Statistics

Professor Rima Izem, Co-Head Tutor
Professor Xiao-Li Meng, Co-Head Tutor

Statistics is a relatively young discipline organized around the rapidly growing body of knowledge about quantitative methods for the analysis of data, the making of rational decisions under uncertainty, the design of experiments, and the modeling of randomness in the social and natural sciences. Statistics has a theoretical core surrounded by a large number of domains of application in fields such as economics, psychology, biology and medicine, sociology, population sciences, government, anthropology, history, astronomy, physics, and computer science. A basic requirement of a concentration in Statistics is to acquire the mathematical tools for a rigorous understanding of applications to substantive fields. This includes linear algebra and multivariate calculus to the level of Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 21b.

A non-mathematical introduction to the field is provided by Statistics 100: Introduction to Quantitative Methods. The basic theoretical introduction is provided by Statistics 110: Introduction to Probability, and Statistics 111: Introduction to Theoretical Statistics. These courses provide grounding in traditional and modern approaches to modeling, exploratory inference, and testing and estimation. They should equip students to take the other Department of Statistics courses dealing in greater detail with special models and procedures, as well as to move into applied fields.

The Statistics concentration is a flexible program that permits as many as half of the 14 half-courses required for honors eligibility to be taken in departments other than Statistics. Because Statistics offers an opportunity to branch out and explore a variety of areas it appeals to students who wish to acquire core skills while preserving their chance for a broad general education. It also appeals to those with strong mathematical interests who enjoy seeing formal argument bear direct fruit in practical use.

A concentration in Statistics prepares a student for careers in industry and government, for graduate study in a very broad collection of social and natural sciences, and for professional study in law, medicine, business, or public administration. The demand for people with statistical training is rising in most areas.

Students may choose to transfer to Statistics after a taste of other fields. Such transfers usually pose no difficulty. Statistics may be combined with other concentrations in an honors-eligible program. Joint concentrations with many fields are possible, including Economics, Psychology, Computer Science, and Social Studies.

In 2006-07 the Department of Statistics will introduce the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Track in Statistics, aimed at undergraduate students with interest in quantitative methods and modeling applied to data from the biological and life sciences. The recent explosion of size and complexity of data in the biological and life sciences, such as the human/animal/plants genome projects with gene and protein sequences, has motivated the development of new statistical methodologies and models, such as models for gene and protein motifs search, phylogenetic reconstruction, and gene expression analysis. Core requirements in statistics emphasize statistical modeling, especially as it relates to biological systems. Additional courses in biology will allow students to learn the terminology as well to obtain a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology, evolutionary biology or ecology. The requirements for the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Track are described in detail below.

REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements: 12 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Seven half-courses from Statistics Department offerings (100 or 101 or 102 or 104, 110, 111, 131, 135, 139, 140, 155, 149, 160, 170, 171, and any 200-level course); Statistics 110 and 111 are required and should be taken by the end of the junior year. Statistics 91r and 99hf may count toward this requirement.
2. Five additional half-courses, which may be related courses (see item 5a).
3. Mathematics 19a and 19b, Mathematics 21a and 21b, Applied Mathematics 21a and 21b, or equivalents, are required by the end of the sophomore year and may count for two related half-courses toward concentration requirements.
2. Tutorial: Senior year: Statistics 99hf optional. Letter-graded.
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Related courses:
1. Applied Mathematics 21a, 21b, 105a, 105b, 106, 107, 111, 115, 120
2. Astronomy 193
3. Biophysics 101
4. Computer Science 50, 51
5. Economics 1123, 1126, 2110, 2120, 2130, 2140, 2141, 2142, 2144, 2146
6. Engineering Sciences 101, 102, 201, 202, 203
7. Government 1007, 1010, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
8. Mathematics 19a, 19b, 21a, 21b, 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b, 106, 112, 113, 115, 116, 121, 122, 123
9. MCB 111 (formerly MCB 211)
10. OEB 152
11. Physics 181, 262
12. Psychology 1950, 1951, 1952
13. Quantitative Reasoning 32, 33
14. Any 100-level or 200-level Statistics courses
15. Other relevant courses if approved by the Head Tutor.
6. Pass/Fail: One half-course other than Statistics 110 and 111 may be taken Pass/Fail and counted for concentration credit.
7. All courses taken for concentration credit must be approved by the Head Tutor.
8. Undergraduate Teacher Education Program: Concentrators may be eligible to obtain certification to teach in middle or secondary schools in Massachusetts and the forty-one states with which Massachusetts has reciprocity. See page 46 for more information about UTEP.

Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 14 half-courses

1. Required courses: Same as Basic Requirements with two additional half-courses, which may be related (see item 5a).
2. Tutorial: Same as Basic Requirements.
3. Thesis: Required. A substantial statistical analysis of a real-life problem, a critical review of statistical methods in some problem areas, or the solution of an open statistical research problem are equally acceptable.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.
6. Joint Concentrations: Students interested in a joint concentration should consult the Head Tutor at an early date.
1. Statistics as the Primary Field: Students must satisfy the usual requirements for honors eligibility. In addition, students must complete four half-courses in the second field (some of these may count as Statistics related courses). Note that some fields may require more than four half-courses. Thesis required; must relate to both fields. Ordinarily there will be two readers, one from each field.
2. Another concentration as the Primary Field: Students are required to complete five half-courses from Statistics Department offerings (Statistics 110 and 111 are required by the end of the junior year). One additional half-course, which may be a Statistics related course from the primary field, is also required. Students may receive credit for only one course at the level of Statistics 100 (others at the same level include Statistics 101, 102, 104; Government 1000; OEB 153). Mathematics preparation to the level of Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 21b is required. Thesis required; must relate to both fields. There must be a reader from the Statistics Department.

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) Track in Statistics
Basic Requirements: 12 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Same as Basic Requirements, but must also include Statistics 102, 115 and 171 and Life Sciences 1a and 1b. Life Sciences 1a and 1b may count for two related half-courses toward concentration requirements.
2. Five additional half-courses, which may be related courses (see item 5a below).
3. Mathematics 19a and 19b, Mathematics 21a and 21b, Applied Mathematics 21a and 21b, or equivalents, are required by the end of the sophomore year and may count for two related half-courses toward concentration requirements.
2. Tutorial: Same as Basic Requirements.
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Related Courses for the BCB Track: It is recommended that the student focus on one of the following categories, and choose at least one course above the 100-level.
1. Molecular and Cellular Biology: MCB 52, 54, 56 and select one from MCB 100, 111, 118, 140, 150
2. Evolutionary Biology and Ecology: OEB 53, 55 and select one from OEB 125, 152, 181
3. Mathematical, Physical, and Statistical Biology: Biophysics 101, 170; Mathematics 153; Biostatistics 244, 245, 280
4. Computer Science and Statistics: Computer Science 50, 51; Statistics 131, 135, 139, 140, 149, 160
   Other relevant courses if approved by the Head Tutor.
2. Pass/Fail: One half-course other than Statistics 110 and 111 may be taken Pass/Fail and counted for concentration credit.
3. All courses taken for concentration credit must be approved by the Head Tutor.
4. Undergraduate Teacher Education Program: Concentrators may be eligible to obtain certification to teach in middle or secondary schools in Massachusetts and the forty-one states with which Massachusetts has reciprocity. See page 46 for more information about UTEP.

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) Track in Statistics
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 14 half-courses

1. Required courses: Same as Basic Requirements with two additional half-courses, which may be related courses (see item 5a above for the BCB Track).
2. Tutorial: Same as Basic Requirements.
3. Thesis: Required. A substantial statistical analysis of a biological studies problem, a critical review of statistical methods in some biological areas, or the solution of an open statistical research problem in a biology-related area are equally acceptable.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

ADVISING

The Co-Head Tutors are advisers to all Statistics concentrators. It is expected that students will discuss their program and review their progress with the Co-Head Tutors at the beginning of each term.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

For more information please consult with the Co-Head Tutors, Professor Rima Izem, Science Center 604 (617-496-8456, izem@stat.harvard.edu) and Professor Xiao-Li Meng, Science Center 715 (617-495-1603, chair@stat.harvard.edu).

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Number of Concentrators as of November