Statistics enables us to make inferences about entire populations, based on samples extracted from those populations. Statistical methods can be applied to problems from almost every discipline and they are vitally important to researchers in agricultural, biological, environmental, social, engineering, and medical sciences. Statistics majors may receive either a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Both the A.B. and the B.S. programs require theoretical and applied course work and underscore the strong interdependence of statistical theory and the applications and computational aspects of statistics. The B.S. degree program has five tracks: Applied Statistics Track, Computational Statistics Track, General Track, Machine Learning Track, and the Statistical Data Science Track. The A.B. degree program has one track. From presidential campaigns to pandemic tracking, big data helps power the modern world. Given the growing importance of information in our lives, there is a pressing need for people who can make sense of it all. Whether your goals are to get into academics, government or industry, chances are there will be a demand for statistics skills. The flexibility of the statistics program at UC Davis allows our students to focus their studies while remaining eligible for a broad range of careers and options post-graduation.
Probability models, statistical methods, and computational techniques are used in a great many fields, including the biological, physical, social, and health sciences, business, and engineering. The wide applicability of statistics is reflected in the strong demand for graduates with statistical training in both the public and private sectors. Employment opportunities include careers in data & policy analysis in government & industry, financial management, quality control, insurance & healthcare industry, actuarial science, engineering, public health, biological and pharmaceutical research, law, and education. Students with an undergraduate degree in statistics have entered advanced studies in statistics, economics, finance, psychology, medicine, business management & analytics, and other professional school programs.
