Welcome to the Department of Statistics at Brigham Young University
The goal of the Department of Statistics is to assist individuals to develop their full divine potential. To accomplish this, we seek to cultivate meaningful collaborations in teaching, learning, and researching data methods and statistical reasoning. We offer a premier undergraduate educational experience that prepares graduates for enriching careers and success in competitive graduate programs. We also maintain a vibrant M.S. program that prepares students for top-tier Ph.D. programs and high-impact careers. As faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Statistics, we are fortunate to work in an era where there is an unprecedented demand for expertise in statistics and data science, and with this in mind we hope to contribute to and serve our families, communities, and world with informed, evidence-based decisions.
As a response to the flourishing demand for statistics expertise, our number of undergraduate majors is growing more than ever. Our undergraduates leave BYU with degrees in Actuarial Science or Statistics, with the latter major having four possible emphases: Applied Statistics and Analytics, Statistical Science, Data Science, and Biostatistics. Many of our graduates have enhanced their education by working for the department as teaching or research assistants during their career at BYU. We are proud to be awarded the status of Center for Actuarial Excellence (CAE) by the Society of Actuaries. CAE is a distinction granted to only 17 universities in the United States, with BYU being the only CAE in the western half of the country.
The strength of our Master of Science program in Statistics is evidenced by the 100% post-graduation placement for master’s students, with graduates enjoying coveted positions of employment or enrollment in top-rated PhD programs. In addition to our traditional two-year MS program, we are pleased to offer an integrated BS/MS degree program which allows prepared students to obtain both degrees in five years.
The research interests of our faculty span a wide range, with expertises in environmental and spatial statistics, reliability and industrial statistics, biostatistics, actuarial science, Bayesian statistics, business analytics, sports analytics, statistical theory, and statistics education. Faculty research has been sponsored by several funding agencies including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Association, and the Department of Defense.
Thank you for your interest in our program. Here are some additional facts about our department:
- Number of full-time faculty: 24
- Number of adjunct faculty: 6
- Number of publications in 2019: 56 peer reviewed articles
- 50 students coauthored 22 papers with 11 faculty in top-tier journals
- Faculty Awards in 2019
- Candace Berrett - Alvin C Rencher Award
- Phil White, William Christensen, and Shane Reese – 2019 Wiley-TIES Best Environmetrics Award
- Six faculty had eight external grants in 2019 that ranged between $6,725 and $1,156,510.
- In 2019 58 students were involved in mentored undergraduate research experience
- We offer an Integrated BS/MS program. This program allows well-prepared students to complete both degree programs efficiently in five years and at a lower tuition cost. Those that are interested in PhD programs can complete the Integrated BS/MS Statistics program with an additional year at BYU, but could start in the second year of PhD study at top programs. We recruit students who have completed Stat 340 and all university core requirements.
- Scholarships: Visit our scholarships page
