The Department of Statistics at Northwestern is committed to teaching the theory and practice of statistics to undergraduate and graduate students and to conducting original research in statistical theory and methodology. The department is distinguished by the faculty's strong interest in the application of statistics to such diverse areas such as engineering, law, medicine, public policy, and the social sciences.
This is an exciting time to study statistics. Recent advances in computing and information technology have had dramatic effects on the field. Increasing amounts of data of all kinds are being collected, ranging from the large databases from the Human Genome Project to supermarket scanner data. The faculty's interest in applications is reflected in the department's undergraduate and PhD program, which contain substantial training in the application of statistical methods. The department is small, but growing, and students benefit from small classes and close interaction with faculty members.