Create a mathematical model of a real world system and discover whether the fluttering of a butterfly’s wing in the Amazon can cause a tornado in the East Indies! Predict patterns of societal behaviour, understand the stock markets, and build models of national economies. Research an abstract problem and develop a groundbreaking equation. Discover the aesthetics of pure reasoning, the elegance of a clever argument, and the art of conjecture. These opportunities and more are available to you when you choose to major in Mathematics & Statistics.
Mathematics is the study of numbers, sets of points, and various other abstract elements and deals with the size, order, shape and various relationships among these features. Statistics is a branch of Mathematics that includes the study of methods for data collection, analysis, and interpretation, and principles of experimental design. Mathematics contributes to the formulation and solution of problems in diverse fields such as Medicine, Economics and the Social Sciences in addition to being the foundation of the field of Computer Science and the “language” of Science and Engineering.
During my studies I received two NSERC scholarships to do research in Statistics. Now I am working for Aon Consulting. a pension plan company in Saskatoon. I am an analyst/actuarial assistant. I use the skills I learned in Statistics on a daily basis in everything from maximization to integrals. My education has prepared me for the highly computational and theoretical exams I will be writing in order to become an actuary.—Troy Milnthorp, Honours Degree in Statistics
A degree in Mathematics & Statistics is a solid foundation for continued education in many fields. The traditional sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Geology have an ever-growing mathematical and statistical content. The study of Mathematics & Statistics develops a capacity for logical reasoning and efficient problem solving.
Mathematics or Statistics is often a first degree or a first joint degree for students pursuing further studies in Economics, Engineering Physics or Engineering Science, Business Administration, the Physical Sciences and Computer Science. It goes almost without saying that the very best preparation for future teachers of high school and elementary school Mathematics is to earn one’s first undergraduate degree in the subject.
In the age of computers, sophisticated technology, and scientific progress many jobs require a sophisticated knowledge of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering. A degree in Mathematics or Statistics opens the door for graduates to pursue careers in diverse fields such as:
Students have the opportunity to interact with researchers in Mathematics and Statistics and are introduced to the national and international mathematical science community. The Department participates annually in undergraduate mathematical competitions that develop skills and expose students to situations with no classroom counterpart. Upper year classes have excellent student-professor ratios; this allows for direct interaction and creates an excellent learning environment.
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics also offers scholarships and awards for top students and many Honours students, while completing their degree, are able to find summer employment in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics as research assistants or as markers or tutorial assistants.
Students in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics develop a strong mathematical foundation and then have the opportunity to concentrate in Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, or Statistics.
Pure Mathematics prepares a student for graduate study towards the pursuit of a research career in mathematics at educational institutions.
Applied Mathematics is intended for students who have a keen interest in applying mathematical techniques in order to solve problems arising in fields such as the Physical Sciences, Engineering, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences including Economics and Psychology.
Statistics exposes students to concepts such as experimental design, sampling techniques, data analysis, and statistical inference. This concentration prepares students for employment with research agencies or to proceed in graduate studies in applied Statistics.
Mathematical Physics is an interdisciplinary program, offered jointly by the Department of Mathematics & Statistics and the Department of Physics & Engineering Physics.
I think most people have misconceptions about the field of mathematics. It's not all about formulas and rules - there is plenty of room for abstract and creative thought. Even if you do not see yourself pursuing a career as a mathematician, a degree in mathematics also provides a wonderful foundation for a number of other disciplines, including my current field of study, law.—Chira Chilliak, (Mathematics)
Students majoring in Mathematics & Statistics can earn one of the following degrees:
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics operates an up-to-date research computer lab which supports a variety of projects, among them: symbolic computation, state-of-the-art “integrators” for non-linear dynamical systems, numerical approximations for the solution of differential equations, and Monte Carlo and other simulations.
The following is a list of high school subjects required for admission. Please select the province/territory where you completed high school.
If you are interested in Statistics, you might also be interested in:
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