Advice About Statistics Major

Importance of advising: Your exact schedule will be determined only after consultation with your major advisor. Seeking advice on your major plan in your first year is strongly recommended.

The first two years: A typical statistics major is recommended to take the following courses toward the major in the first two years: Mathematics 135, 137 or 237, and 236; Statistics 155 and 253; Computer Science 121 or 123. You may also consider Stat/Comp 112! If you are looking for further courses to take in the first two years, we want to see you! Come in and meet the Department Chair, or talk to your current MSCS professor.

Interested in graduate school? If you are interested in pursuing graduate study, consult with an advisor in the MSCS department to discuss the most appropriate choices. For Statistics and Biostatistics Ph.D. programs, Stat 455 and Math 377 are highly encouraged.  You should also seek out opportunities to apply statistics to real data problems in your junior and senior years. Talk to a Macalester professor about summer research programs or doing an honors project.

Plan ahead for advanced courses: 300 and 400-level courses are offered on a rotating schedule. Many are offered every other year. Please read the catalog carefully and ask your advisor about courses of particular interest to you.

Carefully read the requirements for the Statistics major as listed in the college catalog.   Statistics Major