Program Overview

The number of new fields in which professional mathematicians find employment grows continually. This department prepares students for a variety of careers, including in industry, government and education, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to the major programs, the department provides a number of service courses in support of other programs within the university. Current and detailed information on mathematics degrees and course offerings is available from the department. The department maintains a math lab that is available for assistance to all students studying mathematics at the baccalaureate level.

Statistics is a collection of methods and theories used to make decisions or estimate unknown quantities from incomplete information. Statistical techniques are useful, for example, in estimating plant, animal and mineral abundances; forecasting social, political and economic trends; planning field plot experiments in agriculture; performing clinical trials in medical research; and maintaining quality control in industry. Employment opportunities are excellent for statisticians in many of these areas.

The Master of Science in Statistics and Data Science builds upon UAF’s strength in the sciences and our setting in Alaska by introducing a strong quantitative alternative or supplement to existing programs. The curriculum is built around four statistics core courses and flexibility in the selection of elective courses. The core courses are designed to blend mathematical statistics coursework typical of most M.S. programs in statistics with real applications. We believe this blending provides a substantial improvement in the graduate’s skills.

Graduates of this program could be labeled quantitative biologists, biometricians, quantitative geologists, geostatisticians, or mathematical statisticians depending upon their specific course work. In addition, this program prepares individuals for Ph.D.-level work in statistics or their area of application.