Courses of Study 2024-2025 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
Courses of Study 2024-2025

Biometry and Statistics


In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .


Course Offerings  

Quantitative prediction and interpretation are increasingly essential components of biological, physical, and social sciences. Complex patterns, structures, and interactions raise fundamental and fascinating questions that can be addressed only using mathematical, statistical, and computational methods. The wealth of data that can be acquired using modern methodologies to address these questions, in turn, requires substantive quantitative approaches to make possible appropriate analysis and interpretation. Computational power, meanwhile, continues to increase exponentially, providing the means for sophisticated analysis of complex phenomena.

The Biometry and Statistics major, in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, focuses on the application of statistical and mathematical techniques to the sciences. Statistics and Data Science is concerned with quantitative aspects of scientific investigation: design, measurement, summarization of data, and reaching conclusions based on probability statements. Students with ability in mathematics and an interest in its applications will find this a rewarding and challenging major.

The work of an applied statistician or data scientist can encompass research, teaching, consulting, and computing in almost any combination and in a wide variety of fields of application. Opportunities for employment are abundant in academics, government, and businesses ranging from large corporations to small firms; salaries are usually excellent. Experience gained through summer employment, undergraduate research, or work as an undergraduate teaching assistant is highly recommended. For further details on the Biometry and Statistics major/minor, go to stat.cornell.edu.

Faculty


J. Booth chair (1198 Comstock Hall, (607) 255-8801, 255-1646); S. Basu, J. Booth, F. Bunea, S. Das, T. DiCiccio, A. El Alaoui, J. Entner, J. Guinness, M. E. Karns, K. Kato, N. Kiefer, D. Matteson, F. Molinari, Y. Ning, M. Nussbaum, K. Packard, D. Ruppert, M. Smith, Y. S. Wang, M. Wegkamp, M.T. Wells, X. D. Yang, X. Yang

Requirements for the Major (beyond the college requirements):


In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet the college graduation requirements .

•     All coursework for this major is in person, in Ithaca, unless otherwise noted.

•     All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

•     A grade of C- or better must be earned to meet major requirements.

•     Core requirements minimum is 40 credits.

•     Elective requirements minimum is 15 credits.

Elective Courses (5 courses):


Students must complete five (5) elective courses with significant statistical content. Each course must be worth at least 3 credits. A list of pre-approved elective courses is provided below. Any course not on the list must be approved by the major advisor.

At least three (3) of the five (5) electives must be STSCI/BTRY courses, or cross-listed with STSCI/BTRY courses.

The Minor:


A minor in biometry and statistics is available to all undergraduate students. To complete the program, students must submit a minor application form online. Students should contact the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Advising for Statistics and Data Science if they have general questions about Biometry and Statistics courses or the minor. 

Minor Electives


Students must take three additional courses from the statistical methods courses listed on the Biometry and Statistics Major and Minor webpage (Linear Algebra, BTRY 4030 - Linear Models with Matrices  BTRY 4090 - Theory of Statistics  and BTRY 4520 - Statistical Computing  can also be counted towards this requirement.)

Only courses for which the student receives a grade of C– or better will count toward the minor in biometry and statistics.