Department of Statistics

Founded in 1935, GW's Department of Statistics was the first statistics department in a college of arts and sciences in the U.S. The department has played a leading role in statistical education, research, and applications and many outstanding statisticians have served as department chair, including Dr. Frank Weida, Dr. Solomon Kullback, Dr. Jerome Cornfield, and Dr. Samuel Greenhouse. Graduates of the department go on to hold high positions in government, the private sector, and academia. The department continues to produce high quality research in both theoretical and applied areas of statistics and probability.

The department offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Statistics; MS and PhD degrees in Biostatistics and in Epidemiology, in collaboration with the School of Public Health and Health Services; and a Graduate Certificate in Survey Design and Data Analysis. The degree programs provide statistical training balanced in theory, applications, and computation.

The Department of Statistics' location in the heart of the nation’s capital offers unique cultural, educational, and professional opportunities. Many major government agencies and private companies located in the Washington metropolitan area employ a vast number of statisticians and generate remarkable statistical activities and opportunities. The department is well connected to many highly experienced statisticians working for government agencies, or private companies, several of whom teach our courses bringing valuable practical experience into classroom. Our faculty are also engaged in collaborative research with government statisticians. In addition, various activities of the Washington Statistical Society provide superb opportunities for learning and meeting distinguished statisticians.