Statistics Majors Apply Mathematical Skills to Real World Problems
August 1, 2010 by Karin Hansen
Would you like a career that allows you to use your mathematical skills to solve real world problems, design and analyze studies, and split your time between independent computer/lab work and working with a team? If so, you may want to give serious thought to making statistics your college major. Statisticians design surveys and experiments, collect and analyze data, and interpret the results of their field work. The implications of statistical sampling are far-reaching, influencing areas as disparate as politics and sports, and touching upon medicine, marketing, education, psychology, economics, and the military in the process. Reliable statistics are truly invaluable in the modern world.
Earn Your Statistics Degree
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that a master's degree serves as the minimum education requirement for most statistics jobs. Individuals pursuing research and academic careers usually need a PhD, and statisticians working within the federal government require a bachelor's degree. A typical statistics curriculum might cover the following courses: differential and integral calculus, statistical methods, statistical theory, applied time series analysis, experimental design, mathematical modeling, analysis of variance, and probability theory. As the field of modern statistics becomes increasingly dependent upon computers, developing a solid background in computer science, whether through formal education or on-the-job training, is expected of today's statisticians.
Great Jobs Await Graduates of Statistics Schools
Graduates of statistics degree programs may choose from a wide variety of employers, as nearly every type of industry relies on high-quality statistics to save and make money, make informed decisions, and ensure the safety of new products. Job opportunities for individuals who hold statistics degrees include:
• Statisticians
• Actuaries (statisticians who calculate insurance risks and premiums)
• Computer programmers
• Research psychologists
• Market and survey researchers
• College professor
Karin Hansen holds a degree in English from San Francisco State University.
Earn Your Statistics Degree
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that a master's degree serves as the minimum education requirement for most statistics jobs. Individuals pursuing research and academic careers usually need a PhD, and statisticians working within the federal government require a bachelor's degree. A typical statistics curriculum might cover the following courses: differential and integral calculus, statistical methods, statistical theory, applied time series analysis, experimental design, mathematical modeling, analysis of variance, and probability theory. As the field of modern statistics becomes increasingly dependent upon computers, developing a solid background in computer science, whether through formal education or on-the-job training, is expected of today's statisticians.
Great Jobs Await Graduates of Statistics Schools
Graduates of statistics degree programs may choose from a wide variety of employers, as nearly every type of industry relies on high-quality statistics to save and make money, make informed decisions, and ensure the safety of new products. Job opportunities for individuals who hold statistics degrees include:
• Statisticians
• Actuaries (statisticians who calculate insurance risks and premiums)
• Computer programmers
• Research psychologists
• Market and survey researchers
• College professor
Karin Hansen holds a degree in English from San Francisco State University.
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