Since its founding in 1960 by Professor George Box, the Department of Statistics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison has been a hub of statistical research, housing faculty with wide-ranging interests in both theory and practice who collaborate with colleagues across campus in a variety of scientific areas.
The department has evolved into one of the premier statistics departments in the nation, generally ranked among the best on various measures of quality. There are currently over 40 faculty members and a dedicated staff providing critical support for our teaching and research missions. The department has undergraduate and graduate degree programs that prepare the next generation of data-driven leaders with a modern, interdisciplinary curriculum.
Our programs prepare students to face the challenges of the big data era arising in a diverse array of fields and areas of application. We currently enroll over 200 graduate students and over 1,800 undergraduate majors. When the department’s Data Science undergraduate major launched in 2020, it quickly became one of the fastest-growing and most popular majors on campus, attracting students from across the state, country, and world. And the array of graduate programs we offer prepare statisticians and data scientists to address some of the world’s most pressing problems.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is one of the top public universities in the world with great academic strengths in many areas. Madison, a medium-sized city located in southern Wisconsin, is the state capital and is known for its lakes, restaurants, parks, and biking and hiking trails. Madison is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the United States.
Department of Statistics Statement on Diversity
The Department of Statistics strives to create a sense of belonging among all students, faculty, and staff. We foster an inclusive environment by treating other members of the department with esteem and respect. We honor diversity in our department and promote this sense of belonging by working together considerately towards our common goals of teaching, community engagement, and scientific innovation. We are dedicated to serving the UW Madison statement on diversity and are committed to creating an environment where all feel respected and included.