Print this page. About the Program
The Department of Statistics offers a program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Statistics. The program provides a strong basis in both applied and theoretical statistics and prepares you for the pursuit of graduate study in statistics or for employment by industry or government. In addition, the department serves many of the disciplines within the University through course offerings that provide basic statistical skills necessary to the pursuit of studies in those disciplines.
Career Opportunities
A bachelor’s degree in statistics can prepare you for a variety of careers, including:
• actuary, biostatistician
• data, forecasting, or survey analyst
• quality assurance expert
• operations researcher
• statistical programmer
• business, industry, and government
The University Career Center is available to assist you in choosing a career direction and in increasing your marketability upon graduation. For additional information, call the center at 803-777-7280.
Admission/Progression Requirements
To be admitted into the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Statistics, you must meet all University admissions requirements, including (for freshmen) a completed application, nonrefundable application fee, high-school record complete up to the time of application (including record of at least 20 academic units of study earned as required by the University), and entrance examination scores (either SAT or ACT). Details for all applicant categories can be found at the Undergraduate Bulletin. To remain in your degree program, you must make satisfactory academic progress toward your degree. In order to be eligible for graduation, you must meet all course requirements for your degree program, be in good standing, meet any departmental or program requirements, and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.
Program of Study (128 hours)
The Bachelor of Science in Statistics degree program is designed to give you a balance of skills in statistical theory and applied statistical data analysis. The program is broad, yet rigorous enough to prepare you to work in business, industry, or government as a statistician or to pursue graduate work in statistics. Forty-one to 50 of your hours will consist of general education requirements. They may also fulfill cognate requirements and must be passed with a “C” or higher for a BS degree in statistics. Courses include Calculus I, Calculus II, Vector Calculus, Vector Analysis I, Numerical Linear Algebra, or Linear Algebra, as well as courses in computer science and English. Your major requirements will include 28 hours of theory and models courses, methods and computation courses, and advanced applications. A major in statistics with emphasis in actuarial mathematics and statistics is also available. It requires 58 to 59 hours of course work, along with cognate courses in mathematics or the minor in risk management and insurance, which requires specific accounting, economics, finance, management science, economics, and business administration courses. The intensive statistics major requires 37 hours of courses, including Vector Analysis II, Analysis I, and an additional elective selected from statistics courses numbered 500 and above, along with specific math courses. The statistics cognate or minor requires 12 to 18 hours of College of Arts and Sciences courses, and your studies will be rounded out by 23 to 47 hours of College of Arts and Sciences electives. To be retained in our program, you must obtain a grade of “C” or higher in at most two attempts in all mathematics, computer science, and statistics courses required for graduation.
Of Special Interest
Our department is nationally and internationally recognized for its excellence in statistical research. Department computing facilities include a bank of workstations on PC and Macintosh platforms. The department operates the Statistical Laboratory and houses the USC Center of Reliability and Quality Sciences, through which faculty and students conduct research projects on and off campus. The Department of Statistics has a chapter of Mu Sigma Rho, the national statistics honor society. Faculty members in the Department of Statistics serve as associate editors of several statistical journals and regularly present lectures at regional and national conferences. They have obtained research support from many national agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Army Research Office, and the National Science Foundation. Our department has a statistics club, a student and faculty organization that sponsors monthly meetings, social functions, guest speakers, and an undergraduate statistics award.
Statistics Department's Web site