Course descriptionBiometry majors learn to use quantitative methods to solve problems in the biological, physical, and social sciences. Biometry is the application of statistics, mathematics, computing, and other quantitative methods to phenomena and problems in the life sciences. Statistics is concerned with many aspects of scientific investigations: developing and studying the design and measurement aspects of investigations, executing investigations and collecting numerical information, summarizing the data obtained, and making inferences from the data.
Career Opportunities
Biometry majors have many career opportunities and possibilities for graduate study. Career choices are as varied as the fields of application of statistics. Collecting and using data effectively are vital activities in many organizations. Biometricians and statisticians collaborate in:
academic, biomedical, and industrial research
theoretical and applied research
data analysis from diverse fields
censuses and surveys
teaching
consulting
statistical computing
actuarial work
operations research
quality control
systems analysis
The number of courses required specifically for the Biometry and Statistics major is not large, and each student is encouraged to develop a concentration of courses in a related area. Recent students have taken advanced course work in biology (to prepare for graduate school in biostatistics or medical school), in business management and economics (to prepare for a quantitative business emphasis), in mathematics (to prepare for graduate school in statistics), in education (to prepare for a teaching career), in computing (to prepare for a variety of computer-intensive careers and graduate programs), and in other disciplines.