STAT Courses for Spring 2026
Please click on the course title for more information.
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STAT 150 01 - Introduction to Data Literacy: Everyday Applications
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Course: |
STAT 150 - 01 |
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Title: |
Introduction to Data Literacy: Everyday Applications |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
This course is intended to provide students with the skills necessary to digest, critique, and express every-day statistics and to use statistical thinking to answer questions in their own lives. Students will be exposed to and produce descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency & spread, as well as common visual representations of data. The bulk of the class will be devoted to giving students the tools needed to analyze and critique statistical claims, including an understanding of the dangers of confounding variables and bias, the advantages and limitations of various study designs and statistical inference, and how to carefully read and parse claims which attempt to use numbers to sway their audience. The class will examine this material in authentic contexts such as political polling, medical decision making, online dating, and personal finance. This course is primarily aimed at students whose majors do not require mathematics or statistics. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
Fulfillment of the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) component of the Quantitative Reasoning & Data Literacy requirement. Not open to students who have completed another introductory statistics course at Wellesley, including STAT 160, STAT 218, BISC 198, ECON 103/SOC 190, POL 299, PSYC 105 or PSYC 205. Not open to students who have received AP credit in Statistics. |
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Notes: |
Note that this course cannot be used as a prerequisite for upper-level courses in statistics or econometrics including STAT 260 and ECON 203. |
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Distribution(s): |
Data Literacy (Formerly QRF)
Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving
Data Literacy (Formerly QRDL) |
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Cross Listed Courses: |
QR 150 01 - Introduction to Data Literacy: Everyday Applications
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Instructors: |
Calvin Cochran |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center N Wing 207 Classroom - MR 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Science Center N Wing 207 Classroom - W 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM |
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STAT 160 01 - Fundamentals of Statistics
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Course: |
STAT 160 - 01 |
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Title: |
Fundamentals of Statistics |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
An introduction to the fundamental ideas and methods of statistics for analyzing data. Topics include descriptive statistics, inference, and hypothesis testing. This course introduces statistical concepts from the perspective of statisticians and mathematicians, with concepts illustrated by simulation. Students will engage with statistics using the data analysis software R. Designed for students who plan to continue to study statistics and/or apply statistical methods to future work in the sciences or other fields. The course is accessible to those who have not yet had calculus. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
Fulfillment of the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) component of the Quantitative Reasoning & Data Literacy requirement. Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 205, STAT 218, STAT 220, ECON 103/SOC 190, PSYC 105, BISC 198, POL 299, QR 260/STAT 260, STAT 318,
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Notes: |
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Distribution(s): |
Data Literacy (Formerly QRF)
Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving
Data Literacy (Formerly QRDL) |
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Instructors: |
Rita Saha Ray |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - TF 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - W 8:30 AM - 9:20 AM |
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STAT 218 01 - Introductory Statistics and Data Analysis
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Course: |
STAT 218 - 01 |
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Title: |
Introductory Statistics and Data Analysis |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
This is a calculus-based introductory statistics course. Topics covered include data collection, data visualization, descriptive statistics, linear regression, sampling schemes, design of experiment, probability, random variables (both discrete and continuous cases), Normal model, statistical tests and inference (e.g. one-sample and two-sample z-tests and t-tests, chi-square test, etc). Statistical language R will be used throughout the course to realize data visualization, linear regression, simulations, and statistical tests and inference. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
MATH 205. Not open to students who have taken or are taking STAT 160, ECON 103/SOC 190, PSYC 105, or QR 260/STAT 260. |
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Notes: |
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Distribution(s): |
Data Literacy (Formerly QRF)
Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving
Data Literacy (Formerly QRDL) |
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Instructors: |
Rita Saha Ray |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - TF 9:55 AM - 11:10 AM
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - W 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM |
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STAT 218 02 - Introductory Statistics and Data Analysis
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Course: |
STAT 218 - 02 |
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Title: |
Introductory Statistics and Data Analysis |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
This is a calculus-based introductory statistics course. Topics covered include data collection, data visualization, descriptive statistics, linear regression, sampling schemes, design of experiment, probability, random variables (both discrete and continuous cases), Normal model, statistical tests and inference (e.g. one-sample and two-sample z-tests and t-tests, chi-square test, etc). Statistical language R will be used throughout the course to realize data visualization, linear regression, simulations, and statistical tests and inference. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
MATH 205. Not open to students who have taken or are taking STAT 160, ECON 103/SOC 190, PSYC 105, or QR 260/STAT 260. |
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Notes: |
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Distribution(s): |
Data Literacy (Formerly QRF)
Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving
Data Literacy (Formerly QRDL) |
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Instructors: |
Rita Saha Ray |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - TF 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - W 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM |
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STAT 228 01 - Multivariate Data Analysis
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Course: |
STAT 228 - 01 |
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Title: |
Multivariate Data Analysis |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
This is a course in multivariate data analysis. Students will be introduced to modern multivariate techniques, their applications and interpretations, and will learn how to use these methods to understand relationships between variables, extract patterns, or identify clusters or classifications in a rich data set involving multiple variables. Topics covered during the semester include both dependence techniques (e.g. multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, decision trees, etc) and interdependence techniques (e.g. factor analysis, cluster analysis, etc). A selection of topics in machine learning and data mining are also introduced during the semester. Statistical language R is used in this class. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
MATH 205 and (STAT 218 or STAT 260 or STAT 318). |
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Notes: |
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Distribution(s): |
Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving |
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Instructors: |
Qing (Wendy) Wang |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - MR 11:20 AM - 12:35 PM
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM |
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STAT 309 01 - Causal Inference
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Course: |
STAT 309 - 01 |
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Title: |
Causal Inference |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
This course focuses on statistical methods for causal inference, with an emphasis on how to frame a causal (rather than associative) research question and design a study to address that question. What implicit assumptions underlie claims of discrimination? Why do we believe that smoking causes lung cancer? We will cover both randomized experiments – the history of randomization, principles for experimental design, and the non-parametric foundations of randomization-based inference – and methods for drawing causal conclusions from non-randomized studies, such as propensity score matching. Students will develop the expertise necessary to assess the credibility of causal claims and master the conceptual and computational tools needed to design and analyze studies that lead to causal inferences. Examples will come from economics, psychology, sociology, political science, medicine, and beyond. Previous exposure to the statistical software R is expected; students who have not previously coded in R may enroll with permission of the instructor but should expect to put in additional effort to learn this skill. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
Any one of QR 260/STAT 260, STAT 318, or a Quantitative Analysis Institute Certificate. Students who have taken ECON 203, SOC 290, or a Psychology 300-level R course may enroll with permission of the instructor. |
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Notes: |
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Distribution(s): |
Data Literacy (Formerly QRF)
Data Literacy (Formerly QRDL)
Social and Behavioral Analysis |
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Cross Listed Courses: |
QR 309 01 - Causal Inference
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Instructors: |
Cassandra Pattanayak |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center Hub 303 Classroom - TF 9:55 AM - 11:10 AM
Science Center Hub 303 Classroom - W 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM |
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STAT 318 01 - Regression Analysis and Statistical Models
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Course: |
STAT 318 - 01 |
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Title: |
Regression Analysis and Statistical Models |
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Credit Hours: |
1 |
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Description: |
This is an applied regression analysis course that involves hands-on data analysis. Topics covered during the semester include simple and multiple linear regression models, model diagnostics and remedial measures, matrix representation of linear regression models, model comparison and selection, generalized linear regression models (e.g. binary logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, ordinal logistic regression, and Poisson regression). Statistical language R will be used throughout the course to realize fitting linear (or generalized linear) regressions models, model diagnostics, model comparison and selection, and simulations. |
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Prerequisite(s): |
STAT 218 and MATH 205 and MATH 206. (STAT 218 can be replaced by STAT 160, ECON 103/SOC 190, or QR 260/STAT 260.) |
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Notes: |
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Distribution(s): |
Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving |
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Instructors: |
Qing (Wendy) Wang |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - MR 9:55 AM - 11:10 AM
Science Center L Wing 039 Classroom - W 9:30 AM - 10:20 AM |
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