Three of our ambassadors share their recommendations for courses outside of the Statistics major. As we approach Spring registration, take a look at these valuable courses!

From Yutong (Tanya) Wang:

ASTR 121
My favorite course is ASTR 121 – Solar System and Worlds Beyond. It offers a comprehensive study of our celestial surroundings. This course explores the intricate orbital mechanics of planets and moons, unravels the enigma surrounding the genesis of our Solar System, and introduces us to the discoveries of exoplanets in distant stellar systems.

What sets ASTR 121 apart is its immersive pedagogical approach, which includes attending enlightening presentations at the Staerkel Planetarium and participating in night observatory sessions. These practical experiences not only enhanced my comprehension of the universe but also motivated my curiosity for the universe. ASTR 121 has been pivotal in igniting my fervor for astronomy and planetary science.

CHLH 260
Another course I would recommend is CHLH 260, Introduction to Medical Ethics. This course talks about ethical complexities of the medical field, and it’s unlike any other class I’ve experienced. What makes it unique is that it uses movies and TV shows to explore medical ethics. Analyzing ethical dilemmas and moral challenges in media sources makes it highly relatable and engaging.

Finally, I was tasked with writing an essay that examines different ethical concepts and reflects on our chosen media source. CHLH 260 left me a lasting impression by its unique blend of media analysis and ethics and deepen my understanding of the complexities in healthcare area. It’s a course that has not only broadened my knowledge but also shaped my perspective on ethical decision-making.

From Jieruo (Kelly) Li:

ANSC 207
One of my favorite courses outside of statistics is ANSC 207, “The Science of Pets and How to Care for Them”. The course focused on introducing the biology of companion animals, including their physical structure, nutrition, behavior, and reproduction. While most people consider cats and dogs as their primary choice of pets, these two animal species are the primary focus of the course.

Despite being a huge animal lover, I don’t have a pet of my own because I always felt a strong sense of responsibility for having a companion animal. But after taking this course, I learned a lot about the potential congenital and heritable disorders for certain dog types, different stages of pet growth, “checked pets” for airline travel, ways to distinguish the gender of a kitten, and even how to adopt a cat from the shelter! So, if you are an animal lover who might want to have your own pets but don’t have any experience, don’t worry! ANSC 207 is the perfect course to help you learn everything about companion animals!

FSHN 343
Another course that I found really interesting is FSHN 343, “Foundations in Beverage Management: Introduction to Wine, Beer, and Spirits”. It is worth mentioning at the beginning that this course has an age requirement of 21+ and is only open for registration in the fall semester. The course will focus on the application of principles and practices related to the preparation and service of alcohol and specialty beverages in the hospitality industry.

Students can learn about the origin, stories, and techniques of making beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails while having the opportunity to taste them and make observations of aroma, flavor, and other characteristics. Most importantly, each student will study beverages in a safe way because everyone must complete alcohol training and become certified.

From Ruihan (Rita) Liu:

ANSC 205
One of my favorite courses outside the realm of statistics has been ANSC 205: World Animal Resources. In this course, you’ll get a chance to explore the world of animals and their various roles within different climates, economies, and cultures. Plus, you’ll get to delve into how these animals lived today and what the future may hold for them. It’s a journey that is eye-opening, offering insights that go beyond the ordinary. 

At the start of the course, you get to pick a country to focus on. As an Advanced Composition class, ANSC 205 presents an opportunity to gradually craft a well-structured essay while gaining a deep understanding of a particular country’s unique animals. You’ll start by brainstorming your topic and digging into available resources online. Then, you’ll craft your first draft, get some feedback, and finish up with a final draft. It takes some time and effort, but the journey of gathering pertinent information and building a comprehensive essay about animals is truly engaging. 

Another interesting aspect is its incorporation of peer reviews, typically occurring between the first and final drafts. It’s a chance to see what others are doing and how their essays are shaping up. Reading something completely different from your own topic can really make you think about how to improve your work. 

Professor Emmert also offers invaluable support and guidance, ensuring that we remain on the right track and providing all the encouragement we require. It’s not solely about studying animals; it’s a comprehensive opportunity to acquire skills in research, writing, and critical thinking. 

In summary, ANSC 205: World Animal Resources is a class that I absolutely adore. It’s packed with fascinating insights into the world of animals and offers a unique learning experience. 

As Spring registration approaches, two ambassadors share their favorite STAT courses.

From Mingli Xu:

The first course I wish to recommend is STAT 433, “Stochastic Processes.” This course serves as an in-depth exploration of stochastic processes, encompassing topics such as Markov Chains, Poisson Processes, and Brownian Motions. If you have an inclination towards theoretical statistical knowledge and aspire to enhance your logical reasoning abilities, I highly recommend this course. Professor Alex Stepanov imparts a captivating learning experience, artfully blending humor with lucid explanations of complex concepts. Stochastic processes hold substantial relevance across various fields, including financial markets and biology, rendering the acquisition of this knowledge a valuable asset for modeling and analyzing real-world phenomena characterized by inherent randomness. 

The second course I would like to recommend is STAT 420, “Methods of Applied Statistics.” This course delves into the practical application of statistical methods, including topics like linear regression, analysis of variance, and multiple comparisons, with a particular emphasis on their appropriateness and hands-on implementation using the statistical programming language R. This course was my initial exposure to R programming, and prior to my college experience, I had never envisioned myself engaging in any form of programming. Under the guidance of Professor Julie Deeke in STAT 420, I gained valuable insights into performing tasks such as data visualization, statistical analysis, and hypothesis testing within the programming context. This experience highlighted the significance of harnessing modern technology to augment theoretical knowledge and offered me a new perspective on data analysis through visual representation. 

(Advising note: STAT 420 no longer satisfies a major requirement in Statistics or Stat&CS. But it’s still a great choice for students outside of our majors!) 

From Botao Huang:

There are numerous pathways to fulfill the requirements for a Statistics major, each of which can lead to a distinguished career as a statistician. As a dedicated student with a keen interest in the intersection of financial knowledge and statistics, with aspirations to become a financial analyst, my primary focus lies in selecting courses that will enable me to delve into the realm of data analysis. Two courses that I consider highly relevant are STAT 448, Advanced Data Analysis, and STAT 440, Statistical Data Management. 

STAT448, especially when instructed by Professor Darren Glosemeyer, offered me a comprehensive introduction to advanced data analysis. This course covers about 16 advanced statistical analysis techniques and their practical implementations using SAS. Rather than solely delving into tedious mathematical concepts, you will gain valuable insights into the practical applications of these skills, which are pivotal if you aspire to pursue a career in data-related fields. It is noteworthy that the Professor also provides the corresponding R code as a reference to the SAS code, allowing you to develop your own intuition about the course materials. This significantly enhanced my understanding, especially since I had more experience with R than SAS at the time. Consequently, this course prepares you well and solidifies your versatility in using various software tools. STAT440, on the other hand, is a course that primarily emphasizes the utilization of R and its built-in functionalities to generate relevant data wrangling displays and visualizations. This course can be particularly beneficial when dealing with large datasets, as it equips you with more efficient data cleaning methods compared to using Excel.