Stephen M. Stigler, in his History of Statistics: The Measurement of Uncertainty before 1900, tells us that, ``Modern statistics provides a quantitative technology for empirical science; it is a logic and methodology for the measurement of uncertainty and for an examination of the consequences of that uncertainty in the planning and interpretation of experimentation and observation.'' The mathematics that provides a foundation for statistics falls into the areas of probability theory, real analysis, and measure theory. Applications of statistics are found in many areas including economics, psychology, sociology, chemistry, medicine, political science, biology, marine biology, geophysical science, physics, engineering, education, astronomy, and actuarial science. Statistics, in the form of decision analysis, is used in business decision-making, and marketing uses statistics to analyze consumer preferences. Even the law is beginning to rely on statistical analyses as evidence in trials.
Information regarding statistics courses can be found in the statistics page of the catalog.
If you plan to work in any of the fields that use statistics, or if you plan to focus on the mathematical foundations of statistics, we recommend that you take at least one introductory statistics course. If you have not taken calculus, then you should take Basic Statistics with Applications (107). If you have completed Calculus I or Discrete Math 153 and want to learn statistics for its applications, then take Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MTH 245) followed by Regression Analysis (MTH 247) and/or Design of Experiments MTH 290 (formerly MTH 290). This provides an overview of the use of statistics in applications and gives the student tools to use both in data analysis and in statistical inference.
If you plan to major in mathematics with a focus on statistics, or if you plan to become an actuary, you should take the sequence of theory courses: Probability (246) and Mathematical Statistics (346). These introduce the mathematical foundations of statistical theory. Engineering majors should consider taking Intro to Probability and Statistics (245).
If you have taken all of the courses Smith offers in statistics and you want to take more, then you should consider the offerings at other campuses in the valley. The School of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts offers an Introduction to Biostatistics (540), which considers methods for analyzing biological, medical, and public health data. The Department of Mathematics at the University offers Design of Experiments (506) and Multivariate Statistical Methods (511). Mount Holyoke offers a Seminar in Statistics and Scientific Research (344).
See also the Minor in Statistics and the Applied Statistics lecture series.