMU
Major in Statistics
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a major in statistics to meet the needs of both the public and the private sectors for graduates with degrees in statistics. The program has two tracks, Applied Statistics and Mathematical Statistics, one of which must be chosen by each student completing the major.
Students interested in the applications of statistics and planning to seek immediate employment as practicing statisticians upon graduation are advised to choose the Applied Statistics track. Graduate schools emphasizing the applied nature of statistics is also a possibility with this track. Emphasis in this track is on the applications of statistics to various fields of study. Students in this track will take courses on the design and analysis of experiments, regression analysis and sample surveys, as well as other courses in applied and theoretical statistics, probability and mathematics. Students who choose the applied statistics track are encouraged to take as many elective courses as possible in an applied field of their choice. The Mathematical Statistics track is designed for students who have an interest in the mathematics of statistics or plan to go to graduate school in statistics. Students in this track will see more emphasis on probability and the theory of statistics. These students will also have a chance to take additional courses in applied and theoretical statistics as well as courses in mathematics. Students in this track are recommended to take elective courses from the statistics and mathematics courses offered by the department that will prepare them for graduate studies.
Students of statistics are advised to choose between the two tracks by the end of their sophomore year. However, there are a large number of courses common to both tracks, so students may be able to change tracks later in their academic career with little loss of time.
Applied Statistics Track
Minimum requirements for a B.S. degree with a major in statistics, applied statistics track, are 47 credit hours in statistics and cognate mathematics courses which must include one of the electives in statistics listed below. Students interested in this track should contact the track's advisor, Dr. Rickie J Domangue (Roop 314, (540)568-6968) .
REQUIREMENTS
- Required Statistics Courses (29-31 total credit hours)
- MATH 220: Elementary Statistics. 3 CR.(a).
- MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR.
- MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR.
- MATH 321: Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design. 3 CR.
- MATH 322: Applied Linear Regression. 3 CR.
- MATH 324: Applied Nonparametric Statistics. 3 CR.
- MATH 325: Survey Sampling Methods. 3 CR.
- MATH 421: Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis. 3 CR.
- MATH 426: Probability and Statistics I. 3 CR.
- MATH 429: Research Project in Statistics. 1-3 CR.
- MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR.
- Choose one of the following for your Statistics Elective (3 total credit hours)
- MATH 327: Categorical Data Analysis. 3 CR.
- MATH 328: Time Series Analysis. 3 CR.
- MATH 354/BIOL 454/554: Biometry. 4 CR.
- MATH 423: Stochastic Processes. 3 CR.
- MATH 424: Statistical Decision Theory. 3 CR.
- MATH 427: Probability and Statistics II. 3 CR.
- MATH 328: Time Series Analysis. 3 CR.
- Mathematics Cognates (15-16 total credit hours)
- MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b)
- MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR.
- MATH 237: Calculus III. 4 CR.
- MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c).
- MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR.
- 47-50 Total Credit Hours.
In addition to
elective statistics courses offered by the department, students in this track
are strongly recommended to take as many elective courses as possible from a
field of application (such as psychology, sociology, health sciences, biology,
management, business administration, or economics) in which they are interested
and in which they might like to be employed.
TYPICAL PROGRAM
- Year 1: Fall Semester
- MATH 220: Elementary Statistics. 3 CR.(a).
- Skills for the 21st Century (Cluster One). 6 CR.
- General Education Courses. 6 CR.
- Skills for the 21st Century (Cluster One). 6 CR.
- Year 1: Spring Semester
- MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR.
- MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b).
- Skills for the 21st Century (Cluster One).
- General Education Courses. 5 CR.
- MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b).
- Year 2: Fall Semester
- MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR.
- MATH 325: Survey Sampling Methods. 3 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 8 CR.
- MATH 325: Survey Sampling Methods. 3 CR.
- Year 2: Spring Semester
- MATH 237: Calculus III. 4 CR.
- MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 7 CR.
- MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR.
- Year 3: Fall Semester
- MATH 321: Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design. 3 CR.
- MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c)
- MATH 426: Probability and Statistics I. 3 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 6 CR.
- MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c)
- Year 3: Spring Semester
-
MATH 322: Applied Linear Regression. 3 CR.
- MATH 324: Applied Nonparametric Statistics. 3 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 9 CR.
- MATH 324: Applied Nonparametric Statistics. 3 CR.
- Year 4: Fall Semester
-
MATH 421: Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis. 3 CR.
- Statistics Elective. 3 CR.
- Electives. 9 CR.
- Statistics Elective. 3 CR.
- Year 4: Spring Semester
-
MATH 429: Research Project in Statistics. 1-3 CR.
- Electives. 12-14 CR.
- Waived for those who have C or better in MATH 318. No additional course will be required to substitute.
- MATH 231 and MATH 232 may be substituted for MATH 235
- MATH 238 may be substituted for MATH 300.
HANDOUTS
A summary handout (PDF) of the major.
Mathematical Statistics Track
Minimum requirements for a B.S. degree with a major in statistics, mathematical statistics track, are 52 credit hours in statistics and cognate mathematics courses, as shown below. Students interested in this track should contact the track's advisor, Dr. Ling Xu (Roop 318, (540)568-4806) .
REQUIREMENTS
- Required Statistics Courses (28 total credit hours)
- MATH 220: Elementary Statistics. 3 CR.(a).
- MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR.
- MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR.
- MATH 321: Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design. 3 CR.
- MATH 322: Applied Linear Regression. 3 CR.
- MATH 324: Applied Nonparametric Statistics. 3 CR.
- MATH 421: Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis. 3 CR.
- MATH 426: Probability and Statistics I. 3 CR.
- MATH 427: Probability and Statistics II. 3 CR.
- MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR.
- Choose one of the following for your Statistics Elective (3 total credit hours)
- MATH 328: Time Series Analysis. 3 CR.
- MATH 423: Stochastic Processes. 3 CR.
- MATH 424: Statistical Decision Theory. 3 CR.
- MATH 423: Stochastic Processes. 3 CR.
- Mathematics Cognates (21-22 total credit hours)
- MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b).
- MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR.
- MATH 237: Calculus III. 4 CR.
- MATH 245: Discrete Mathematics. 3 CR.
- MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c).
- MATH 410: Advanced Calculus. 3 CR.
- MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR.
- 52-53 Total Credit Hours.
In
addition to elective statistics courses, students in this track are recommended
to take elective courses from the mathematics courses offered by the department
that will prepare them to work in industry and government or to continue in
their studies toward an M.S. and/or a Ph.D. degree in statistics.
TYPICAL PROGRAM
- Year 1: Fall Semester
-
MATH 220: Elementary Statistics. 3 CR.(a).
- Skills for the 21st Century (Cluster One). 6 CR.
- General Education Courses. 6 CR.
- Skills for the 21st Century (Cluster One). 6 CR.
- Year 1: Spring Semester
-
MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR.
- MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b).
- Skills for the 21st Century (Cluster One). 3 CR.
- General Education Courses. 5 CR.
- MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b).
- Year 2: Fall Semester
-
MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR.
- MATH 321: Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design. 3 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 8 CR.
- MATH 321: Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design. 3 CR.
- Year 2: Spring Semester
-
MATH 237: Calculus III. 4 CR.
- MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR.
- Gen. Ed. Courses/Electives. 7 CR.
- MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR.
- Year 3: Fall Semester
-
MATH 426: Probability and Statistics I. 3 CR.
- MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c)
- MATH 245: Discrete Mathematics. 3 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 6 CR.
- MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c)
- Year 3: Spring Semester
-
MATH 427: Probability and Statistics II. 3 CR.
- MATH 322: Applied Linear Regression. 3 CR.
- General Education Courses/Electives. 9 CR.
- MATH 322: Applied Linear Regression. 3 CR.
- Year 4: Fall Semester
- MATH 421: Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis. 3 CR.
- MATH 410: Advanced Calculus. 3 CR.
- Electives. 9 CR.
- MATH 410: Advanced Calculus. 3 CR.
- Year 4: Spring Semester
- MATH 324: Applied Nonparametric Statistics. 3 CR.
- Elective in Statistics. 3 CR.
- Electives. 9 CR.
- Elective in Statistics. 3 CR.
- Waived for those who have C or better in MATH 318. No additional course will be required to substitute.
- MATH 231 and MATH 232 may be substituted for MATH 235
- MATH 238 may be substituted for MATH 300.
HANDOUTS
A summary handout (PDF) of the major.
Statistics and Mathematics Courses of Interest to Statistics Majors and Minors(a)
| Course | Fall | Spg | Sum I | Sum II |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 220: Elementary Statistics. 3 CR. | X | X | X | X |
| MATH 231: Calculus with Functions I.(b) | X | X | X | |
| MATH 232: Calculus with Functions II. 4 CR. | X | X | X? | X? |
| MATH 235: Calculus I. 4 CR.(b) | X | X | X | |
| MATH 236: Calculus II. 4 CR. | X | X | X | |
| MATH 237: Calculus III. 4 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 238: Linear Algebra with Differential Equations. 4 CR.(c) | X | X | X | |
| MATH 280: SAS Programming and Data Management. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 300: Linear Algebra. 3-4 CR.(c) | ||||
| MATH 318: Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 4 CR. | X | X | X | |
| MATH 321: Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design. 3 CR. | X | X | ||
| MATH 322: Applied Linear Regression. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 324: Applied Nonparametric Statistics. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 325: Survey Sampling Methods. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 327: Categorical Data Analysis. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 328: Time Series Analysis. 3 CR. | X(d) | |||
| MATH 354/BIOL 454/554: Biometry. 4 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 410: Advanced Calculus. 3 CR. | X | X | ||
| MATH 421: Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 423: Stochastic Processes. 3 CR. | X(e) | |||
| MATH 424: Statistical Decision Theory. 3 CR. | X(d) | |||
| MATH 426: Probability and Statistics I. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 427: Probability and Statistics II. 3 CR. | X | |||
| MATH 429: Research Project in Statistics. 1-3 CR. | X | X | X? |
- Subject to sufficient demand.
- MATH 231 and Math 232 may be substituted for MATH 235.
- MATH 238 may be substituted for MATH 300.
- Offered in even numbered years only.
- Offered in odd numbered years only.
