Teaching and Learning Statistics and Data Science

The Department of Statistics and the Department of STEM Education at NC State University have partnered to offer an online graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning Statistics and Data Science. The program focuses on developing knowledge of core statistical and data science concepts and methods along with best practices for instruction. The program is meant to serve future and practicing high school and college teachers in any discipline that uses data, as well as graduate students interested in faculty or teaching careers. However, anyone that has a need to communicate with data will benefit from the program.

Those that complete the program will be able to apply common statistical and data science analyses to data using a programming language, understand common misunderstandings of how people interpret data and models, and use effective teaching strategies to support students’ learning of data science and statistics concepts and skills.

The program consists of 12 hours (four courses) and can be completed completely online. All courses are taught by expert faculty in statistics and data science education.

Eligibility

The Graduate School oversees the application process for each program. The Graduate School has its own criteria for admission, but the Departments of Statistics and STEM Education requirements are:

• Undergraduate degree
• Minimum of a 3.0 GPA

After submitting your Graduate Application for the Teaching and Learning Statistics and Data Science certificate, you may check the status of your application at any time. International students must include complete transcripts, a degree statement and TOEFL or IELTS scores. The GRE is not required.

Students enrolled in graduate programs at NC State can add on the certificate by contacting Dr. Justin Post (justin_post@ncsu.edu). Click here for more information about meeting minimum degree requirements.

Plan of Study

The coursework for the certificate requires four courses (12 credits). Two of these courses focus on applying common statistical and data science analyses (such as ST 511 – Statistical Methods For Researchers I, ST 512– Statistical Methods For Researchers I, and ST 558 – Data Science for Statisticians).  The other two courses focus on teaching strategies and tools to support learning and teaching (such as EMS 510 – Interactions in the Mathematics Classroom, ST/EMS 519 – Teaching and Learning Statistical Thinking, and ST 557 – Using Technology to Teach and Learn with Data.

Please see our departmental website for more information.

Career Prospects

The emphasis of the program is on the effective use of modern technology for teaching statistics and data science.

Statistics is being used in many fields these days. Common terms such as “big data,” “data mining,” and “business analytics” are really about statistics. Our Masters Degree and certificates will help you get jobs in the following fields:

•  Accountants
•  Actuaries
•  Architectural and Engineering Managers
•  Bioinformatics Scientists
•  Biostatisticians
•  Budget Analysts
•  Business Intelligence Analysts
•  Climate Change Analysts
•  Clinical Data Managers
•  Clinical Research Coordinators
•  Computer Systems Analysts
• Cost Estimators
•  Credit Analysts
•  Dietitians and Nutritionists
•  Economists
•  Financial Analysts
•  Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
•  Mathematicians
•  Operations Research Analysts
•  Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
•  Statistical Assistants
•  Statisticians
•  Survey Researchers