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Statistics

• Overview
• Qualifications
• Papers
• Major Subject and Programme Requirements
• Minor Subject Requirements
• Further Information

Overview

Statistics as a field of study is concerned with the collection, analysis and interpretation of numerical data. The main emphasis is on the role of random variation in observations that are made, which is why statistical theory is built on the concepts of probability.

Although the study of statistics in any depth requires some proficiency in algebra and calculus, it is a mistake to think that statistics is just another branch of mathematics. It is quite different. The use of statistical methods requires skills in problem formulation, computing and the assessment of evidence that are not always closely related to mathematical ability. Furthermore, a key ingredient for being a successful statistician is the ability to communicate complex ideas to other people in written and verbal reports.

Statistics can be studied at all undergraduate levels at the University of Otago. Many students take a first year Statistics paper as a prerequisite for their main subject of interest, or just because it is generally useful to have some knowledge of basic quantitative methods. Often these students then continue the subject with papers at 200-level and 300-level while majoring in disciplines like Botany, Ecology, Economics, Finance, Geography, Marketing Management, Psychology or Zoology.

Other students study Statistics as their major subject because:

• They are looking for a practical and useful application of their mathematical abilities, with good employment prospects
• They would like to work with researchers, in a wide range or disciplines, in solving important problems
• They want a job which involves them in contributing to policy or management decisions for government or private industry
• They have a concern for social or environmental issues and want to use their skills in biological, environmental or medical research.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
  
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
• Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
  
• Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
  
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics (PGDipApStat)
  
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MSc)
  
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Papers

See the full list of Statistics (STAT) papers.

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Statistics

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	Statistics STAT 110 or STAT 115 MATH 160 MATH 170 or Applied Statistics STAT 110 or STAT 115 COMO 101 or MATH 160	18 18 18     18 18
200-level	Statistics STAT 261 Two further STAT papers at 200-level or above or Applied Statistics Three STAT papers at 200-level or above	18 36     54
300-level	Statistics STAT 362 Three further STAT papers at 300-level or above or Applied Statistics Four STAT papers at 300-level or above	18 54     72
Plus	Either 180 (Statistics) or 198 (Applied Statistics) further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts Other approved paper(s) may be substituted for up to two 200- or 300-level STAT papers	180 or 198
Total		360

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Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Statistics

Stage	Papers	Points
1st stage	STAT 110 or STAT 115 MATH 170 90 further points	18 18 90
2nd stage	STAT 241 STAT 261 One further 200-level STAT paper * Two of MATH 242, MATH 251, MATH 262 36 further points	18 18 18 36 36
3rd stage	STAT 362 Three further 300-level STAT papers * 54 further points	18 54 54
4th stage	STAT 480 Three further 400-level STAT papers 36 further 400-level STAT or MATH points 18 further 400-level points	36 54 36 18
	* STAT papers and other approved papers to the value of a least 252 points must be taken over the second and third stages

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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Statistics

The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Statistics is the same as the fourth stage course for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours.

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Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Statistics

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	Statistics STAT 110 or STAT 115 MATH 160 MATH 170 or Applied Statistics STAT 110 or STAT 115 COMO 101 or MATH 160	18 18 18     18 18
200-level	Statistics STAT 261 Two further STAT papers at 200-level or above or Applied Statistics Three STAT papers at 200-level or above	18 36     54
300-level	Statistics STAT 362 Three further STAT papers at 300-level or above or Applied Statistics Four STAT papers at 300-level or above	18 54     72
Plus	Either 180 (Statistics) or 198 (Applied Statistics) further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science Other approved paper(s) may be substituted for up to two 200- or 300-level STAT papers	180 or 198
Total		360

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Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Statistics

Stage	Papers	Points
1st stage	STAT 110 or STAT 115 MATH 170 90 further points	18 18 90
2nd stage	STAT 241 STAT 261 One further 200-level STAT paper * Two of MATH 242, MATH 251, MATH 262 36 further points	18 18 18 36 36
3rd stage	STAT 362 Three further 300-level STAT papers * 54 further points	18 54 54
4th stage	STAT 480 Three further 400-level STAT papers 36 further 400-level STAT or MATH points 18 further 400-level points	36 54 36 18
	* STAT papers and other approved papers to the value of a least 252 points must be taken over the second and third stages

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Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Statistics

Papers
STAT 480 * Three further 400-level STAT papers and 36 further 400-level STAT or MATH points * May be substituted with a 48 point dissertation or project in approved cases.

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Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics (PGDipApStat)

The programme requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics (PGDipApStat) are available elsewhere in this website.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Statistics

Papers
STAT 495 and 108 approved 400-level points, including at least 90 points from MATH or STAT of which at least 54 points are from STAT. STAT 5 (thesis)

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Minor Subject Requirements

Statistics as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), or Bachelor of Tourism (BTour) degree

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	STAT 110 or STAT 115	18
200-level	See below
300-level	Four STAT papers above 100-level, including at least one at 300-level or above	72
Total		90

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Further Information

Email us at maths@otago.ac.nz or visit our home page http://www.otago.ac.nz/maths