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Statistics

Available as a concentration

As a statistics student, you'll design experiments and analyze data in order to answer real-world research questions. Roanoke graduates use their expertise to enter a variety of fast-growing fields, including industry, insurance and teaching. 

Curriculum & Courses

STAT 202: Probability and Statistics
STAT 303: Experimental Design
STAT 304: Applied Regression Analysis

Professor pointing to board in front of a statistics class

Learn By Doing

Assistant Professor Maggie Rahmoeller's office got "pigged." Ever heard of the game "Pass the Pigs"? Turns out, it's a great way to illustrate probability. Instead of rolling dice, which have an equal probability of landing on each side, this game is played by rolling pigs. When you roll a pig, the probability of the pig ending up on its back is 22.4%, whereas the probability of the pig ending up on its feet is 8.8%. How do we know this? Well, one way to get a rough idea is to roll a pig 1,000 times and record the rolled formations.

Note that reads: "Welcome to MCSP! Find my 25 friends hiding in your office. - Pigsy"
Two pig figurines
Pig on a box on the wall
Pig next to a dial for the heater
Pig on a book on a bookshelf
Pig inside a piece of equipment
Pig on a computer
Pig inside a standing card

Careers & Outcomes

student sits on desk in front of mathematics on screenSarah Witt '12, was named Marjorie Berkley Award winner as the top female student-athlete of the year. As track captain, she won conference championships in the 100m and 400m hurdles, as well as the 4X400 relay. 

Witt was a mathematics major with a concentration in statistics. She was president of the Roanoke College chapter of the Mathematics Association of America and vice president of Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science. Her analysis of Facebook networks was presented at a national mathematics conference.

"Investigating social network influence on Facebook helped me gain new perspective into how to approach a research problem," she said. "This experience prepared me for graduate school, and I had a lot of fun with it too."

Sarah went on to a master's program in statistics at the University of Kentucky.

Statistician ranks #4 on the CareerCast list of best jobs!

Faculty

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Dr. Roland Minton, professor of mathematics and statistics at Roanoke College, has written "Golf by the Numbers," an analysis of golf statistics that brings the spirit of the popular movie "Moneyball" to the analysis of golf. Minton's work is based on data collected by the PGA for every shot in the tour — data that allowed him to create a rating system for golf covering both overall performance and specific game elements, such as drives and putts. Dr. Minton was featured on NPR speaking about his book.

woman sitting in a golf cart holding a laptop while she observes someone playing golf

We love to celebrate Pi Day here at Roanoke by baking pies and pie-ing our math, computer science and physics professors. 

Student and professor getting ready to put pies in each other's faces
Student with pie all over his face
Students milling about
Students making pies
Students making pies
Donation jars filled with money
President Maxey throwing a pie in another student's face
Student with pie box
Pies on racks

News

  • Are you a student involved in research? Are you interested in improving how you communicate about your research? This workshop is for you!

    Date:
    March 22, 2024
    Time:
    6 - 8 p.m.
    Location:

    Pickle Lounge

    Workshop: Communicating Your Research in a Nutshellevent image
  • Are you a student involved in research? Are you interested sharing your research in 90 seconds with a public audience to win up to $100? 

    Date:
    April 18, 2024
    Time:
    6 - 8 p.m.
    Location:

    Antrim Chapel

    Nutshell Games Competitionevent image

Statistics prepares you to use quantitative information to answer questions in the social and natural sciences. Here at Roanoke, small class sizes and numerous collaborative research opportunities allow you to get practical experience while working closely with faculty members. Our students hone skills that are relevant to many different lines of work and position them to succeed on a variety of paths.

We offer a concentration in statistics.