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Office of the University Registrar

2008-09 Undergraduate Catalog

Majors

Statistics
Colleges: Agricultural and Life Sciences and Liberal Arts and Sciences
(semester plans differ depending on the college)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
Hours for the Degree: 120
Minor: Yes
Combined-Degree Program: Yes
Website: www.stat.ufl.edu/academics/ugrad/undergrad_prog.shtml

A statistics major is a student who likes using mathematical skills to solve practical problems. Statistics are used extensively in research conducted to improve medical, agricultural, industrial and business practices, to assess economic and social conditions, to estimate political opinion, and to monitor the effectiveness of government programs, Indeed, statistical analysis is at the heart of most forms of research.

A statistics major learns how to design studies that effectively address the purpose of a research project and how to properly analyze the data collected in that study. Courses cover general tools applicable in a wide variety of settings (e.g., regression and design of experiments) and the mathematical foundations of statistics. There are also courses that explore specific data types encountered in practical settings. Statistics majors have the option to minor in actuarial science, a profession involving the statistical and financial practices of insurance.

All students who wish to major in statistics must consult a department adviser early in their program.

Core (complete all): STA 4210, 4211, 4321, 4322, 4504, MAC 2312-13 or
MAC 3473-74, MAS 3114 or 4105

Statistics electives: Select any two additional three-credit hour 4000-level courses (not individual study) offered by the Department of Statistics.

Programming electives (choose one): CGS 2420, 2425-25L, 3403, 3460, 3464, CIS 3020, COP 3175

Math Science electives (choose one): COT 4501, ESI 4312, MAA 4102, MAA 4211, MAD 4401, MAS 4105 (if not used in core), MAS 4107

The courses STA 4210-11 must be taken in sequence. STA 4321-22 should be completed by the end of the junior year.

The student must receive a grade of C or higher within two attempts (including withdrawals) in every required core course and in every course counted toward the 12-hour elective requirement. The grades from all attempts to satisfy the core requirements will be used to compute a core GPA that must be at least a 2.0. In addition, the student must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in all attempts to satisfy the core and elective requirements.

No majors can take any statistics course at the 3000 level or below after completing a 4000-level STA course.

Students cannot retake a core or elective course(s) in which a C or better grade has been earned.

If graduate study in statistics is planned, courses MAA 4211 and MAS 4105 are recommended.

Combined Degree program: Superior students can earn both the bachelor's and master's degrees in a shorter time than typically would be possible by counting up to 12 credits of approved graduate courses toward both degrees. For information and application, contact the undergraduate or graduate coordinator.

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan

Semester 1:

  • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5

Semester 2:

  • Complete MAC 1147 or higher-level calculus

Semester 3:

  • Complete MAC 2311

Semester 4:

  • Complete MAC 2312 with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework

Semester 5:

  • Complete MAC 2313 and either a programming elective or any STA course with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.

Recommended semester plan for College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students

Semester 1Credits
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) *4
BSC 2007 and 2009L Biological Sciences: Cells, Organisms and Genetics (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 14
Semester 2Credits
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE-M) *4
BSC 2008 Biological Sciences: Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (GE-B)3
AEE 3030C Effective Oral Communication3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 16
Semester 3Credits
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (GE-M) *4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 or
STA 3032 Engineering Statistics (GE-M) or programming elective
3
CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications, Part 1 (GE-P) or
PHY 2020 Introduction to the Principles of Physics **
3
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (3) or
AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics (4) (GE-S)
3-4
Elective2
Total 15-16
Semester 4Credits
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) or Humanities (GE-H)3
AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences 3
CHM 1031 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications, Part 2 or
Elective *
3
Electives6
Total 15
Semester 5Credits
STA 4321 Mathematical Statistics 13
STA 4210 Regression Analysis3
MAS 3114 Computational Linear Algebra or
MAS 4105 Linear Algebra 1
3
Approved electives (see note)6
Total 15
Semester 6Credits
STA 4322 Mathematical Statistics 23
STA 4211 Design of Experiments3
STA 4504 Categorical Data Analysis3
Approved electives (see note)6
Total 15
Semester 7Credits
STA electives (4000 level)6
Advanced math elective
(chose one: COT 4501, ESI 4312, MAA 4102, MAA 4211, MAD 4401, MAS 4105 [if not in core] or MAS 4107)
3
Approved electives (see note)6
Total 15
Semester 8Credits
Programming elective (see note)3
Approved electives (see note)12
Total 15

* The three-course sequence, MAC 3472, 3473 and 3474 (Honors Calculus 1-3) can be substituted for MAC 2311, 2312 and 2313.

** PHY 2020 and three elective hours can be taken for CHM 1030 and 1031.

Note:

Approved electives include 21 non-STA electives at the 3000 level or higher. If graduate study in statistics is contemplated, MAA 4211 and MAS 4105 are recommended; choose other electives from the physical, biological or agricultural sciences.

Bachelor of Arts

Recommended semester plan for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students

Semester 1Credits
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M)4
Physical Science (GE-P)3
Science laboratory (GE-P or GE-B)1
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 14
Semester 2Credits
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE-M)4
Physical Science (GE-P)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Elective3-2
Total 16-15
Semester 3Credits
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (GE-M)4
Foreign language4-5
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 or
STA 3032 Engineering Statistics (GE-M)
3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 14-15
Semester 4Credits
Programming elective3
Foreign language3-5
MAS 3114 Computational Linear Algebra (3) or
MAS 4105 Linear Algebra 1 (4)
3-4
Humanities (GE-H)3
Electives (needed if placed out of language with SAT II)3-0
Total 15
Semester 5Credits
STA 4321 Mathematical Statistics 1 (GE-M)3
STA 4210 Regression Analysis (GE-M)3
Biological Science (GE-B)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option)3
Total 15
Semester 6Credits
STA 4322 Mathematical Statistics 2 (GE-M)3
STA 4211 Design of Experiments3
Biological Science (GE-B)3
Composition3
STA 4504 Categorical Data Analysis3
Total 15
Semester 7Credits
STA electives6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)8-10
Electives2-0
Total 16
Semester 8Credits
Math Science elective for major
(choose from COT 4501, ESI 4321, MAA 4102 or 4211, MAD 4401, MAS 4105 [if not used in core] or MAS 4107)
3
Electives12
Total 15