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The Science of Statistics

Statistics is the science of decision-making under uncertainty. Historically, people think of "statistics" as descriptive information and, perhaps, methods for obtaining the descriptive information. The field of Statistics was founded by biologists, economists, mathematicians, medical practitioners, educators, psychologists, and other scientists and social scientists. Most "real life" investigations are done with limited funds and in a limited time period. This means that important decisions have to be made on the basis of incomplete information. Statistical methods point the way to collecting the best possible information and using it in the most efficient way.

As computational power has grown, the field of Statistics has become indespensible in the practice of almost every other scientific and social science area. Newly popular applications of Statistics include market research (Management), quality control (Engineering), financial management (Economics), government policy (Political Science), design of scientific experiments (Biology), and the analysis of sample data (Education and Psychology). Professionals in the administrative, social, biological, and physical sciences realize the importance of statistical techniques. It is hard to read the newspaper or watch or listen to the news without hearing some information that came from statistical practice.

Professional Opportunities

One of the attractions of a major in Statistics is that it can lead to careers in a wide variety of areas. Recently, advances in computer technology have opened up even more employment prospects for statisticians.

Several major professional organizations serve the needs of statisticians. Among these are the American Statistical Association , which has about 20,000 members working in industry, government, teaching, and research, and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics , which has about 4000 members, a majority of them in the research and university teaching sectors. These and other statistical organizations have cooperated to publish brochures available from ASA and IMS on  in statistics. ASA's publications also provide personal career profiles of a number of working statisticians and current information on  in the field.

A Flexible Program

The B.S. Program in Statistics can accommodate students interested in both applied and theoretical areas. Also, we can devise individual programs for those who plan to end their formal education with the B.S. degree and those who plan to go on to graduate study in Statistics or in some area where statistics is often used.

It is possible to combine a Statistics major with a major in another field, such as Psychology, Mathematics, Geography, etc. This is feasible because the Statistics degree requires a coherent course of upper division courses outside of Statistics and because some courses that are required for Statistics often count for the second major as well. A separate brochure on double majors is available.

An Ideal Environment

A modern computer laboratory, equipped with a wide range of statistical software, is available for class instruction in Statistics and for student use outside of class. Statistics class sizes are relatively small, usually ranging from about 30-45 for the basic courses to about half that size for more advanced and specialized undergraduate courses.

Personal contact with faculty members outside of class is encouraged. Several times a year current students, graduates of the program, and faculty get together for informal social events.

Because many of our students are employed off of campus, Statistics and Mathematics courses required for the B.S. degree can normally be completed by taking courses after 4:00 p.m.. Students with more flexible schedules will have a wider selection of courses and quarters of offering.

The Department of Statistics also offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Statistics. This is important to undergraduate students for several reasons.

• An extraordinary variety of advanced courses is available to advanced undergraduate students.
• Frequent lectures and other events enrich student life and provide possibilities for professional contacts.
• Students wishing to continue for an M.S. degree in the department can plan their undergraduate program to help ensure acceptance and, in appropriate circumstances, can take up to two courses as undergraduates that will count towards the graduate degree.

The Hayward campus of Cal State East Bay is located in the rolling foothills on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay with magnificent views of the Bay Area. The climate is dry, except in late fall and winter. Temperatures are mild: freezing weather is rare, and usually only a few summer days exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). The Bay Area is a center of much cultural and statistical activity.

Basic Requirements

To enter the undergraduate program in statistics, you need to qualify for admission to Cal State East Bay. Information about requirements and procedures is available  and by mail from the Office of Admissions; 绿帽换妻, East Bay; Hayward, CA 94542.

We encourage prospective students living in or visiting the San Francisco Bay Area to make an appointment to discuss our program with a member of the Statistics Department faculty. To make such an appointment or to request additional information contact: Department of Statistics; 绿帽换妻, East Bay; Hayward, CA 94542; (510) 885-3435, or e-mail Prof. Eric Suess.

Desirable Background

The theory of Statistics rests on a mathematical foundation. Even statisticians primarily interested in applications frequently encounter challenging mathematical problems. Calculus and the basics computer programming are required as part of the major. Courses in areas where Statistics is regularly used are also helpful: for example, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Sociology, Geology, Psychology, Physics, Geography, etc. Some courses from these areas can be counted towards the major in Statistics.

The ideal high school background for a future statistician includes four years of mathematics—including, if possible, Advanced Placement Calculus and/or Advanced Placement Statistics. Students transferring from a community college are advised to complete the sequence of analytic geometry and calculus available at that level; if available, an elementary course in computer programming will also be useful. All students are encouraged to take courses where mathematics and statistics are used, such as those from the administrative, social, biological, and physical sciences listed above.

However, if your interest in the field of Statistics develops after a couple of years of college work, you should consult an advisor in the Statistics Department [contact Prof. Eric Suess by email or phone (510) 885-3435]. Our entry requirements are somewhat flexible, the required background courses are offered frequently, and some of the units you have already taken may count towards a Statistics major. So, even if you get a late start, it may be possible to design a program for you that leads to a B.S. in Statistics without unduly delaying your graduation date.

A Statistics major must complete a total of 180 quarter-units chosen in consultation with a Department advisor and according to the general requirements explained in the University  for all majors.

General Education (Required of Majors in All Areas): 72 units

General education requirements include 60 units (including possible transfer units) to be completed before becoming a junior, the writing skills requirement, and 12 units of upper-division courses which must be completed at CSU East Bay after achieving upper-division status.

Statistics Major Requirements: 68-78 units

The requirements listed below are those we expect to be in effect for students entering in Fall 1999. (At this point they must be considered unofficial and tentative.) Consult the  for an official statement of current requirements.

Elective Courses: 30-40 units

You must complete additional units for a total of 180 units for your Bachelor of Science degree. You may wish to consult with a Departmental advisor in selecting these units to match your interests or career objectives.

The  describes various loans and scholarships that are administered by the University. You can obtain additional current information from the Financial Aid Office. Within the Statistics Department some additional, but very limited, financial support is available for students who have proved their ability to do good work in the program.

Consulting Projects

Students are encouraged to participate in Departmental consulting projects whenever appropriate. Recently, the Department has participated in industry-sponsored programs that provide a variety of consulting opportunities for students who have an adequate background in applications.

Department Scholarships

The Department annually awards a limited number of $500 scholarships, some of which may be available to undergraduate students. Contact the Department Office for details.

If you have questions not answered here or in the , please contact the Department of Statistics. Prospective students living in or visiting the San Francisco Bay Area are invited to arrange a visit to campus to talk with a member of the Statistics faculty.

Contact Information for Statistics Department Office

Please start your phone conversation or correspondence by mentioning that you have read this brochure online.

• Phone: (510) 885-3435
• FAX: (510) 885-4714
• Mail: Dept. of Statistics, California State Univ., East Bay
  Hayward, CA 94542 USA
• Undergraduate Advisor E-mail: Prof. Eric Suess

Both majors can be completed in about the same time as one, often within the 180-unit requirement for graduation. [That's the standard minimum unit requirement for all undergraduates. If you are one of the “traditional” students who plans to finish in four years (12 quarters), you will need to take a full load that averages about 15 units a quarter.]

For a complete description of our undergraduate program in Statistics, please refer to the  description of the Statistics B.S. Degree or to our departmental brochure on the program.

But for a quick overview of Statistics as a second major, it is enough to know that the Statistics Major has a rather small unit requirement and that many of those units can be counted toward both your first and second majors.

Outline of Statistics Degree Requirements. The unit requirement within the major is unusually low—only 72-78 units (depending on your background when you enter). In brief, this usually amounts to:

• Five courses in basic math and computer science,
• Eight courses in Statistics and probability,
• Five more courses in Statistics—or in a field where Statistics is widely used.

Double-Duty Courses. The five courses (20 units) from a field of application, mentioned just above, can be taken from your first major, and so they count toward both majors. Furthermore, it is likely that your first major either requires or recommends several Statistics courses that can also be counted toward both majors. Contact the Statistics Department office (510-885-3435) for advice on planning your double major.

Note: If you complete a double major in which your first major leads to a degree other than B.S. (for example, B.A. in Sociology), only one degree—your choice—will be awarded. However, your transcript will show that you completed requirements for both majors.

Outlines of sample programs with Psychology and Mathematics as the first majors are shown. Contact the Statistics Office for advice on how to adapt these prototype double-major programs to your own circumstances, or to work out a program for a different first major.

Because students arrive at Cal State East Bay with different backgrounds and interests, you will need to consult with advisors in both your first major and Statistics to work out the double major program that is best for you. The tables below show four examples for students under the 2006-2008 Catalog. Consult the  under Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, and Statistics official program requirements and for titles, descriptions, and prerequisites of the courses listed in these tables. Also, check with your first major advisor to ensure that the courses are available in the quarters suggested.

* ask your ENGR advisor if these courses are acceptable electives.

Statistics is a relatively young scientific field. Some say that modern statistics started in the 1920s when ideas from various parts of mathematics came together to provide a basis for understanding randomness, for designing experiments, and for making “optimal” decisions. Even today, Statistics is often viewed as one of the mathematical sciences.

But Statistics has always differed from mathematics because of its very close connection with applications. Especially in recent years, many of the most important advances in Statistics have come directly from trying to solve difficult and sometimes messy problems in the real world.

Here are some examples:

• After the Second World War, Japanese industry was in ruins and Japanese goods had a reputation for having poor quality. The Japanese turned to , who developed new methods of quality management, based in large part on statistical principles. Now quality management is an important branch of Statistics, which is belatedly being widely-used in American industry.
• Ever since Statistics became its own field, the social and biological sciences have relied more and more heavily on statistical methods. Variability among individuals is a way of life for social and biological scientists, and statistics is the tool for drawing conclusions in the face of such apparently random variation. Lately, physical scientists have also discovered more and more situations in which randomness seems to be fundamental.

The trend continues today . New statistical methods are developed each year because of connections with other fields:

• Working with medical researchers, statisticians developed new methods of analyzing “categorical” data to assess the safety of an anesthetic.
• High energy physicists generate massive data sets that can be visualized only using advanced statistical methods of data display, largely developed by statisticians at the Stanford Linear Accelerator.
• Geographers find new insights by displaying and analyzing data “spatially” using GIS.

Advances in computer science have made possible “computer-intensive” methods that could not even have been conceived of 20 years ago. Recent specialized seminars in statistics have been held with the participation of experts in geology, astronomy, genetics, biophysics, criminal justice, human development, software reliability, etc., to seek statistical methods for solving new kinds of problems.

In the Statistics Department, we know from our own experience that it is easier to teach statistical ideas to people who already have some idea why they are useful. The decision to encourage Statistics majors to become familiar with an area of application was not made so that doing double majors would be easy. It was made because it helps us to produce better statisticians.

Some of the statistical methods you will study in basic courses were developed to answer practical problems. One of the most elementary and commonly used statistical procedures was invented by a mathematically-oriented brewmaster (, usually known as “Student”, of Guinness Brewery) while trying to improve quality control in the making of ale. Modern experimental design was founded by , an expert in agricultural genetics.  used data analysis to demonstrate a need for hospital reform in England.

The job market. Students graduating today enter a competitive job market. As you might expect, the employment opportunities for students with a double major are much greater than for those with only a single major. Employers value both the expertise from the first major and the insights that a knowledge of statistical methods can provide-- one need only look at the job board in the Career Center. A candidate with a knowledge of both areas has an important edge. In the longer run, those who know some Statistics often find themselves in a position to access and to understand data that is crucial to running a business. This can create powerful scenarios for job advancement.

Admission to Graduate Study. Among the criteria considered by many graduate school admissions committees is the preparation that candidates have in the area of Statistics. A second major in Statistics is bound to be an impressive credential. Some graduate schools allow Statistics as a substitute for a required foreign language. Students planning to do graduate work in any of the mathematical sciences will find that the double major provides a much stronger background than either major separately.

In many fields, graduate students are involved in taking surveys, doing observational studies, and designing experiments. The proper planning, analysis, and reporting of such work involves statistical ideas and techniques. Graduate students familiar with statistics are prepared to begin their research work sooner, because they already have valuable knowledge about the tools and methodology of research.

Future Teachers. Statistical ideas are being taught more and more frequently in elementary schools. Each year statistical societies hold a large joint meeting—often attended by four or five thousand statisticians. For the past few years a regular feature at these meetings has been “poster sessions” showing statistical investigations done by elementary students.

The first courses in Advanced Placement Statistics were offered during 1996-97. So, it is now possible for some high school graduates to enter a college or university with undergraduate credit for a basic statistics course. Elementary school teachers and teachers of high school mathematics who have a knowledge of Statistics are in especially high demand just now.