Why take courses in this discipline?
Studying statistics and data science develops logical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and creative problem-solving skills. Data analysis techniques play an essential role in numerous other disciplines. The statistics faculty have strong research careers and provide opportunities for students to engage in research of their own. The curriculum also helps to prepare students for graduate study in fields like statistics, data science, engineering, psychology, and economics.
How does the discipline contribute to the liberal arts?
Courses in statistics and data science focus on quantitative reasoning, writing, and communication.
What kinds of questions are asked in this discipline?
Using real-world data, statisticians draw conclusions and make decisions based on available information. Here are examples of questions that might be asked in the field of statistics:
- Is one medical treatment better than another?
- Is there evidence of racial discrimination by a particular police department?
- What level of certainty do we have about our conclusions?
How do I meet the statistics requirement for specific fields of study at Grinnell?
Many departments and programs at Grinnell value statistics as an essential skill to develop and therefore require it for the major or concentration. Students and their advisers should pay attention to which statistics course(s) fulfill specific program and course requirements, as detailed in this table.
| Department | Type of requirement | STA 209 (pre-req MAT 131) | AP Stats or SST 115 | PSY 195 (no pre-req) | Department may accept transfer course in statistics | Stats requirement details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry & Biological Chemistry | course | Yes | No | No | Yes | Can serve as a pre-req for CHM 363, a requirement for CHM & BCM majors |
| Economics | course | Yes | No | No | Yes | Pre-req for ECN 286, one of the two courses that fulfill the Empirical Analysis requirement for ECN major |
| Biological Chemistry | major | Yes | No | No | Yes | Can count towards “additional requirement” |
| Computer Science | major | Yes | No | No | Yes | Can count towards “additional requirement--math elective” |
| General Science | major | Yes | No | No | Yes | Can count towards “8 credit math requirements” |
| Mathematics | major | Yes | No | No | Yes | Can count towards major |
| Statistics | concentration | Yes | No | No | Yes | Required for the concentration |
| Psychology | major | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Required for the major; pre-req for many 200-level PSY courses |
| Anthropology | major | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Required for the major |
| Political Science | major | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Required for the major |
| Sociology | major | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Required for the major |
| Education | licensure | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Can count towards math requirement for licensure |
Note: Currently, STA 209 is the only statistics option that meets all types of statistics requirements. STA 209 has a pre-requisite of calculus (MAT-131 or equivalent).
Earning credit for introductory statistics: Statistics 209 and Social Studies 115/AP Statistics
Beginning in fall 2026, students are able to receive credit for STA 209 and one of the following: AP Stats or SST 115. Students with AP Stats credit will have that credit equated to SST 115. If a student with AP Stats credit wishes to take SST 115, they will need to contact the Registrar’s Office to remove AP Stats from their academic transcript before they can register for SST 115.
How does a student get started?
STA 209, Applied Statistics, is the gateway course for the statistics concentration and covers applications of basic statistical methods, including hypothesis testing and confidence intervals, in both single- and multivariate settings. It is an introductory statistics course intended for students whose quantitative background includes calculus. MAT 131 or equivalent is a pre-requisite for STA 209.
AP/IB Credit
A score of 4 or 5 on the AP statistics exam can count as four credits of SST 115 and can fulfill the SST 115 requirement for departments other than political science, which requires that either SST 115 or STA 209 be taken at Grinnell. A student who received a 5 on the AP statistics exam may want to consider taking STA230 instead of STA209.
Students with any of the following exam scores will receive credit for MAT 131:
- A score of 4 (or higher) on the AP Calculus AB exam.
- A score of 3 (or higher) on the AP Calculus BC exam.
- A score of 5 (or higher) on the IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation exam, or the IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches exam.
Courses in Statistics
Regular 200-Level Courses
- Applied Statistics (STA 209)
- Introduction to Data Science (STA 230)
- Predictive Modeling (STA 270)
Regular 300-Level Courses
- Statistical Modeling (STA 310)
- Design and Analysis of Experiments (STA 309)
- Applied Data Science (STA 330)
- Probability and Statistics I and II (MAT/STA 335 and 336)
- Bayesian Statistics (STA 340)
- Advanced Statistical Modeling (variable topic) (STA 350)
- Introduction to Machine Learning (STA 370)