Undergraduate Program Overview
The Department of Statistics and Data Science Undergraduate Program offers one minor, two majors, and an accelerated BA/MA:
- Statistics minor
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Statistics
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Data Science (offered jointly with the Department of Computer Science & Engineering)
- Accelerated BA/MA in Statistics
Both majors are offered as a prime or a double major. All of our programs are flexible enough to allow a broad range of double majors or major/minor combinations. Majors are encouraged to complete additional work in other related areas.
Major and minor requirements can be found in the Washington University Bulletin, which showcases all programs, degree requirements, and courses in addition to course descriptions, relevant university policies, and faculty lists. Links to each specific program page are included below.
In 2024-2025, courses previously offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics were split between the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistics and Data Science (SDS). For students who matriculated in 2023-2024 or earlier, upper-level SDS courses may be counted as Mathematics courses for purposes of fulfilling upper-level unit and elective requirements.
To declare your major, please reach out to sdsundergraddirector@wustl.edu.
Minor in Statistics
The Statistics minor has six required courses and three elective courses for a total of 27 units.
More information, including a list of required courses and acceptable electives, can be found on the Bulletin.
Major in Statistics
The BA in Statistics provides flexible and rigorous training in statistics for a wide range of career paths in industry or further graduate studies.
Why choose the BA in Statistics?
Data permeates every aspect of our lives. The ability to comprehend, synthesize, analyze, extract valuable information, and draw sound conclusions from data is a must-have in almost all human endeavors and activities. Statistics not only facilitates the implementation and evaluation of mathematical and computational models that represent reality but also acknowledges the inherent randomness in data, rendering it indispensable for the making of informed decisions in a wide range of domains.
This major requires 10 core courses (30 units) and 4 electives (12 units) for a total of 42 credits. More information including required courses and approved electives can be found in the Bulletin.
- SDS 3110 Biostatistics
- SDS 4110 Experimental Design
- SDS 4120 Survival Analysis
- SDS 4130 Linear Statistical Models
- SDS 4140 Advanced Linear Statistical Models
- SDS 4310 Bayesian Statistics
- SDS 4430 Statistical Learning
- SDS 4155 Time Series Analysis
- SDS 4440 Mathematical Foundations of Data Science
- SDS 4210 Statistical Computation
- SDS 4010 Probability
- SDS 4020 Mathematical Statistics
- SDS 4720 Stochastic Processes
- SDS 4480 Topics in Statistics
- SDS 5061 Theory of Statistics I
- SDS 5062 Theory of Statistics II
- SDS 5071 Advanced Linear Models I
- SDS 5072 Advanced Linear Models II
- SDS 5531 Advanced Statistical Computing I
- SDS 5532 Advanced Statistical Computing II
- SDS 5595 Topics in Statistics
- SDS 5800 Topics in Statistics
- SDS 5805 Topics in Statistics
Major in Data Science
Jointly offered with the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, the BA in Data Science offers students the formal foundation needed to understand the applicability and consequences of the various approaches to analyzing data with a focus on statistical modeling and machine learning.
Why choose the BA in Data Science?
Data science arises in the midst of a new era of data revolution and the challenges faced by the standard mathematical and statistical approaches when dealing with massive datasets, high dimensionality, and extremely complex data objects. These data sets appear in modern applications ranging from medicine to climatology to social sciences, to name just a few. Students trained in data science are already in high demand across a wide spectrum of industries. Data science is by nature interdisciplinary, requiring the mastery of a variety of skills and concepts, including many traditionally associated with the fields of statistics, computer science, and mathematics. In crafting the BA in Data Science, SDS and CSE have sought to leverage courses that are already taught as much as possible, while at the same time judiciously introducing a handful of new courses that capture unique aspects at the intersection of the two disciplines. The program features a novel practicum component during which students undertake a mentored experience to apply their knowledge and skills in industry or research.
The Data Science Major requires 12 core courses, 4 elective courses, one course in Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and a practicum requirement. More information including course lists and more information about the practicum can be found in the Bulletin.
Accelerated BA/MA in Statistics
The Accelerated BA/MA in Statistics allows highly qualified undergraduate majors to earn both the BA and MA degrees with two additional semesters of work (i.e., usually a total of five years). Participants can count up to 15 units of 4000-/5000-level coursework earned during the four years of undergraduate study (with grades of B or better) toward the MA course requirements. Counting these 15 units makes it possible to finish the master's requirements in one additional year, but the program is still fast-paced and requires a lot of intense work and careful planning.
There are 36 units of course work required and an optional thesis. For more information, visit the Accelerated BA/MA in Statistics page of the Bulletin.
The Honors Thesis
Arts & Sciences majors who want to be candidates for Latin Honors, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction must complete an Honors Thesis. Writing an Honors Thesis involves a considerable amount of independent work, reading, research, writing a paper that meets acceptable professional standards, and making an oral presentation of the results.
An Honors Thesis can take three forms: 1. A thesis that presents significant work by the student on one or more nontrivial statistics or probability problems. 2. A project in applied statistics that involves an in-depth analysis of a large data set. To do an honors thesis involving data analysis, it is usually necessary to have completed SDS 3020, SDS 4010, and SDS 4020 (or SDS 3030 and SDS 4030) by the end of the junior year and to have the ability to work with statistical soware such as SAS, R, or Python. 3. A substantial expository paper that follows independent study on an advanced topic under the guidance of a department faculty member. Such a report would involve the careful presentation of ideas and the synthesis of materials from several sources.
Junior Year, Spring Semester:
• Talk with a faculty advisor about possible projects.
• Complete the Honors Proposal Form and submit it to sdsundergraddirector@wustl.edu.
Senior Year:
• By the end of January, provide the advisor with a draft abstract and outline of the paper.
• By the end of February, submit a rough draft, including an abstract, to the advisor.
• The student and the advisor should agree on a date that the writing will be complete, and on a date and time for the oral presentation in mid-March (the deadline is March 31).
Latin Honors
At the time of graduation, the Department of Statistics and Data Science will recommend that a candidate receive Latin Honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) if that student has completed the department's requirements for High Distinction or Highest Distinction in Statistics, including an Honors Thesis. The actual award of Latin Honors is managed by the College of Arts & Sciences.
Departmental Prizes
Each year, the department considers graduating majors for several departmental prizes and awards a prize to a junior. Recipients are recognized at an annual awards ceremony in April where graduating majors each receive a certificate and a set of honors cords to be worn as part of the academic dress at Commencement. Awards are noted on the student's permanent university record.
Any Questions?
Please contact sdsundergraddirector@wustl.edu