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Introduction

Statistical methods have applications in almost all areas of science, engineering, business, government, and industry. The practising statistician is involved in such diverse projects as designing clinical trials to test a new drug, economic model-building to evaluate the costs of a guaranteed-income scheme, predicting the outcome of a national election, planning a survey of television viewing habits, and estimating animal populations.

Today’s consumer is bombarded with the results of so many quantitative studies using statistical methodology that it is necessary to know something about statistics in order to be properly critical. A basic knowledge of statistics should be an integral part of everyone’s general education.

Probability theory is used to analyse the changing balance among the age-groups in a population as the birth rate changes, the control force needed to keep an aircraft on course through gusts of wind, the chance that the demand for electricity by all the customers served by a substation will exceed its capacity. These are just three of many phenomena that can be analysed in terms of randomness and probability.

The course offerings are intended not only for specialists in the theory of the subject but also to serve the needs of the many other disciplines that use statistical methods, e.g. in sample survey design and experimental design. Students following the Specialist Program are encouraged to include courses in major fields of application in their overall program. The Major Program can be profitably combined with specialization in another discipline.

Both applied and theoretical courses are offered in Statistics and Probability. The foundation courses STA 220H, 221H, 250H, 255H, 257H, 261H, and JBS 229H are distinguished primarily by their mathematical demands, as indicated by the prerequisites. Students interested in the Biological or Social Sciences will generally find the most relevant courses of the more advanced courses to be STA 302H, 322H, 332H, and 429H. Furthermore, the probability course STA 347H will be of interest to those whose field of application includes stochastic models.

Undergraduate Studies Coordinator:

A.M. Vukov

Enquiries:

100 St. George Street, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 6018 (978-3452)

STATISTICS PROGRAMS

Enrolment in these programs requires completion of four courses; no minimum GPA is required. Enrolment forms may be obtained at your College Registrar’s Office.

STATISTICS (B.Sc.)

Specialist program (Hon.B.Sc):
(11 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
CSC 148H/260H (may be taken in 2nd year); MAT 137Y/157Y

Second Year:
MAT 223H/240H, 224H/247H; MAT 237Y/235Y/257Y; STA (257H, 261H)/ECO 227Y (MAT 223H/240H recommended in First Year)

Higher Years:

1. STA 302H, 347H, 352Y
2. 1.5 courses from Group A (MAT 237Y required) or 1.5 courses from Group B:

Group A: STA 410H/442H, 422H/438H, 447H

Group B: STA 410H, 442H, 437H/457H
3. 1.0 courses from: APM 346H/351Y, MAT 334H/354H, 337H/357H, 301H/347Y
4. 2.0 full courses from: ACT 300+ level courses; CSC 336H/350H, 354H, 384H; STA 300+ level courses
NOTE: Substitutions of other Science/Social Science 300+ level courses for up to 1.0 courses in 4. above are possible with approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator

Major program (B.Sc.):
(6.5 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
CSC 108H/148H/260H (may be taken in 2nd year); MAT 135Y/137Y/157Y

Second Year:
MAT 223H/240H, 235Y/237Y/257Y; STA (257H, 261H)/(250H, 255H)/ECO 220Y (70%)/227Y
(MAT 223H/240H recommended in First Year)

Higher Years:

1. STA 302H
2. A selection of four STA half-courses from STA 322H, 332H, 347H, 352Y, 410H, 422H, 437H, 438H, 442H, 457H, 447H
NOTE: Suggested combinations for the four STA half courses are as follows:
1. Four of: STA 347H, 352Y, 447H
2. Four of: STA 322H, 332H, 410H, 437H, 442H, 457H
3. Four of: STA 332H, 347H, 410H/437H, 442H/422H

Minor program (B.Sc.):
(4 full courses or their equivalent)
1. MAT 133Y/135Y/137Y
2. MAT 223H/240H; STA (250H/(220H, 221H), 255H)/ECO 220Y/227Y/STA (257H, 261H)
3. STA (302H, 352Y)/three STA half-courses at the 300/400-level

STATISTICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE — See COMPUTER SCIENCE AND STATISTICS

STATISTICS AND ECONOMICS — See ECONOMICS

STATISTICS AND MATHEMATICS (Hon.B.Sc.)
Consult Professor J.S. Rosenthal, Department of Statistics.

Specialist program:
(11 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
MAT 157Y, 240H

Second Year:
MAT 247H, 257Y, 267H, STA 257H, 261H

Third and Fourth Years:

1. MAT 327H, 354H, 357H; STA 352Y, 347H, 447H
2. At least 2 half-courses from STA 302H, 332H, 410H, 437H, 442H, 450H
3. At least 2 half-courses from STA 422H, 438H, 457H
4. At least one 300+ level f.c.e. from APM, CSC, MAT
NOTE: The Department recommends that PHY 150Y be taken in first year, and that CSC 148H/260H be taken during the program