Statistics Certificate
Questions about the Statistics Certificate can be directed to statcert@stat.wisc.edu.
The Statistics certificate is a great fit for students who wish to use statistical principles to solve data problems with a mathematical approach. Students will develop knowledge and skills in analytics and statistics, such as understanding how to work with data and applying their analysis within their given major or domain area.
Statistics continues to be one of the fastest growing employment sectors in the nation and in Wisconsin, and the Statistics certificate will allow a broader range of students to gain these highly desired skills. Students in the certificate will gain “scientific, professional and technological expertise, and a sense of purpose.”
The Statistics certificate curriculum is published in the Guide. It is only available to UW-Madison undergraduate students who are pursuing their bachelor’s degree.
Planning Your Statistics Certificate
Click here to view the Fall 2026 enrollment newsletter.
Click here to view the Summer 2026 enrollment newsletter.
Please go to https://enroll.wisc.edu to enroll in courses. You can visit this website if you need assistance navigating Course Search & Enroll. The Statistics Enrollment FAQ page is also available here.
The Statistics Certificate requires a total of five courses that add up to at least 13 credits. Please view the full curriculum in the Guide here.
If you are interested in adding the Statistics certificate with another Stats/DS program, please review this combination chart first to see which combinations are allowable and not allowable.
Prior to declaring, students must complete one introductory statistics course (STAT 240, 301, 324, 371, ECON 310, B M E 325, or I SY E 210) and one calculus course (MATH 221, Math 211, or Math 171 & 217).
In order to complete the probability requirement of the certificate, a minimum completion of Math 222 (calculus w/ algebra & trigonometry 2) or Math 213 (calculus and differential equations) is necessary.
Our general recommendation is to take 1-2 Statistics courses per semester which can be completed in either four or five semesters.
4 Semester Plan
- Semester 1: Calc 1 (4-5 cr) and Intro Stats (3-4 cr)
- Semester 2: Calc 2 (3-4 cr) and STAT 303 (1 cr)
- Semester 3: Regression (3-4 cr) and Probability (3 cr)
- Semester 4: Elective (3 cr)
5 Semester Plan
- Semester 1: Calc 1 (4-5 cr) and Intro Stats (3-4 cr)
- Semester 2: Calc 2 (3-4 cr) and STAT 303 (1 cr)
- Semester 3: Regression (3-4 cr)
- Semester 4: Probability (3 cr)
- Semester 5: Elective (3 cr)
To view past weekly newsletters, please navigate to this page.
Students must apply for graduation via their Student Center to indicate that they are nearing completion of their degree. See the Office of the Registrar’s website for information and instructions about this process. We strongly recommend that you apply for graduation as soon as possible, so an advisor can review your DARS and say everything is okay.
Run a DARS report to ensure you are meeting all requirements to graduate. Talk to your advisor if you find deficiencies or have questions.
It is normal to NOT see Statistics certificate listed on your graduation application. You do NOT need to take extra steps as your graduation application applies to all your declared majors and certificates. Please note that certificates do not appear on your diploma and only on your transcript.
If you need to gain an electronic copy of your degree, please seek the following resources.
- How to view your degree verification
- How to obtain a degree verification letter
- Posting of your degree
Review the Commencement website for graduation check lists & celebrate! Information on the Department of Statistics graduation celebration is available here.
How to Declare the Statistics Certificate
To declare, a student must…
- Completion of Calculus 1 (Math 221, Math 211, or Math 171 & 217).
- Completion of Introductory Statistics (B M E 325, ECON 310, I SY E 210, STAT 240, 301, 324, or 371).
- Not declared in the Statistics major or Data Science major (click here to learn more).
- Completion of the Statistics Certificate Advising Canvas Course. Email statcert@stat.wisc.edu with your 10 digit Campus ID number on your Wiscard for course enrollment access.
- Have met progression if in the College of Engineering. *
Students are welcome to schedule an appointment if they have further questions or seeking advisement on course enrollment. An advisor meeting is not required to declare.
Students must complete the declaration process by the last day of class of their final enrolled term. Otherwise the Statistics certificate will not be added to your academic record in time to be posted on your degree.
*Engineering students are required to meet progression in an engineering program before declaring additional majors or certificates. Students in this situation who need to declare for statistics course access but cannot, should schedule a meeting with a Statistics advisor.
Cancellation and Switch Processes
Advising and Contact Information
Location
We are located on the second floor in the Student Advising and Support Services suite 2580 in Morgridge Hall. Directions:
- Go up the main staircase
- Turn right at the CAI Commons Information Desk
- Walk through the CAI Commons towards the glass doors
Use the UW Campus Map to see where our building is located.
Check- in for your appointment
When you schedule an appointment on the Statistics & Data Science Certificate Starfish Profile, you will see that there is a ‘virtual waiting room’. This means that students who have scheduled in-person appointments have checked in and are waiting for their meeting to start. It DOES NOT mean that we have an open queue for virtual drop-in appointments.
Process
When you arrive to the Student Advising and Support Services suite (SASS, 2580 Morgridge Hall), use either the Starfish Kiosk via either the iPad stand or the iPad on the front desk. Enter your name and 10-digit campus ID. Advisors will be notified that you have arrived and will come to get you at the start of your appointment.
Virtual appointments (including drop-ins) do NOT require a sign-in. This process is for in-person appointments only.
Plia will be on parental leave in the fall 2026 semester, please meet with Carmela for Statistics certificate advising.
Plia Xiong
2580 Morgridge Hall, statcert@stat.wisc.edu
Plia joined the Statistics Department in July 2021. She is a Badger Alumna with a B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies. She enjoys volleyball, badminton, watching movies, and singing.
Carmela Diosana
2580 Morgridge Hall, statcert@stat.wisc.edu
Carmela joined the Statistics department in January 2022. You can make appointments to meet with her in Starfish.
Prior to working in Statistics, she worked for seven years in the Department of Botany as the Graduate Program Coordinator. She worked for twelve years at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Science for as a student services coordinator working in career advising, as a co-creator of the Community Environmental Scholars Program (CESP), the coordinator for the CHANGE IGERT and a department administrator for the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE). She is looking forward to helping Statistics students with exploration in the major and planning for future careers. Outside of work she enjoys being outside (hiking, kayaking, camping, cross country skiing) and playing capoeira.
Individual appointments are great for multiple questions surrounding course planning or exploring if the Statistics certificate is right for them.
UW-Madison students can schedule appointments on Starfish.
Fall 2026 drop-in advising is available on Wednesdays, from 1-2:00pm on Zoom from September 2nd- December 9th. There will be no drop-ins Wednesday, September 16.
You will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Please have your 10-digit campus ID number ready and be prepared to wait up to 10 minutes to speak with an advisor.
Zoom Drop-in Advising is a set time where students can seek advising without scheduling an appointment. This is best for quick questions like reviewing academic course plans or graduation requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Statistics certificate is a good fit for students who want to develop knowledge in statistical skills and analysis to apply it to their major or field. It requires proficiency in math (up to Calculus 2) and statistics.
The Statistics major is a good fit for students who want to advance the field of statistics by using math to interpret data and understand the “why” in how decisions are made and how they affect our society. It requires advanced math of up to Calculus 3, linear algebra, advanced statistics, and one computer programming course.
Statistics provides a mathematical approach to answering data questions at all scales. The Statistics certificate is a good fit for students who want to develop knowledge in statistical skills and analysis to apply it to their major or field (e.g. conducting field trials). Students are required to be proficient in math and statistics.
Data Science provides a computational approach to answering large data questions. The Data Science certificate provides foundational data analysis and programming skills for high-end users of data science tools (e.g. doing large scale genomic analysis). It does not require any calculus, only fulfillment of Quantitative Reasoning A but having some math or algebra background is helpful.
Both certificates provide skills in extracting and analyzing data. It really depends on if you want to develop statistical analysis skills with a foundational background in math or data analysis skills with a foundation in computer programming.
Students who only have two credits of an intro stats course, will need to take an additional statistics elective to help attain the required 13 credit minimum and earn the Statistics certificate.
We understand transfer courses may not always equal exactly whole number credits (i.e. sometimes they may look like 1.6 or 1.8 credits). We recommend students to take additional elective courses to help reach the 13 credits minimum to earn the Statistics certificate.
Common Statistics certificate electives that students can consider are STAT 349, 351, 424, and 436. Please visit our Guide page for course descriptions.
Please see the Department of Statistics page on undergraduate research for more information about how to find research opportunities as an undergraduate at UW-Madison. Students can also explore the following research resources too.
- Discovery Portal http://discoveryportal.org/default.aspx
- UW Experts Guide http://experts.news.wisc.edu/
- UW Departments http://www.wisc.edu/academics/
- UW Research Centers https://research.wisc.edu/centers-cores/more-uw-research-centers-and-programs/
- Student Job Center https://jobcenter.wisc.edu/
- WISCURDS https://dsi.wisc.edu/wiscurds/
Student organizations are a great way for Statistics students to get involved on campus. Find a list of current student organizations on https://win.wisc.edu/. Use keywords that interest you when searching for organizations like “statistics,” “data,” etc. You may take interest in the following organizations:
- Undergraduate Statistics Club of UW-Madison
- dotData – the Data Science Club
- Economics Student Association
- Sports Analytics Club
You may also check out the CDIS student organizations page here.
SuccessWorks is the career services unit for L&S students and a fantastic partner and resource for career and internship assistance. Statistics is part of the Technology, Data & Analytics Career Community.
We have a Career Pathways canvas course for students interested in graduate school and career exploration in Statistics.
We strongly recommend checking out our Student Career Resources page for great resources and reading the weekly newsletter (once you are declared) for upcoming events.