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. Students in these programs may also qualify for the A. Stat. designation from the Statistical Society of Canada.

Both applied and theoretical courses are offered in Statistics and Probability. The foundation courses STA220H1, STA221H1, STA247H1, STA248H1, STA250H1, STA255H1, STA257H1, and 261H1 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 offerings to be STA302H1, STA303H1, STA304H1, STA305H1 and 429H1. Furthermore, the probability course STA347H1 will be of interest to those whose field of application includes stochastic models.

Enquiries: 100 St. George Street, Sidney Smith Hall, room 6022 (416-978-5136)

Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies: Professor D. Brenner; e-mail: brenner@utstat.utoronto.ca

Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies: Actuarial Science – Professor S Broverman; e-mail: sam@utstat.utoronto.ca

Statistics Programs

Enrolment in these programs requires completion of four courses; no minimum GPA is required.

Statistics (Science program)

Specialist program:

(11 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
CSC148H1/CSC260H1; MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1

Second Year:
MAT223H1/MAT240H1, MAT224H1/MAT247H1, MAT237Y1/MAT257Y1; STA257H1, STA261H1
(MAT223H1/MAT240H1 recommended in 1st year) while CSC148H1/CSC260H1 might well be taken in 2nd year)

Higher Years:
1. STA302H1, STA303H1, STA347H1, STA352Y1, STA410H1, STA442H1
2. 1.5 full year courses from:
STA412H1, (STA414H1/CSC411H1), 422H1, 437H1, CSC438H1, 447H1, 457H1
3. 1.5 full year courses from:
ACT451H1, ACT452H1, ACT460H1; APM412H1;
MAT327H1, MAT334H1/MAT354H1, MAT337H1/MAT357H1, MAT301H1/MAT347Y1
CSC207H1, CSC310H1, CSC336H1/CSC350H1, CSC351H1
STA300 + level courses

Major program:

(6.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one STA400-series course)

First Year:
CSC108H1/CSC148H1/CSC260H1 (may be taken in 2nd year); MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1

Second Year:
MAT223H1/MAT240H1, MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1/MAT257Y1; (STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA247H1, STA248H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)(MAT223H1/MAT240H1 recommended in 1st year)

Higher Years:
1. STA302H1
2. 3 half (H) course equivalents from all available STA300+ level courses (For example, a student interested in economics/commerce/finance might think to include STA304H1, STA347H1, STA457H1 in their programme, while someone engaged in a life science might entertain STA303H1, STA305H1, STA437H1. On the other hand, a student with an interest in pure math might choose to focus on applications of that subject matter to theoretical probability and statistics, selecting STA347H1, STA352Y1 and447H1 to complete a major in statistics.)
3. 1 half (H) course equivalent from the available STA400+ level courses (For those anticipating a future professional need to analyze large arrays of data STA410H1, STA414H1 are certainly very worthy of consideration.)

Minor program:
(4 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/157H1

Second Year:
MAT223H1/MAT240H1; (STA250H1/STA220H1 (70%), STA255H1)/(STA247H1, STA248H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
(MAT223H1/MAT240H1 recommended in 1st year)

Higher Years:
STA302H1
2. 2 half (H) course equivalents from all available STA300+ level courses

Statistics and Computer Science - See Computer Science

Statistics and Economics - See Economics

Statistics and Mathematics (Science program)

Consult Professor J.S. Rosenthal, Department of Statistics.

Specialist program:
(11 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
MAT157Y1, MAT240H1

Second Year:
MAT247H1, MAT257Y1, MAT267H1; STA257H1; STA261H1

Third and Fourth Years:
1. MAT327H1, MAT354H1, MAT357H1; STA302H1, STA352Y1, STA347H1, STA447H1
2. At least three half-courses from STA303H1, STA305H1, STA410H1, STA414H1, STA422H1, STA437H1, STA438H1, STA442H1, STA450H1, STA457H1
3. At least one 300+ level f.c.e. from APM, CSC, MAT

Note
The Department recommends that PHY151H1, PHY152H1 be taken in first year, and that CSC108H1/CSC148H1/CSC260H1 be taken during the program