Careers in statistics

Being a statistician is challenging. In addition to having knowledge of statistical methods and concepts, you need to have skills in mathematics and critical thinking and you need to be able to communicate effectively.

However, being a statistician can also be exciting and rewarding. You get to work with researchers in many disciplines on important problems in the natural, physical and social sciences.

If you have a lively interest in many different areas, like the idea of working cooperatively with scientists in other fields, are able to step back to see the whole picture and find the idea of understanding the story behind the numbers appealing, then statistics may be for you!

Statisticians contribute to scientific inquiry by applying their mathematical and statistical expertise to the design of surveys and experiments; to the collection, processing, and analysis of data; and to the interpretation of the results. They may apply their knowledge of statistical methods to a variety of subject areas including

• agriculture
• biological sciences such as genetics, botany, zoology and ecology
• economics
• engineering
• environmental science
• forensic science
• marketing
• medicine
• psychology
• public health
• sports

Many environmental, financial, industrial, medical and political decisions cannot be made without the use of statistical techniques, such as the design and analysis of clinical trials to gain government approval for a new drug.

• For Today’s Graduate, Just One Word: Statistics (NYTimes.com) 
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What is your next step?

You have completed STAT 1000 and have discovered that statistics is interesting and useful. You now want to take further courses in statistics, or possibly become a statistician! So, what courses should you take? Here are the options for your next course:

• STAT 2000 (Basic Statistical Analysis II) is a continuation of STAT 1000. This course, which is taken by students in many disciplines, covers more advanced statistical methods and leads to further courses in applied statistics. The only requirement to take this course is a grade of C or better in STAT 1000.
• STAT 2400 (Introduction to Probability I) introduces the basic concepts of probability and provides a solid foundation for further courses in mathematical statistics. Applications of probability in many areas are provided, including forensic science, games of chance, genetics, reliability and statistical inference. The prerequisites for STAT 2400 are a grade of C or better in STAT 1000 and in one of MATH 1700 or MATH 1690.

STAT 2000 and STAT 2400 are required courses in any honours or major program in statistics and are normally taken during the second year. More details are provided in the brochure below. During the Winter session, STAT 2000 is offered in a number of slots and STAT 2400 is in slot 2. Both courses will also be available in the Summer session.

You have completed STAT 2000 and have discovered that statistics is interesting and useful. You now want to take further courses in statistics, or possibly become a statistician! So, what courses should you take? Here are some options for your next course:

If you are interested in entering an honours or major program in statistics, then you should take STAT 2400 (Introduction to Probability I), if you have not already done so. This course introduces the basic concepts of probability and provides a solid foundation for further courses in mathematical statistics. Applications of probability in many areas are provided, including forensic science, games of chance, genetics, reliability and statistical inference. The prerequisites for STAT 2400 are a grade of C or better in STAT 1000 and in one of MATH 1700 or MATH 1690. STAT 2400 is a required course in any honours or major program in statistics. More details are provided on the reverse. STAT 2400 will be taught in slot 2 in the Winter session; it will also be offered in the Summer session.

Without taking STAT 2400, you can also take a number of applied statistics courses: STAT 3120 (Topics in Regression Analysis), STAT 3130 (Statistical Analysis of Designed Experiments), STAT 3170 (Statistical Quality Control) and STAT 3380 (An Introduction to Nonparametric Statistics). The only requirement to take these courses is a grade of C or better in STAT 2000.