MU typically likes to see students with a history of proven success in the classroom with a minimum high school grade point average of 2.5. Minimum *SAT requirement is typically an 850 (Math + Critical Reading), but other factors can be taken into consideration. A number of programs have requirements for direct entry that are higher than university minimums. We advise checking the admission requirements for your program of interest within its designated section of the website. View our list of majors to find your program. *Note: Misericordia will be Test-Optional for Fall 2021 Admissions
Misericordia offers merit-based scholarships for academics as well as community involvement, and need-based awards which can total well over $20,000 per year for qualified students. Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more.
MU has a rolling admissions cycle, but we advise that students apply early in the cycle (Fall) as the space available in certain programs can be limited. Visit our Apply page to submit an application.
Rapid advances in technology and the growing reliance on quantitative research have broadened the application of statistical reasoning to virtually all walks of life. Statistical techniques are widely used in research, industry, manufacturing, commerce, and government. The BS in Statistics program provides training in contemporary statistical techniques, as well as their theoretical background. By way of the Statistics elective courses, the program can be tailored to lead you to a wide variety of career choices in business or industry, or to prepare you for further studies in graduate school. Also, students who complete the BS in Statistics will automatically fulfill the necessary requirements for the Mathematics minor.
Curriculum
All BS in Statistics majors will take a minimum of 53 credits of courses within the major. These 53 credits will consist of 38 credits of specific required courses, plus a minimum of 15 credits of Statistics elective courses.
* Students who complete the BS in Statistics will automatically fulfill the necessary requirements for the Mathematics minor.
The minor program in Statistics exposes students to contemporary statistical techniques, greatly increasing their marketability as well as their preparedness for graduate study in many disciplines.
At only 18 or 19 credits, the minor program in Statistics exposes students to contemporary statistical techniques, greatly increasing their marketability as well as their preparedness for graduate study in many disciplines.
"The best thing about being a statistician is that you get to play in everyone’s backyard." — John Tukey
WHY STATISTICS?
Statistician is the coolest job you’ve never heard of. Don’t take our word for it; see for yourself all the great things you can do with a career in statistics.
In pursuing a major in Statistics, I have the guidance of excellent professors who are eager to support, teach and provide career advice. This expertise and commitment combined with a smaller school setting helps me feel comfortable asking questions to help me succeed.
Lindsay Kane '20
Lindsay Kane '20
I would not be where I am today without Misericordia and our wonderful math department. Our professors gave me the confidence I needed as an incoming freshman that has strengthened my performance in the classroom and overall experience.
Christopher Larson '19
Christopher Larson '19
My time as a Math/Stats double major was challenging but rewarding. Although at times the workload was heavy, the personal support and hands on approach by all professors make success achievable.
I love being a statistics major at Misericordia. Not only am I exposed to critical thinking, analytical reasoning and problem solving on all levels, but I am also exposed to statistics in all facets such as sports, business, education, health care, research and development and computer science. Misericordia’s statistics program has given me the opportunity to combine my passion for sports, with a mathematical science and a highly employable degree.
Danielle Clifford '20
B.S. Statistics and Sport Management
VP of the Class of 2020
Students in the Misericordia Statistics Program are constantly getting hands-on experience with applied statistics and research, building a strong foundation of applied skills that will help them excel in their future careers. Additionally, our program is designed to give students room to pursue their own projects, allowing our students to explore and apply their skills in areas they find interesting.
Misericordia’s Statistical Consulting Center (SCC) serves as a resource for the campus community to ask for help in statistical design, analysis, and interpretation. Students in Misericordia’s Statistics program are encouraged to participate as consultants in the SCC and build their experience through:
Observing and participating in client consultations
Working with “messy data” and data cleaning procedures used in research
Collaborating with faculty and peers on challenging projects that synthesize concepts from coursework
Presenting/publishing findings with faculty from a variety of fields
Professional statisticians use statistical methods to collect and analyze data for the purposes of solving real-world problems in business, engineering, health care and many other fields. The BS in Statistics program provides training in contemporary statistical techniques, as well as their theoretical backgrounds and applications. The program will be tailored to lead you to a wide variety of career choices in business or industry, or to prepare you for further studies in graduate school. Current faculty research interests are wide-ranging and include Count Modeling, Data Mining, Applied Statistics, Statistical Computing, and Statistics Education.
What makes Misericordia’s Statistics program stand out from all the rest:
The disciplinary area of statistics provides students with expanded opportunities to cultivate higher order critical thinking skills through its mathematics based study and practice. Misericordia University is the only College/University in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region who offers a Bachelor’s program in Statistics. Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Statistics will automatically fulfill the necessary requirements for the Mathematics minor.
Program degree options:
Bachelor of Science in Statistics (with a Minor in Mathematics)
A Minor in Statistics is also available for students from other majors.
Job opportunities for a Statistics degree include the following fields:
Health and Medicine:
Animal health
Genetics
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Pharmacology
Clinical trials
Public health
Business and Industry:
Agriculture
Engineering
Marketing
Chemistry
Finance
Quality Improvement
Computer Science
Insurance
Reliability
Economics
Manufacturing
Government:
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Government Regulation
Population Research
Census
Law
Risk Assessment
Ecology
National Defense
Surveys
Athletics:
Sports analyst
Sports broadcasting
Sports teams
Research/internships and other opportunities available at:
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)
Internships are available with many local businesses and organizations including:
The Statistics major will contribute to the mission of the university by fostering intellectual curiosity and critical thinking and by affirming the institution’s liberal arts character. The department’s mission statement designates that “The academic development of each student at the undergraduate level is ensured by the Mathematics Department's commitment to provide a learning experience that cultivates higher order thinking skills through the study and practice of mathematics.” As the disciplinary area of statistics provides students with expanded opportunities to cultivate higher order thinking skills through its (mathematics based) study and practice, the degree in Statistics complements the department’s mission. The Statistics program complements the department’s goals of providing a cooperative and quality academic environment from which students can graduate with an undergraduate liberal arts based degree and in which faculty are enabled to develop professionally.
Goals
The following are program goals for the Statistics major, in which students will:
Think critically, reason analytically and solve problems creatively.
Succeed in their careers in business, industry or government, as well as in graduate school.
Effectively communicate statistical ideas and arguments.
Use SPSS or similar statistical computer packages to perform data analysis.
Use statistical methods in their future endeavors not only within the discipline, but in other disciplines as well.
Outcomes
The Statistics major program goals are realized in the following student learning outcomes:
Solve applied problems in differential and integral calculus, and probability theory.
Use a variety of statistical software packages to enter and manage data, and to calculate and combine descriptive statistical parameters.
Differentiate between various sampling techniques.
Utilize inferential statistics.
Calculate test statistics.
Use various test statistics to assess the significance of a model.
Utilize regression analysis to construct a predictive model.
Design and analyze experiments using a variety of techniques.
Gain entrance into careers as well as in graduate or professional school.
Professional statisticians use statistical methods to collect and analyze data to help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, health care and many other fields.
and any other field that requires the collection and analysis of data
“We’re entering an era of tremendous growth in the profession of statistics,’’ said American Statistical Association (ASA) President David R. Morganstein, who compared the boom in the field to the 1970s demand for computing professionals. “We’re seeing similar trajectory in statistics. Advances in computing, technology and Big Data continue to raise the demand for statisticians.’’
The job outlook for statisticians is robust, according to several jobs reports as they attribute growth from the more widespread use of statistical analysis in making informed business and health care decisions. The National Center for Education Statistics and the Education Advisory Board recently noted that statistics is the fastest growing STEM degree. LinkedIn, the popular career website, reported in January 2016 that statistician ranked second among the 25 most in-demand job skills in 2014.
Furthermore, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for statisticians will increase 34 percent by 2024, much faster than the average for other occupations.