Overview
Statistics is a discipline concerned with understanding patterns and relationships in data in the presence of variation and uncertainty. How do we discover the “truth” or signal hidden in the noise?
In the statistics programme you learn:
- how to design research studies and collect reliable data;
- how to build thoughtful statistical models which allow us to understand the key features in a complex system;
- how to use the statistical models to answer research questions;
- how to produce informative and engaging graphical representations of data;
- the mathematical underpinnings of statistics;
- the computation skills necessary to do all these things; and
- skills in communicating statistical concepts and analyses to a range of audiences.
Statisticians collaborate with people in a broad range of fields across the sciences, commerce and art. In the Otago group statisticians collaborate with people who study ecology, zoology, genetics, medical sciences, epidemics, health, clinical medicine, geology, chemistry, food science, sports science and physics. The research questions that our collaborators ask motivate new developments in statistical methods. Our statistics teaching is informed by expertise in both statistical methods and the application of those methods to real world situations.
The Department offers several pathways for studying statistics. Many students take a single paper in statistics, others include statistics in their degree as either a major or minor subject. We encourage all students majoring in statistics to also take papers in another field of interest to them, be it arts, science or commerce. Having knowledge of an area of application is extremely useful, and data are virtually everywhere!
Statistics as a major subject
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
- would like to work with researchers, in a wide range or disciplines, in solving important problems
- want a job which involves them in contributing to policy or management decisions for government or private industry
- have a concern for social or environmental issues and want to use their skills in biological, environmental or medical research.
Statistics as a minor subject
Statistics is a valuable discipline to include in a degree as a minor subject. There are two pathways: Statistics and Mathematical Statistics.
- A Statistics minor will benefit any student interested in learning more about the application of statistics to data. It focuses on practical aspects of statistics, including the collection and handling of data, and the fitting and interpretation of statistical models. Students who complete a Statistic minor are often majoring in areas where data are regularly collected and analysed, e.g. Ecology and Psychology.
- A Mathematical Statistics minor will benefit any student who is interested in learning about the theoretical basis of statistics, as well as the application of statistical models and methods that require core mathematical proficiency. A Mathematical Statistics minor provides students the foundation to develop, understand and assess the use of statistical models. Students who complete a Mathematical Statistics minor are often majoring in disciplines with a theoretical or quantitative focus, such as Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics.
Contact details
Email maths@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/maths
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc)
- 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 (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Papers
See the full list of Statistics (STAT) papers.
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Statistics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level |
STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics MATH 160 Mathematics 1 MATH 170 Mathematics 2 |
18 18 18 |
| 200-level |
STAT 210 Applied Statistics STAT 260 Visualisation and Modelling in R (not required if STAT 380 passed previously) STAT 270 Probability and Inference MATH 202 Linear Algebra or MATH 203 Calculus of Several Variables |
18 18 18 18 |
| 300-level |
STAT 310 Statistical Modelling Three further 300-level STAT papers, including at least one of STAT 370, STAT 371 |
18 54 |
| Plus |
162 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science Other papers approved by the Head of Department may be substituted for up to two papers at either 200- or 300-level |
162 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Statistics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Statistics
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Statistics is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Statistics
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Statistics or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Statistics must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Statistics prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Statistics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level |
STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics MATH 160 Mathematics 1 MATH 170 Mathematics 2 |
18 18 18 |
| 200-level |
STAT 210 Applied Statistics STAT 260 Visualisation and Modelling in R (not required if STAT 380 passed previously) STAT 270 Probability and Inference MATH 202 Linear Algebra or MATH 203 Calculus of Several Variables |
18 18 18 18 |
| 300-level |
STAT 310 Statistical Modelling Three further 300-level STAT papers, including at least one of STAT 370, STAT 371 |
18 54 |
| Plus |
162 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science Other papers approved by the Head of Department may be substituted for up to two papers at either 200- or 300-level |
162 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Statistics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Statistics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Science (MSc) in Statistics
| Papers and Thesis |
|---|
|
Minor subject requirements
Mathematical Statistics as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics Note: If BSNS 112 is required for a student’s major they may substitute BSNS 112 for (STAT110 or STAT115). Students who have taken BSNS 102 or 112 prior to declaring Mathematical Statistics as a minor may substitute BSNS 102 or 112 for STAT 110 or 115. | 18 |
| Above 100-level | STAT 270 Probability and Inference Three of:
Note: MATH 160 is required as a pre-requisite for STAT 270, and MATH 170 is required as a prerequisite for STAT 370. | 18 54 |
| Total | 90 |
Note: Students taking a Statistics major will not be permitted to take a Mathematical Statistics minor.
Statistics as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics (or BSNS 102 or 112 if passed before enrolling for Statistics as a minor subject) | 18 |
| 200-level | STAT 210 Applied Statistics STAT 260 Visualisation and Modelling in R | 18 18 |
| 300-level | STAT 311 Design of Research Studies or STAT 312 Modelling High Dimensional Data One further paper from: | 18 18 |
| Total | 90 |
