Statistics and Actuarial Science (ACSC, STAT)

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The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science offers B.S. degrees in statistics and actuarial science.

The department also offers minors in statistics, and actuarial science. These minors should be of interest to students majoring in the physical or social sciences or in business. In addition, the department offers an honors program in statistics and actuarial science and participates in the University Honors Program.

Several of the department’s courses partially fulfill the university quantitative literacy foundational studies requirement, and others can be used by non-majors toward fulfilling the nature and technology knowledge domain requirement in the university’s general education program. In addition, several of its courses are included as requirements for other programs.

Department Regulations

For all majors in the department, the GPA in the major is calculated by using only those statistics and actuarial science courses numbered 300 or above that are available for credit toward the major.

Department Requirements

Students majoring or minoring in statistics or actuarial science must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in those STAT/ACSC and mathematics and professional education courses applicable to their major or minor.

All majors are required to have a satisfactory portfolio of work done during their undergraduate studies on file in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. The contents of the portfolio are used to assess the department’s program and are to be accumulated largely through course work assignments and examinations; students are expected to cooperate with instructors as these items are collected. In addition, each student must submit in their senior year a 250-300 word typed essay describing the student’s experience in the major, including comments on the connections of statistics with other disciplines. Details on the submission of materials and approval of the portfolio should be obtained from the student’s advisor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.

With department permission, students are allowed to complete one major and one minor in the department. For the minor, the student must earn at least 6 semester hours in STAT/ACSC courses that are not counted in fulfillment of the major in the department. The major and the minor may not be in the same area. 

Proficiency Examination Policy

Ordinarily students will not be allowed to attempt a proficiency examination for a course if they have received credit for a higher numbered course (for exceptions, consult the department).

Statistics and Actuarial Science Faculty

Alan Polansky, Ph.D., Southern Methodist University, associate professor, chair
Bárbara González, Ph.D., Cornell University, associate professor
Lei Hua, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, associate professor
Duchwan Ryu, Ph.D., Texas A&M, associate professor
Michelle Xia, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, associate professor
Haiming Zhou, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, associate professor

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