About
The Certificate in Statistical Methods is designed to assist students or professionals develop core skills needed to understand and apply advanced statistical methods to activities and increase productivity. With the increasing availability of data, this certificate will help you meet the high demand for qualified statisticians and workers who know advanced statistical methods in many data science fields.
- Two-year certificate
- Part-time program
- You can enter this program directly from high school
What you will learn
The Certificate in Statistical Methods provides you with the opportunity to learn:
- core areas of statistics, including real data analysis and hands-on training in software;
- how to summarize, extract and communicate meaningful information from complex data;
- basic probability concepts, drawing conclusions about a population on the basis of sample data and then using probability theories to indicate how reliable your conclusions are; and
- how to reach logical conclusions about relationships between variables.
The requirements of the certificate are comparable to those needed for obtaining a minor in statistics at many institutions. Examples of featured classes in this certificate include:
STAT 103: Elementary Probability
An elementary introduction to the concepts of probability, including: sets, Venn diagrams, definition of probability, algebra of probabilities, counting principles, some discrete random variables and their distributions, graphical displays, expected values, the normal distribution, the Central Limit Theorem, applications, some statistical concepts.
STAT 245: Introduction to Statistical Methods
An introduction to basic statistical methods including frequency distributions, elementary probability, confidence intervals and tests of significance, analysis of variance, regression and correlation, contingency tables, goodness of fit.
STAT 344: Applied Regression Analysis
Applied regression analysis involving the extensive use of computer software. Includes: linear regression; multiple regression; stepwise methods; residual analysis; robustness considerations; multicollinearity; biased procedures; non-linear regression.
The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.
Innovation
This certificate program is the only program of its type in Saskatchewan and provides innovative academic programming. Learning computational techniques using statistical software is an integral part of statistical theory and applications. The lab sessions will introduce you to statistical software as a tool to understand the applications of statistical techniques and help you develop skills for data analysis.
Unique facilities
Your sessions will be supported by the excellent technological facilities available at USask. USask is a data-rich community that has a diverse research profile, including research on vaccine and infectious diseases and agricultural, environmental, health, medical, biological and material sciences as well as a number of unique research centres. USask is the perfect place for statisticians, providing a multitude of opportunities for research and collaboration.
Careers
This program is an attractive credential for students interested in careers in science, social science and research. As statistics play a vital role in every field of study, if you combine this certificate with other degree majors at USask you may gain access to career opportunities such as:
- Statistics teacher at the K-12 level
- Business analyst
- Database administrator
- Data scientist
- Data specialist in marketing services
- Economist
- Financial analyst
- Quantitative analyst
- Statistician
You may be able to access various fields such as:
- Consulting firms
- Financial services and accounting
- Government (federal, provincial, regional, municipal)
- Hospitals, medical and health research organizations
- Industry
- Insurance companies
- IT companies
- Marketing and consumer research
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Transportation and logistics
This certificate can also help professionals make better use of the applied statistics packages and methods already available to them and increase their specialization in data science.
Tuition estimates
| Canadian students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $792 per 3 credit unit class | $3,834 per 3 credit unit class |
| Student fees | $1,121 per year | $1,121 per year |
Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay per class (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access. This estimate reflects the price you would pay if you are a full-time student.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 for this program.
Program options
The Certificate in Statistical Methods is offered by the College of Arts and Science. You may earn the certificate on its own, concurrently with a degree program from this college or others, or after completing a degree.
If you are already enrolled at USask, consult your academic advisor regarding enrolling in this program.
The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.
Admission requirements and deadlines
Deadlines
Ready to apply?
If you are a current USask student, consult your academic advisor about enrolling in this program.
To apply to this program as a new student, create an admissions account and apply for admission to any undergraduate program in the College of Arts and Science. When you are ready to submit your application, you will be assessed a non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD. (Effective December 2, the application fee is increasing to $120 CAD.) After you are admitted, declare your plans to the college.
If you are interested in more information about this certificate, please contact student-advice@artsandscience.usask.ca