Statistics Minor

These degree requirements apply to students who declared the minor after September 1, 2026.

If you declared a Statistics Minor prior to this date, please refer to the past requirements page:

Visit Statistics Minor: Past Requirements

The undergraduate minor in Statistics is designed to complement major degree programs primarily in the social and natural sciences. The minor equips students with foundational knowledge in probability and statistics, and teaches students to correctly choose and apply statistical methods. 

Students with an undergraduate Statistics minor gain theoretical and practical training in statistical methods, and should find broadened possibilities for employment as well as valued preparation for professional degree studies in postgraduate academic programs.

Access the Statistics Minor Form

Course Requirements

Qualifying Course

Complete one of the following courses:

  • ENGR108 - Introduction to Matrix Methods
  • MATH52 - Integral Calculus of Several Variables
  • MATH62CM - Modern Mathematics: Continuous Methods
  • MATH63DM - Modern Mathematics: Discrete Methods
  • MATH104 - Applied Matrix Theory

Note that CME 102 is not a suitable course to use in place of MATH 52; if a student has taken CME 102, they will need to take one of the alternative courses to satisfy the Qualifying Course requirement.

Theoretical Statistics

Complete one of the following Courses:

  • STATS118 - Probability Theory for Statistical Inference
  • STATS200 - Introduction to Theoretical Statistics
  • STATS200Q - Philosophical Foundations of Statistics

Students who take STATS 118 for this Theoretical Statistics Requirement can count STATS 200 or STATS 200Q toward the Elective Course requirement below.

If a student has taken MATH 151 or STATS 116X, which can count as an Elective Course below, they are required to take STATS 200 or STATS 200Q to fulfill the Theoretical Statistics Requirement.

(STATS 118 has a prerequisite of STATS 117, which can count as an Elective Course below. CS 109, EE 178, and MS&E 120 also satisfy the prerequisite for STATS 118, but these classes may NOT count toward the elective requirement for the minor.)

Applied Statistics

Complete one of the following courses:

  • STATS191 - Introduction to Applied Statistics
  • STATS203 - Regression Models and Analysis of Variance

Students who take STATS 191 for this Applied Statistics requirement can count STATS 203 toward the Elective Course requirement below if they wish.

Elective Courses

Complete a total of 3 Elective Courses.

At least two electives (2 or 3 courses) must be Advanced Statistics Electives (any STATS courses numbered 200 or higher), and up to one elective (0 or 1 course) may be from the list of Additional Elective Options.

Advanced Statistics Electives: Complete at least 2 STATS courses numbered 200 and above.

  • Recommended courses:
    • Stats 202: Statistical Learning and Data Science
    • Stats 204: Sampling
    • Stats 205: Introduction to Nonparametric Statistics
    • Stats 206: Applied Multivariate Analysis
    • Stats 207: Introduction to Time Series Analysis
    • Stats 208: Bootstrap, Cross-Validation, and Sample Re-use
    • Stats 209: Introduction to Causal Inference
    • Stats 215: Statistical Models in Biology
    • Stats 217: Introduction to Stochastic Processes I
    • Stats 218: Introduction to Stochastic Processes II
    • Stats 220: Machine Learning Methods for Neural Data Analysis
    • Stats 263: Design of Experiments

Students who take STATS 118 for the Theoretical Statistics requirement can count STATS 200 or STATS 200Q toward this Elective Course requirement. 

Students who take STATS 191 for the Applied Statistics requirement can count STATS 203 toward this Elective Course requirement.

Additional Elective Options:

  • Any DATASCI Course numbered 100 and above
  • MATH 151
  • STATS 100
  • STATS 110
  • STATS 116X
  • STATS 117
  • STATS 141

Additional Information:

  • Any exceptions (including exceptions to the approved list of electives) must be approved by the department. Please submit the Statistics Minor Requirement Petition.
  • All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade.
    • Statistics may accept courses that are only offered as S/NC (i.e., letter grade option not available).
  • The only course that can be double-counted between the statistics minor and a major or other minor is Math 52. Beyond that, students need to find another suitable course to satisfy the requirements of the minor and expand their skill set.
  • Any changes to the initial course of study should be updated in your shared program sheet.
  • Statistics minor inquiries should be addressed to the mkimai [at] stanford.edu (Student Services Specialist).

Forms:

Not sure if the Statistics minor is right for you?

  • Take a look at the Data Science minor.
  • Reach out to our mkimai [at] stanford.edu (Student Services Specialist).

Interested in a coterm program?

Much like not double counting courses in multiple majors/minors, the courses required for your undergraduate degree do not also count toward your graduate coterm program. If a given course is part of your chosen coterm program and is also required to complete the requirements for a minor, you will need to discuss appropriate higher-level, additional courses with the coterm department to satisfy the requirements of the coterm. Taking the courses for your undergrad minor does not simultaneously satisfy the requirement in your chosen graduate degree program.

How to Declare the Minor

1. Use the program sheet to plan your coursework

Make a copy of the statistics minor form. Fill in the grades for classes you've already completed and highlight the classes that you plan to complete in the future.

2. Declare your minor in Axess.

Keep in mind that you must declare a major in Axess before you will be able to declare a minor.

3. Email our Student Services Team.
  • Share your program sheet with our student services team, which includes Amanda (aekuhn [at] stanford.edu (aekuhn[at]stanford[dot]edu)) and Megan (mkimai [at] stanford.edu (mkimai[at]stanford[dot]edu)).  Please give them editing privileges.
  • Email our student services team at datasciencemajor-inquiries [at] lists.stanford.edu (datasciencemajor-inquiries[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) to let them know you'd like to declare. 

Course Requirements 2025-26

These degree requirements apply to students who declared the minor before September 1, 2026.

Required Statistics Courses

All of the following:

  • Stats 118: Probability Theory for Statistical Inference

    Can Substitute: Math 151

  • Stats 200: Introduction to Statistical Inference

    Note: Stats 200 may not be substituted or waived, with the exception of STATS 200Q: Philosophical Foundations of Statistics.

Note: Students who have previously taken Stats 116 can count it towards this requirement. Stats 118 has a prerequisite of Stats 117. CS 109, MS&E 120, or EE 178 can be substituted for Stats 117.

Qualifying Courses

Choose one of the following courses:

  • ENGR 108: Introduction to Matrix Methods
  • Math 52: Integral Calculus of Several Variables
  • Math 62CM: Modern Mathematics: Continuous Methods
  • Math 63DM: Modern Mathematics: Discrete Methods
  • Math 104: Applied Matrix Theory
  • Stats 191: Introduction to Applied Statistics

  • Stats 203: Introduction to Regression Models and Analysis of Variance

    Note that CME 102 is not a suitable course to use in place of MATH 52. If a student has taken CME 102, they will need to take one of the alternative courses to satisfy the Qualifying Course requirement.

Elective Courses

Any Stats course 200 and above, for a total of 9 units or more:

Recommended Courses

  • Stats 202: Statistical Learning and Data Science
  • Stats 204: Sampling
  • Stats 205: Introduction to Nonparametric Statistics
  • Stats 206: Applied Multivariate Analysis
  • Stats 207: Introduction to Time Series Analysis
  • Stats 208: Bootstrap, Cross-Validation, and Sample Re-use
  • Stats 209: Introduction to Causal Inference
  • Stats 215: Statistical Models in Biology
  • Stats 217: Introduction to Stochastic Processes I
  • Stats 218: Introduction to Stochastic Processes II
  • Stats 220: Machine Learning Methods for Neural Data Analysis
  • Stats 263: Design of Experiments

Pre-approved Courses

  • Any DATASCI course 100 and above
  • Bio 283: Theoretical Population Genetics
  • Econ 160: Game Theory and Economic Applications
  • EE 264: Digital Signal Processing
  • EE 279: Introduction to Digital Communication.

Note: Students may only take one pre-approved elective course outside of statistics.

Sample Path through the Minor

Frosh Year:
  1. Any math prerequisites, such as Math 21 (if needed) and Math 51
Sophomore Year:
  1. Math 52
  2. Stats 118
Junior Year:
  1. Elective 1
  2. Stats 200
Senior Year:
  1. Elective 2
  2. Elective 3
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