Probability & Statistics

In many areas of endeavor, decisions must be made using information which is known only partially or has a degree of uncertainty attached to it. One of the major tasks of the statistician is to provide effective strategies for obtaining the relevant information and for making decisions based on it. Probabilists and statisticians are also deeply involved in stochastic modeling - the development and application of mathematical models of random phenomena. Applications to such areas as medicine, engineering, and finance abound.

Students interested in becoming probabilists or mathematical statisticians should consider additional study in graduate school. While graduate study is an option for students whose goals are to be applied statisticians, there are also career opportunities in business, industry, and government for holders of a B.S. degree. More information about careers in statistics can be found at the American Statistical Association's Web site.

Students planning on graduate studies in this area would be well advised to consider, in addition to the courses of interest listed below, additional independent study or PQP work in probability and statistics, or some of the department's statistics graduate offerings.

Courses of Interest

MA 2611 Applied Statistics I
MA 2612 Applied Statistics II
MA 2631 Probability
MA 3627 Applied Statistics III
MA 3631 Mathematical Statistics
MA 4237 Probabilistic Methods in Operations Research
MA 4631 Probability and Mathematical Statistics I
MA 4632 Probability and Mathematical Statistics II

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: October 02, 2006 12:32:54