Applied Statistics - Bachelor of Science
Overview
Every minute of every day data is generated at a staggering rate. That “big data” has the potential to do many things—reveal business trends, prevent diseases, improve safety and fight crime. The power of data lies not in the bits and bytes themselves, but in what you do with them. When you major in Applied Statistics, you analyze and explore a wide range of data and use statistics to find patterns, trends and connections that support strategic decisions. You gain a strong theoretical foundation in mathematics and computer science while focusing on the practical application of statistics that can be used in almost every industry and sector, including government, oil and gas, insurance, finance and medical and biological research.
Contact Information
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Room 5-107, City Centre Campus
10700 - 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2
T: 780-497-5786
Faculty of Arts and Science, Program Services (Advising)
Room 6-211, City Centre Campus
T: 780-497-4505
E: artsandscience@macewan.ca
Bachelor of Science
Faculty of Arts and Science
MacEwan.ca/Science
The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a foundational general degree that provides broad and widely applicable knowledge and abilities, rather than a niche specialization. This broad base equips graduates with generalist knowledge and skills that give the flexibility and agility so highly valued in a dynamic world economy. It also gives students a solid foundation from which to specialize in future employment or further schooling.
The degree provides breadth of study across a variety of Arts and Science disciplines, and sets the foundation for later years. The major and minor areas of study allow students to focus and gain in-depth expertise in complementary or entirely disparate disciplines; there is a wide array of possible combinations. Finally, options allow students to explore courses outside their disciplines, or even within their program, and so enhance their diversity of learning. The small classes, close interaction between instructors and students, opportunities for individual study, and faculty with a strong focus on teaching are signature strengths of this program.
General Program Information
The BSc requires students to complete 120 credits of non-duplicative coursework. The BSc emphasizes both breadth and depth and has been designed for exceptional flexibility and customization. Students can complete a major and a minor, a double major, or a major and two minors.
Science Disciplines
Discipline | Major | Minor | Honours |
---|---|---|---|
Applied Statistics | ⦿ | - | - |
Biological Sciences | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
Chemistry | ⦿ | ⦿ | - |
Computer Science | ⦿ | ⦿ | - |
Earth and Planetary Sciences | - | ⦿ | - |
Mathematics | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
Mathematical Sciences | ⦿ | - | - |
Planetary Physics | - | ⦿ | - |
Physical Sciences | ⦿ | - | - |
Physics | - | ⦿ | - |
Psychology | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
Statistics | - | ⦿ | - |
Arts Minors
Discipline | Minor |
---|---|
Anthropology | ⦿ |
Classics | ⦿ |
Creative Writing | ⦿ |
Economics | ⦿ |
English | ⦿ |
French | ⦿ |
Gender Studies | ⦿ |
History | ⦿ |
Philosophy | ⦿ |
Political Science | ⦿ |
Sociology | ⦿ |
Spanish | ⦿ |
Out of Faculty Minors
Discipline | Minor |
---|---|
Accounting Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
Arts and Cultural Management | ⦿ |
Business Law | ⦿ |
Business Studies | ⦿ |
Digital Experience Design | ⦿ |
Finance Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
Human Resources Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
Marketing Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
Preparing for Professional Studies
Students intending to enter professional programs at other universities can take their pre-professional programs in the Faculty of Arts and Science at MacEwan University. The university offers the first and second year of a number of pre-professional programs, including chiropractic medicine, dental hygiene, dentistry, medical laboratory science, medicine, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. All courses taken in these pre-professional programs are credit courses and, as such, they may be applied to any of the degrees offered by MacEwan University.
Students are advised to consult the admissions requirements for the universities and programs of their choice, and to select their MacEwan University courses accordingly. Completion of pre-professional courses at MacEwan University does not guarantee admission to the subsequent professional program. Each professional program requires a separate application and entry is competitive, not automatic.
Degree Requirements
Breadth Requirements
All Bachelor of Science degrees require Breadth Requirements. Courses can satisfy both the breadth requirements and requirements for the major(s), minor(s), Honours, or options. BIOL, CHEM, EASC, or PHYS courses must include a laboratory component.
Breadth Element | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
Biological or Earth and Planetary Sciences | BIOL or EASC (not including BIOL 101, BIOL 102, or BIOL 103) | 6 |
Chemistry or Physics | CHEM or PHYS | 6 |
English | ENGL 102 and 3 credits in university English (not including ENGL 111, ENGL 108, or ENGL 211) | 6 |
Humanities | CLAS, COMP, HIST, HUMN, PHIL or a language other than English | 6 |
Mathematical Sciences | One of MATH 114, MATH 120, or MATH 125, and 3 credits in MATH, STAT, or CMPT (not including MATH 160, MATH 170, or CMPT 104) | 6 |
Social Sciences | ANTH, ECON, LING, POLS, PSYC, or SOCI | 6 |
Bachelor of Science Degree
Program Element | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
Primary Major | The Science major will range from 42 to 60 credits with a minimum 36 credits taken at the senior-level.1 | 42-60 |
Secondary Major or Minor(s) | Students have the option of completing a second Science major, or one or two minors. Minor courses must be completed at the senior-level.1 | 18-60 |
Options | Students can complete up to 15 credits in out-of-faculty options, with no more than 3 credits in physical activity (PACT) courses | Up to 60 |
Total Degree Credits Including Breadth | 120 |
1 | Multi-disciplinary majors consist of 60-72 junior- and senior-level credits. Students majoring in mathematical or physical sciences may pursue a minor but are not required to do so. |
Bachelor of Science Honours
Program Element | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
Minimum Honours Requirements | Honours requirements are determined by each discipline. | 63 |
Option Courses, Non-Compulsory Honours Courses, and/or a Minor | Students have the option of completing a minor from outside of the Honours discipline. Some disciplines may require a minor. | 57 |
Total Degree Credits Including Breadth | 120 |
The minimum passing grade for a course at MacEwan University is a D unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study. In the Faculty of Arts and Science, students typically require a minimum grade of C- to use a course as a prerequisite. Please check course descriptions for more information.
Applied Statistics Requirements
Applied Statistics Major
The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Statistics program requires students to complete 120 credits of non-duplicative coursework. In addition to the Applied Statistics Major, students will complete one of the following:
- one minor,
- two minors, or
- a secondary Science major
Students are required to complete option courses as well as the major(s) and minor(s). All BSc degrees require Breadth Requirements. Courses can satisfy both the breadth requirements and requirements for the major(s), minor(s), or options.
The Applied Statistics Major is 42 to 60 credits with a minimum of 36 senior-level credits and a minimum of six credits at the 400-level.
Note: Students majoring in Applied Statistics are required to take prerequisite courses MATH 114, MATH 115, one of MATH 120 or MATH 125, and CMPT 101 or CMPT 103. These courses can be used to fulfill the breadth requirements.
Bachelor of Science - Applied Statistics Major
Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
Specific Major Requirements | ||
MATH 214 | Intermediate Calculus I | 3 |
MATH 215 | Intermediate Calculus II | 3 |
MATH 225 | Linear Algebra II | 3 |
STAT 265 | Probability Theory I | 3 |
STAT 266 | Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
STAT 378 | Applied Regression Analysis | 3 |
STAT 496 | Statistical Consulting Project | 3 |
Choose 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
Sampling Theory and Applications | ||
Design and Analysis of Experiments | ||
General Major Requirements | ||
Choose 18 to 36 credits from junior- and senior-level STAT | 18-36 | |
Secondary Major or Minor(s) | ||
Students have the option of completing a second Science major, or one or two minors. Minor courses must be completed at the senior-level. | 18-60 | |
Options | ||
Students can complete up to 15 credits in out-of-faculty options, with no more than 3 credits in physical activity (PACT) courses. | 0-60 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
Degree Regulations
Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice from the faculty advisors about program planning.
Academic Residency - Credit Requirements
In addition to the academic residency requirements of the University, Bachelor of Science students must complete at MacEwan University:
- A minimum of 24 credits at the senior-level in the major discipline, with 12 of those senior credits completed at the 300- or 400-level. All 400-level requirements are to be completed at MacEwan University.
- If applicable, a minimum of nine credits in a minor at the senior-level, with at least three of those credits completed at the 300- or 400-level.
Breadth Requirements
Courses taken to fulfil the major, minor, or option requirements can also be used to satisfy breadth requirements.
Declaration of a Major and Minor
Students are advised to declare a primary major and minor, or primary major and a secondary major, or a major and two minors by the time they have completed 45 credits. Majors are selected from Science disciplines and consist of 42 to 60 junior- and senior-level credits. Multi-disciplinary majors consist of 60-72 junior- and senior-level credits. With the exception of those students in an Honours program, a maximum of 60 credits may be completed from any one discipline for credit towards the degree. A major and minor cannot be in the same discipline and students may not declare more than one out-of-faculty minor. Students can re-declare their major(s) and/or minor(s) if required.
For students completing multiple majors or minors, the Faculty cannot guarantee a schedule of classes that will permit students to complete their degree in eight consecutive fall and winter semesters. Furthermore, depending on the courses in which a student enrols, meeting the requirements of a double major may require the completion of more than 120 credits for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a program advisor in the Program Services Office in the Faculty of Arts and Science and a discipline advisor in their major and minor prior to this declaration. Students majoring in mathematical or physical sciences may pursue a minor but are not required to do so.
Graduation Grade Point Average
As part of the Graduation Grade Point Average regulation above, Bachelor of Science students must obtain an overall GGPA of 2.0 or higher, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all courses credited toward the major(s) and a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all courses credited toward the minor(s).
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the date on which a student declares their major(s) and minor(s). Students who declare their major(s) and minor(s) up to and including February 15 are bound by the requirements of the current academic year. Those students who declare after this date are bound by the programs of study and degree requirements of the upcoming academic year as published in the MacEwan Academic Calendar.
Junior - and Senior-Level Courses
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior-level and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior-level.
Major or Minor 300- and 400- Level Requirements
The 300- and 400-level requirements in the major or minor cannot consist solely of project, field placement, and/or individual study courses.
Maximum Independent Courses
The maximum number of credits for independent work (project, field placement, and/or individual study courses) excluding the Honours Thesis, is 15 credits. Specific disciplines may have further restrictions.
Maximum Junior-Level Courses
A maximum of 48 credits at the 100-level are permitted in completion of the B.Sc. degree. Additional courses at the 100-level are extra to the 120 credits required to complete the B.Sc. degree and will not be counted toward fulfilment of graduation requirements.
Minimum Science Courses
Students are required to complete successfully a minimum of 72 total credits from Science courses.
Minimum Passing Grade
A minimum grade of D is required for all Science degree courses unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study.
Minimum Transfer Grade for Credit
A minimum grade of D is required on any transfer credit granted for the program. Arts and Science courses require a minimum grade of C- when the course is used as a prerequisite. Transfer credit decisions made by the university are final and cannot be appealed.
Out-of-Faculty Options Requirements
Degree options may include a maximum of 15 credits from courses offered by a Faculty or School other than Arts and Science except for those students completing an out-of-faculty minor or those who have met the minor requirements with a diploma. These students must complete their degree options from courses offered within the Faculty of Arts and Science.
Progression of Studies
Students are responsible for ensuring they meet the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements as noted on all courses that may fulfill Bachelor of Science program requirements.
Honours Regulations
Overall Requirements
The Honours program of study consists of 63 to 84 credits as determined by the discipline. Students in the Honours program may choose to complete a minor outside of the Honours discipline. Some disciplines may require a minor.
Course Load
Students accepted into an Honours program must complete 24-credits in each twelve consecutive months they are in the program. Exceptions to this rule may occur with the approval of the Honours discipline advisor.
Grade Point Average
Students accepted and enrolled in the Science Honours program must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. As well, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 across a set of courses designated by each discipline for each twelve consecutive months following acceptance into the Honours program. Failure to do so will result in the student’s program status reverting to BSc with a major in the previous Honours discipline.
Graduation Grade Point Average
In order to graduate, students must obtain an overall GGPA of 3.0 or higher, with a minimum GPA of 3.3 on all courses credited toward the Honours program of study.
Additional Degree Regulations - Subsequent Baccalaureate
In addition to meeting the degree regulations listed above, students who already hold a baccalaureate degree must satisfy the provisions of policies pertaining to subsequent baccalaureate credentials.
Applied Statistics Courses
STAT 151
Introduction to Applied Statistics
3 Credits
In this course the following topics are covered: data collection and presentation; descriptive statistics; probability distributions, sampling distributions and the central limit theorem; point estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing; one-way ANOVA; Chi-square tests; and correlation and regression analysis. Applications are taken from a broad variety of fields such as biological and medical sciences, engineering, social sciences and economics. Note: This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in Stat 161.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 30-1 or Mathematics 30-2 or successful completion of the statistics gateway exam.
STAT 161
Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences
3 Credits
This course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics with a focus on data analytic tools particularly relevant in the social sciences. Topics covered in this course include descriptive statistics, basic probability theory and the central limit theorem; estimation and hypothesis testing; t-tests, analysis of contingency tables, one way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. Applications are taken from the social sciences and many other fields such as biological and medical sciences, engineering, and economics. Note: Credit cannot be obtained in both STAT 151 and 161.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 30-1 or Mathematics 30-2 or successful completion of the statistics gateway exam.
STAT 252
Applied Statistics II
3 Credits
Fundamental methods in applied statistics are presented in this course including the following topics: factorial ANOVA and Linear Regression models and their analysis as well as non-parametric statistical tools for the comparison of the centre of distributions. Applications are taken from a broad variety of areas such as biological, social and computer sciences, engineering, and economics.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in one of STAT 141, STAT 151, STAT 152 or STAT 161.
STAT 265
Probability Theory I
3 Credits
This course offers a calculus-based introduction to probability theory. Topics covered include sample space, events, combinatorial probability, conditional probability, independent events, Bayes' theorem, discrete and continuous random variables, univariate and multivariate probability distributions, expectation, conditional expectation, joint probability distributions, independence, moment generating functions. Note: STAT 151 is recommended and MATH 214 is a recommended corequisite.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 115.
STAT 266
Mathematical Statistics
3 Credits
The emphasis of this course is to present the fundamental statistical concepts in estimation and hypothesis testing from a classical perspective using the tools of probability theory. Topics covered include: limit theorems, sampling distributions, methods of point estimation and properties of point estimators, interval estimation, testing hypotheses. Statistical software is used to simulate distributions and probabilistic processes that lead to statistical applications.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in STAT 265 and in either CMPT 101 or CMPT 103; STAT 151 is recommended.
STAT 312
Probability Theory II
3 Credits
This course offers a rigorous approach to probability theory. Topics covered include probability spaces, multivariate normal distributions, discrete and continuous random variables, expectation and conditional expectation, probability and moment generating functions, different types of convergence and relationships between them, and limit theorems.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in MATH 215, STAT 265, and in one of MATH 120 or MATH 125.
STAT 322
Finite Markov Chains and Applications
3 Credits
This course presents fundamental results regarding finite Markov chains. Topics covered include connection with matrix theory, classification of states, main properties of absorbing, regular and ergodic finite Markov chains. Applications to genetics, psychology, computing science and engineering are also included.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 120 and in STAT 265; A minimum grade of C- in Math 214 is recommended.
STAT 324
Computational Statistics with R
3 Credits
This course explores the usage of computer programming and algorithms in the field of statistics. The focus of the course will be computationally intensive statistical methods, such as Monte Carlo simulations, the expectation-maximization algorithm, and bootstrapping. The material will be illustrated and the students’ work will be carried out using R (a free, open source, multi-platform programming language).
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in STAT 266, and in either CMPT 101 or CMPT 103.
STAT 350
Sampling Theory and Applications
3 Credits
This course concentrates on the design and analysis techniques for sample surveys. Topics include simple random sampling, stratified sampling, ratio, regression and difference estimation, single-stage cluster sampling, systematic sampling, two-stage cluster sampling.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in STAT 265.
STAT 353
Design and Analysis of Experiments
3 Credits
This course deals with design, conduct and analysis of experimental studies. Topics include: principles of design, completely randomized design with one factor, randomized complete block designs, Latin square design, Graeco-Latin square design, balanced incomplete block design, factorial design, two-level factorial design, two-level factorial design in incomplete blocks, two-level fractional factorial design, experiments with random factors, and nested and split-plot designs.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in STAT 266.
STAT 370
Applied Time Series Analysis
3 Credits
This is an introductory course in applied time series analysis. Topics include computational techniques in time domain for simple time series models. Model selection, estimation, and forecasting are illustrated for the autoregressive, moving average, ARMA, ARIMA and SARIMA models. Applications are taken from medical and social sciences, biology, engineering and business.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in STAT 266, MATH 214, and MATH 225.
STAT 371
Applied Categorical Data Analysis
3 Credits
This course presents fundamental methods in categorical data analysis emphasizing applications. Topics include: analysis of two-way tables, models for binary response variables, loglinear models, and models for ordinal data and multinomial response data.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in either STAT 252 or STAT 266.
STAT 372
Applied Multivariate Analysis
3 Credits
This course focuses on essential multivariate statistical methods. Topics include matrix algebra, tests of significance, principal components analysis, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis and canonical correlation analysis. This course is relevant to working professionals in health, social biological and behavioral sciences who engage in applied research in their field.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in STAT 265 and in either MATH 120 or MATH 125, and in either STAT 151 or STAT 161.
STAT 378
Applied Regression Analysis
3 Credits
The course introduces methods in regression analysis. Topics include: multiple linear regression with particular focus on diagnostics, non-linear regression, and generalized linear models, such as Poisson regression and logistic regression. Emphasis will be placed on the practical application of the statistical methods.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in either STAT 266 or in all of STAT 252, MATH 114 and in MATH 120 or MATH 125.
STAT 398
Independent Study
3 Credits
This course permits an intermediate-level student to work with an instructor to explore a specific topic in depth through research or directed reading in primary and secondary sources. The student plans, executes and reports the results of their independent research or study project under the direction of a faculty supervisor. To be granted enrollment in the course, the student must have made prior arrangements with a faculty member willing to supervise his or her project. This course can be taken twice for credit.
Prerequisites: Consent of the Department.
STAT 412
Stochastic Processes
3 Credits
This course presents fundamental results regarding Poisson processes, discrete and continuous time Markov processes, and random walks. A practical but rigorous approach to stochastic processes will be utilized, with a focus on building models and understanding them mathematically.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in MATH 214, MATH 225, STAT 266, and an additional three credits in any 300-level STAT course.
STAT 465
Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics II
3 Credits
This course offers a rigorous approach to probability theory and mathematical statistics. Topics include conditional expectation and variance, multivariate normal distribution, convergence, laws of large numbers, central limit theorem, maximum likelihood estimator and its properties, Delta method, likelihood ratio tests, Taylor and Edgeworth expansions.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in Math 225, STAT 266 and any 300-level statistics course.
STAT 478
Applied Generalized Linear Models
3 Credits
The course introduces the theory of generalized linear models and their applications. Topics include exponential family of distributions, modeling binomial and count data, linear mixed models, gamma and inverse-Gaussian generalized linear models, and introduction to survival analysis. Emphasis will be placed on the practical application of the statistical methods.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in both STAT 266 and STAT 378.
STAT 495
Special Topics in Statistics
3 Credits
In this course students examine an advanced topic in Statistics. Topics vary and are announced prior to registration. Consult with faculty members in Statistics for details regarding current offerings. Note: This course may be taken multiple times for credit.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of B- in a 300-level STAT course and consent of the department.
STAT 496
Statistical Consulting Project
3 Credits
The aim of the course is to provide students with experience in statistical consultation. Students are assigned to research projects as consultants, which requires them to consider ethical statistical practice, choose the appropriate statistical technique, and communicate the results to a non-mathematical audience.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in two 300-level STAT courses and consent of the department.
STAT 498
Advanced Independent Study
3 Credits
This course permits senior-level students to work with an instructor to explore a specific topic in depth through research or directed reading in primary and secondary sources. The student plans, executes and reports the results of their independent research or study project under the direction of a faculty supervisor. To be granted enrollment in the course, the student must have made prior arrangements with a faculty member willing to supervise his or her project. This course can be taken twice for credit.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Analyze and explore a wide range of data using appropriate statistical tools.
- Write, read, and edit computer code for data processing and analysis.
- Prepare and present oral and written data analyses reports such that results are meaningful and can be well understood by audiences with little statistical background.
- Explain and prove basic results from linear algebra, calculus, probability theory, and mathematical statistics.
- Demonstrate ethical conduct in handling data, statistical analyses, and reporting.