Statistics Major
Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.
NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.
Requirements for the Statistics Major
Department courses (10 units): includes 2 introductory courses, 4 core courses, 2 standard methods courses, and 2 300-level STAT elective courses
Related Courses (may be double-counted with another major, or with a minor). Related courses in mathematics MUST be taken EARLY in the program of study; includes prerequisites for required department courses.
For details see course lists below.
Department Courses
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Department Courses (see course descriptions for prerequisites in mathematics) | |
| 2 introductory courses: 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming for Data Science | |
| Introduction to Statistics and Data Science 1 | |
or STAT 210-0 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics |
| 4 Core Courses: 2 | |
| Statistical Theory & Methods 1 2 | |
or STAT 383-0 | Probability and Statistics for ISP |
or MATH 310-1 | Probability and Stochastic Processes |
or MATH 311-1 | MENU: Probability and Stochastic Processes |
or MATH 314-0 | Probability and Statistics for Econometrics |
or MATH 385-0 | Probability and Statistics for MMSS |
| Probabilistic Systems | |
or IEMS 302-0 | Probability |
| Statistical Theory & Methods 2 | |
| Statistical Theory & Methods 3 | |
| Regression Analysis | |
or ECON 381-2 | Econometrics |
| 2 Standard Methods Courses chosen from: | |
| Causal Inference | |
| Statistical Computing | |
| Applied Multivariate Analysis | |
| Design and Analysis of Experiments | |
| Nonparametric Statistical Methods | |
| Advanced Regression | |
| Time Series Modeling | |
| Introduction to Bayesian Statistics | |
| Introduction to the Analysis of Financial Data | |
| 2 300-level STAT elective courses (see list below) | |
- 1
One approved introductory statistics course from another department may be used in place of STAT 202-0 or STAT 210-0.
- 2
Students who do not take STAT 320-1 are responsible for independently learning content not covered in alternative course. List of topics not covered in substitute courses can be found on the department website.
300-level STAT Electives
List of approved 300-level electives for the major (students choose 2). For updates please refer to department website list of Electives Approved for the Statistics Major
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| STAT 301-1 | Data Science 1 with R 1 |
| STAT 301-2 | Data Science 2 with R 1 |
| STAT 301-3 | Data Science 3 with R 1 |
| STAT 303-1 | Data Science 1 with Python 1 |
| STAT 303-2 | Data Science 2 with Python 1 |
| STAT 303-3 | Data Science 3 with Python 1 |
| STAT 302-0 | Data Visualization |
| STAT 304-0 | Data Structures and Algorithms for Data Science 3 |
| STAT 305-0 | Information Management for Data Science 4 |
| STAT 328-0 | Causal Inference 2 |
| STAT 344-0 | Statistical Computing 2 |
| STAT 348-0 | Applied Multivariate Analysis 2 |
| STAT 351-0 | Design and Analysis of Experiments 2 |
| STAT 352-0 | Nonparametric Statistical Methods 2 |
| STAT 354-0 | Time Series Modeling 2 |
| STAT 353-0 | Advanced Regression 2 |
| STAT 356-0 | Hierarchical Linear Models |
| STAT 357-0 | Introduction to Bayesian Statistics 2 |
| STAT 359-0 | Topics in Statistics |
| STAT 360-0 | Introduction to Generative AI |
| STAT 362-0 | Advanced Machine Learning for Data Science |
| STAT 365-0 | Introduction to the Analysis of Financial Data 2 |
| STAT 390-0 | Data Science Project |
| No more than one of the following courses from other departments may be substituted for 1 department elective. Only 1 of the 2 required 300-level STAT electives can be taken outside the department. | |
| Data Structures & Algorithms 3 | |
| Data Management & Information Processing 4 | |
| Stochastic Models | |
| Optimization Methods in Data Science | |
| Analytics for Social Good | |
| Intro to Financial Engineering | |
| Probability and Stochastic Processes | |
- 1
Students may receive credit for only one Data Science sequence: either Data Science with R (301 sequence), or Data Science with Python (303 sequence).
- 2
Eligible as an elective if not being applied as one of the 2 Standard Methods courses.
- 3
Only one of COMP_SCI 214-0 or STAT 304-0 may be counted as elective for the major. If COMP_SCI 214-0 is counted as an elective, the second elective must be a STAT course other than STAT 304-0.
- 4
Only one of COMP_SCI 217-0 or STAT 305-0 may be counted as an elective for the major. If COMP_SCI 217-0 is counted as an elective, the second elective must be a STAT course other than STAT 305-0.
Related Course Requirement
In addition to the 10 department courses, students must complete related courses in mathematics; see list below. Related courses in mathematics MUST be taken EARLY in the program of study; these are prerequisite courses for required department courses.
Related courses required for the major
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| See course descriptions for prerequisite sequencing of mathematics related courses | |
| MATH 220-1 & MATH 220-2 | Single-Variable Differential Calculus and Single-Variable Integral Calculus |
| or MATH 218-1 & MATH 218-2 & MATH 218-3 | Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus and Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus and Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus |
| MATH 230-1 | Multivariable Differential Calculus |
| or MATH 228-1 | Multivariable Differential Calculus for Engineering |
| or MATH 281-1 | Accelerated Mathematics for ISP: First Year |
| or MATH 285-2 | Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS |
| or MATH 290-2 | MENU: Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| or MATH 291-2 | MENU: Intensive Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| or ES_APPM 252-1 | Honors Calculus for Engineers |
| MATH 226-0 & MATH 230-2 | Sequences and Series and Multivariable Integral Calculus |
| or STAT 228-0 | Series and Multiple Integrals |
| or MATH 235-0 | Series and Multiple Integrals |
| or MATH 226-0 & MATH 228-2 | Sequences and Series and Multivariable Integral Calculus for Engineering |
| or MATH 226-0 & MATH 281-2 | Sequences and Series and Accelerated Mathematics for ISP: First Year |
| or MATH 226-0 & MATH 285-3 | Sequences and Series and Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS |
| or MATH 226-0 & MATH 290-3 | Sequences and Series and MENU: Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| or MATH 226-0 & MATH 291-3 | Sequences and Series and MENU: Intensive Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| or MATH 226-0 & ES_APPM 252-2 | Sequences and Series and Honors Calculus for Engineers |
| MATH 240-0 | Linear Algebra |
| or MATH 281-3 | Accelerated Mathematics for ISP: First Year |
| or MATH 285-1 | Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS |
| or MATH 290-1 | MENU: Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| or MATH 291-1 | MENU: Intensive Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| or GEN_ENG 205-1 | Engineering Analysis I |
| or GEN_ENG 206-1 | Honor Engineering Analysis |
The Statistics Major with Additional Majors or Minors
The major in Statistics fulfills the Weinberg College requirement of completion of a major, but it also can be completed alongside another major, or with a minor. The general Weinberg College policies apply to such combinations. Below is clarifying text about how this works with certain combinations, and where particular exceptions to general rules are approved.
The Statistics Major for Students in the Integrated Science Program
Students complete all requirements for ISP major, and requirements for Statistics major are modified as follows:
- Introductory Statistics course requirement: STAT 202-0, STAT 210-0, or equivalent is waived
- MATH 226-0 is waived
- STAT 383-0 Probability and Statistics for ISP counts in place of STAT 320-1
All other statistics major course requirements remain the same.
The Statistics Major for Students in the Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences Program
Students complete all requirements for the MMSS adjunct major, and requirements for Statistics major are modified as follows:
- Introductory Statistics course requirement: STAT 202-0, STAT 210-0, or equivalent is waived
- MATH 226-0 is waived
- MATH 385-0 Probability and Statistics for MMSS counts in place of STAT 320-1
- STAT 350-0 is replaced by a combination of MATH 386-1 Econometrics for MMSS and MATH 386-2 Econometrics for MMSS
All other statistics major course requirements remain the same.
For triple major limitations see MMSS Adjunct Major
Statistics Major with a Data Science Major
Statistics Major with a Data Science Minor
Honors in Statistics
Majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing honors should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies no later than the start of senior year. Accepted students take 2 quarters of STAT 399-0 Independent Study, during which they develop and write a research paper; these enrollments do not count toward the major.
Students whose theses and grades meet department criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information consult the Director of Undergraduate studies and see Honors in the Major.