Which Statistics Course?
The Statistics Department offers several introductory courses which provide Natural World (NW) and Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (QSR) general education credits. Each course is geared towards a slightly different audience. For a full description of these courses, content and prerequisites, please visit our course catalog.
STAT 220, STAT/CSSS/SOC 221, and STAT 311 are by far our most popular (and widely applicable) introductory courses. As illustrated in the flowchart below, STAT 311 is geared to students aiming for more quantitative disciplines: STAT, BUSINESS, ECON, and INFO among others. (It is, however, NOT intended for students in E.N.G.R., MATH, A.C.M.S. as these disciplines require STAT 390. Students should check requirements with their major advisors.) On the other hand, STAT 220 and STAT 221 focus on statistical literacy and logical thinking and are geared towards the non-mathematical student. The aim is to develop quantitative problem solving skills as well as build a statistical vocabulary. If your interests are in the social sciences, and you would otherwise take STAT 220, consider STAT 221 instead.
STAT/CSE 180 is a relatively recent alternative which introduces the essential elements of data science. It is a good choice for students looking for a hybrid between a computer course and a statistics course. It is not intended for students who have taken statistics courses such as STAT 220, 221, 311 or 390 or programming courses like CSE 160.