2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Statistics and Data Science (BS)
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Statistics is the science of learning from data. Today, statisticians are partners in most scientific and technological enterprises. Statisticians are involved at every step in the process of turning data into actionable insights, including designing complex studies; gathering, exploring, and visualizing data from these studies; analyzing these data with appropriate models to discover important relationships; and communicating these findings to a general audience.
One of the fastest-growing professions, statistics is an exciting subject that affects most aspects of modern living, driven by the proliferation of complex and rich data and the evolution of how data are collected and used. Statistical analysis plays a central role in all disciplines that make evidence-based decisions. It has been developed to deal objectively with the uncertainty in phenomena due to the many factors that affect our environment. Statistics plays a critical role in solving practical problems arising in all fields of scientific activity, including the agricultural, social, natural, medical, business, and engineering sciences.
Studying statistics gives you the conceptual foundations and the skills to think critically, extract information from the data, and make insightful conclusions in any field of application. A deep understanding of theoretical, applied, and ethical aspects of statistical analysis will make a difference in your career and give you the necessary background to ensure that you get the most out of your data.
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Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours
K-State Core is the foundation for an impactful life and career after time at K-State. The K-State Core framework covers six disciplinary areas: English, Communications, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. In addition, a seventh area is reserved for institutionally designated use, which K-State is keeping as free electives. In total, the framework takes up 34-35 credit hours of 100 and 200-level coursework. Students who complete their general education elsewhere cannot be required to take additional general education coursework in the disciplinary areas of the framework without permission from KBOR to continue requiring courses in the K-State Core. Orientation: (1 credit hour)
Outside Concentration: (9 credit hours)
Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except Statistics and Data Science OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit). OR Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for STAT) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). OR Any 9 credit hour microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). Overlays: ([9] credit hours)
May be filled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself. - Ethical Reasoning Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
- Global Perspectives Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
- US Multicultural Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
Program
Students must earn a C or higher in Statistics Foundations, Mathematics Foundations, Programming Foundations and Upper-Division Electives. Alternative Courses - STAT courses at the 400 level or higher may replace either or both of the Intro to Statistics courses, but credit may only be received for STAT 701 OR STAT 703 - STAT 510 or STAT 770 may replace STAT 610 - STAT 511 or STAT 771 may replace STAT 611 The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take Calculus. Statistics Foundations: (19 credit hours)
Introductory Seminar (1 credit hour)
Intro to Statistics I (3 credit hours)
Chooose one of the following: Intro to Statistics II (3 credit hours)
Choose one of the following:
Intro to Mathematical Statistics (6 credit hours)
Design Methods (3 credit hours)
Choose one of the following:
Linear Models (3 credit hours)
Choose one of the following: Mathematics Foundations: (15-18 credit hours)
Calculus: Choose one of two sequences. Math Scholars is recommended for dual MATH and STATDS majors. Option 1: MATH 220 , MATH 221 , and MATH 222 (12 credits)* Option 2 (Math Scholars): MATH 250 , MATH 251 , MATH 351 (13 credits) * * Combinations of these two options are also acceptable Linear Algebra: Choose one of the following (3-5 credits): MATH 551 , MATH 350 or MATH 515 Programming Foundations: (3 credit hours)
Choose one of the following:
Upper-Division Electives: (9 credit hours)
Choose two upper-division quantitative electives from list (6 credit hours): Advanced Writing Requirement (3 credit hours)
Statistics Computing (2 credit hours)
BS Natural and Quantitative Restricted Electives: (3 credit hours)
In addition to K-State Core, choose one (1) Natural Science course at any level. BS Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Restricted Electives: (3 credit hours)
In addition to K-State Core, choose three (3) credits at any level in Non-Quantitative Social Science at any level: Any social science course that does NOT have a MATH or STAT prereq Credits: 3 Free Electives: (19-21 credit hours)
In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120. Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120
Arts & Sciences common BS degree requirements satisfied by - Upper level Math and Statistics Courses
- Advanced Writing Requirement
- BS Natural Science Restricted Elective
- BS Non-Quantitative Social Sciences Restricted Electives
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