If you have a way with numbers, a college degree in mathematics and statistics could open doors to a range of careers. These skills play a crucial role in everything from scientific research to finance, from marketing to policymaking. Career training in math and statistics could lead to a job in the federal departments of Commerce, Agriculture, or Health and Human Services. Or it could lead into the private sector, where number crunchers find positions in insurance, scientific research, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and business administration.

 

 

 

Careers in Math & Statistics

Mathematicians and statisticians typically enter the field with graduate degrees. Mathematicians face a higher educational bar--a Ph.D. in mathematics is the standard qualification for the private sector. Statisticians typically hold a master's degree. The federal government is an exception, hiring mathematics and statistics graduates at the bachelor's degree level. Mathematics and statistics education covers some common ground, with courses in differential and integral calculus, probability theory, algebra, and mathematical modeling. Statistics emphasizes applied mathematics: statistical methods, multivariate analysis, and experiment design.