Statistics

Unlock Your Potential with a Statistics Degree at Elon University

Are you wondering what you can do with a statistics degree? At Elon University, our statistics degree program is designed to prepare you for a dynamic future by combining rigorous theoretical learning with real-world applications. When you choose to major in statistics, you’ll gain interdisciplinary knowledge and hands-on experience that equips you with the skills to analyze and interpret data across diverse fields.

Why Major in Statistics at Elon?

A major in statistics at Elon University provides:

• Comprehensive knowledge: Learn statistics as both an independent scientific discipline and a versatile service field, offering essential tools for mathematics, biology, environmental science, psychology, economics and social sciences.
• Hands-on experience: Gain practical skills by designing, collecting and analyzing real data. Collaborate in group projects and conduct independent research to enhance both your technical and interpersonal skills.
• Marketability: Develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that prepare you for a competitive job market.
  Other departments offer individual statistics courses but the statistics degree program delivers a focused and cohesive curriculum centered on statistical theory and application.

What Can You Do With a Statistics Degree?

A statistics degree opens doors to numerous career paths, including:

• Data analysis in business, healthcare or government
• Actuarial science
• Biostatistics and public health research
• Environmental data modeling
• Psychology and social science research

With a major in statistics, you’ll gain skills in quantitative critical thinking, preparing you for success in academic and professional settings. Whether you’re interested in solving real-world problems, advancing in academia, or building a career in data-driven industries, Elon’s Statistics Program will provide the tools and experience you need to succeed.

Graduates with a statistics degree from Elon University are equipped to:

• Pursue graduate studies in statistics or related fields, such as biostatistics, epidemiology, or public health.
• Begin entry-level roles in business, government, or applied research.
• Work in actuarial science or interdisciplinary areas that require statistical expertise.

Elon statistics graduates have continued their education at prestigious institutions, including:

• North Carolina State University
• Duke University
• Vanderbilt University
• Georgetown University
• University of Manchester

Tailored to Your Goals

Our Bachelor of Science in Statistics is ideal for students seeking careers or graduate studies in health-related fields or professional roles in statistics and analytics. The Bachelor of Arts in Statistics is suited for those who want to double-major in fields like biology, environmental science, or social sciences, using statistics as a powerful support tool.

The statistics degree program offers concentrations that allow students to specialize in areas where statistics is applied, including:

• Mathematical Statistics
• Actuarial Science
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Statistics
• Statistical Methods in Social Sciences

As part of their coursework, students who major in statistics master statistical problem-solving techniques, apply new models and theories to real-world scenarios, and develop statistical thinking to synthesize ideas and data effectively.

A Major in Statistics Opens Hands-on Learning Opportunities

The interdisciplinary structure of our program seamlessly integrates major coursework with experiential, hands-on learning – including undergraduate research and internships.

As part of the capstone experience for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Statistics, students can complete a statistics research project and/or an internship in statistics. Students also have the opportunity to present their research findings at Elon’s annual Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) or at national conferences, such as the NC Symposium for Women in Mathematics and Statistics and the National Conference for Undergraduate Research.

These experiences expose students to the statistical issues of data production, management, modeling and analysis, as well as the non-statistical issues of teamwork, decision-making and communication. Students will discover the broad applicability of statistics to other fields.

Not only has the Statistics degree been an impressive line on my resume, but employers have been impressed by my ability to program in SAS and R also. Having used SAS in every statistics course at Elon, I felt prepared to enter into a career in statistics. While nerve wracking, of course, I’ve learned to trust my education and wow my employers with projects and tasks assigned to me. I continue to stay in touch with statistics professors throughout my career, and they have proven to be just as strong support systems as they were when I was still an undergraduate at Elon.

Supportive, Accomplished Faculty

Statistics majors have the support and expertise of nine faculty members whose primary area of study is statistics.

Dr. Heather Barker joined the department in 2020. She splits her time in the department teaching statistics courses and teaching courses to prepare preservice teachers to teach mathematics and statistics in K-12 classrooms. Her primary research interests lie in statistics education. Her current interests are focused on preparing preservice teachers to teach statistics in K-12 classes, teaching statistics for social justice, and developing best practices for teaching introductory college statistics courses. Dr. Barker’s research uses mixed methodologies, with a greater focus on qualitative research methods. She enjoys working with students across disciplines.

Dr. Nicholas Bussberg joined the department in 2020. With a background in Environmental Science and Statistics, his research interests fall broadly in the field of environmental statistics, with specific focus in spatial/spatio-temporal statistics and marine ecology. He is also interested in reproducibility in science and how to create efficient and effective workflows for research. He enjoys collaborating with people from a variety of areas, including those outside of environmental disciplines.

Professor Larry Cantwell joined the department in 2021.  Before arriving at Elon, Larry worked as an actuary at a large insurance company in Massachusetts where he designed and priced insurance products and helped organize the summer internship program. As Elon’s Actuarial Science Coordinator, he helps students prepare for actuarial exams and find exciting internship and job opportunities. He and Dr. VanKrevelen run the Williams-Elon Research in Statistics Experience (WE RISE), in which students from a local high school conduct a year long research project, receive mentoring from undergraduate statistics majors, and present their findings at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF)!

Dr. Ayesha Delpish, the principal founder of Elon’s statistics program, joined the department in 2005. Her academic interests lie in hierarchical linear modeling, structural equation modeling, educational measurement and testing, and statistics education. She was the co-recipient in 2008 of Elon College’s Excellence in Service/Leadership award.

Dr. Kirsten Doehler has taught numerous statistics courses, including Elon University’s first offering of Applied Nonparametric Statistics, Statistical Computing, Statistical Theory, and Statistics Practicum. She is active in teaching study abroad courses and regularly advises students in statistical research. Dr. Doehler has published numerous papers in prominent Statistics Education research journals such as the Journal of Statistics Education, Statistics Education Research Journal, and Teaching Statistics.  She has presented her research at various conferences, including the 2017 International Conferences on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS) held in Kyoto, Japan and the 2022 ICOTS in Rosario, Argentina.

Dr. Andi Metts has a background in public health. She holds a BS in Biostatistics from the School of Public Health at UNC and earned her PhD In Epidemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Her research is primarily in Maternal & Child Health. Dr. Metts has been at Elon since 1998 and has taught several courses in the Statistics program. She also co-developed and co-taught a special topics course along with Dr. Karen Yokley titled ‘Mathematics of Disease’. Dr. Metts enjoys teaching Statistics with a focus on practical applications to real-world situations.

Dr. Laura Taylor joined the department in 2008.  She mentors students on research topics of their choice – ranging from simulated-based theoretical projects, modeling of television game show data, comparisons of photographic filtering methods, and evaluating data visualization tools for factors that measure happiness. Dr. Taylor regularly attends the United States Conference on Teaching Statistics. Dr. Taylor has expertise in coding in SAS and R. She advises Elon’s chapter of the statistics honor society, Mu Sigma Rho.

Dr. Ryne VanKrevelen joined the department in 2015. He has expertise with the statistical programming language R and taught the first offering of the department’s Introduction to Data Analytics course (STS 2300). He serves as faculty co-mentor to the Baseball Analytics Club and has mentored several students in sports analytics research projects. He is involved in department and campus-wide initiatives related to inclusive and equitable teaching and learning. He and Professor Cantwell run the Williams-Elon Research In Statistics Experience (WE RISE) program, mentoring 20+ students from a local high school in year-long research projects that culminate in presentations at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum.

Dr. Mark Weaver joined the department in 2018 after working for more than 17 years in and around Research Triangle Park, NC, as a research biostatistician. His primary research interests include the design and analysis of randomized and cluster-randomized trials, longitudinal data analysis, and linear models, and he continues to collaborate on health-related research studies.

 

 

The Statistics program at Elon provided me with real-world experience in the application of and theory behind the most frequently encountered statistical tests. In addition, it introduced me to some of the more advanced concepts covered in graduate-level studies. My skills as a public speaker also improved immensely due to the constant interpretation and communication of results of analyses to professors, classmates, or even other statisticians required by the program. Even during the first few weeks of graduate school, I felt well-prepared for all of the scheduled material while other students were stressing out. Most of the statistical theory was just a review, as were the statistical programming courses.