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In order to obtain a BS degree in Statistics at Virginia Tech it is necessary to meet all of the University, College and Department requirements. These specific requirements can be found in the Virginia Tech Catalog. The following is a quick breakdown of what courses are required by those pursuing a BS degree in Statistics:

• 34 hours of Statistics

• 16 hours of Mathematics (6 of these hours satisfy University Core Area 5)

• 3 hours of Computer Science

• 3 hours of Technical Writing

• 6 hours of Freshman English (University Core Area 1)

• 8 hours of Natural Science (University Core Area 4)

• 6 hours of “Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values” (University Core Area 2)

• 6 hours of “Society and Human Behavior” (University Core Area 3)

• 3 hours of “Creativity and Aesthetic Experience” (University Core Area 6)

• 3 hours of “Critical Issues in a Global Context” (University Core Area 7)

120 hours are required to complete the B.S. in Statistics degree (excluding the required foreign language). The requirements listed above leave room to take several electives to complete the degree, and students are encouraged to pursue minors in other disciplines such as math, computer science and economics.

Because there are often small changes in program requirements from year-to-year, each student should obtain a copy of the check sheet for his or her class, and have a University Catalog from the year she or he first enrolled at Virginia Tech. Changes in the University and College Core requirements are generally not made retroactive to continuing students. Changes in the major requirements, on the other hand often apply to continuing students, providing they do not delay a student's graduation.

Some requirements specific to statistics are repeated here for clarification:

• All required courses in Statistics, Mathematics, and Computer Science must be passed with a minimum grade of C- .
• The in-major QCA for the Statistics major is computed from all courses taken of 3XXX or 4XXX in Statistics, Mathematics, and Computer Science.

Electives

Depending on the individual program, up to 32 hours of the 120 required to graduate are available as free electives. A student may utilize these hours in several productive ways, including:

• A second major:
  This may be in a subject supporting the statistics major in order to broaden career skills and opportunities. Frequent choices are Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics and Psychology. Second majors in non-related areas are also chosen by some, such as a foreign language, English, and others.

• One or more minors:
  The above comments apply equally to this choice. Many majors also obtain a second minor or a second major:

  • to pursue personal interests in other areas, for example music, philosophy, and others.

  • to explore other areas for a broader, liberal education.

• Selected courses chosen to strengthen the statistics major. A suggested list of such courses follows.

Suggested Elective Courses Related to Statistics

• Statistics: Courses from the upper division electives list beyond the 3 required

• Mathematics: any, but especially 4554, 3134, 4225-6, 4234

• Computer Science: any, but especially 1104, 1705-6, 2604, 4004, 4214

• Industrial Systems Engineering: 3405-6, 4414, 4424

• Economics: any, but especially 3104, 3204, 3304, 4014, 4424

• Business: selected courses in Marketing, Management Science, Finance, Accounting

Any of these are valid uses for the elective courses. The only way in which they should not be used is to just take some courses chosen casually with no plan but to fill out the required 120 hours.