Overview
About the Department
Established in 1989, the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability (PSTAT) is a diverse community engaged in education and research. Our 15 faculty members are actively involved in interdisciplinary research spanning Financial Mathematics, Data Science, Actuarial Science, Theoretical Statistics, Applied Probability, Applied Statistics, and Biostatistics. We actively recruit the highest-quality faculty and graduate students.
In the past decade the Department has undergone a major transformation towards new data-driven initiatives, and plays a major role in the UCSB data science initiative. In response to a surging student interest in computational methods and data analytics we are developing a range of new courses and programs. The Department also hosts the Center for Financial Mathematics and Actuarial Research (CFMAR) which plays an international leadership role in quantitative finance, actuarial predictive analytics and stochastic modeling. We also provide consulting services through the DataLab.
The Department offers Bachelor's programs in Statistical Science, Actuarial Science, and Financial Mathematics and Statistics and counts more than 1300 undergraduate Majors. We are also home to more than 80 graduate students in programs including BS/MS in Actuarial Science, MA in Applied Statistics and PhD in Statistics and Applied Probability, including emphases in Financial Mathematics & Statistics, and Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences.
Located on the California coast 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, UCSB is a campus of the premier University of California system. Currently ranked #5 Public University in the nation (2019 US News and World Report) and #2 for research impact in the sciences, UCSB is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. UC Santa Barbara is one of only 62 research-intensive institutions in the U.S. and Canada elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, cementing its status as a higher-education leader.
Mission Statement
The Department of Statistics and Applied Probability is dedicated to the following:
- The coordination and consolidation of statistics courses on the UCSB campus, together with the other departments involved in statistical teaching;
- The extension and improvement of the graduate program in statistics and applied probability;
- The formalization and broadening of the existing Statistical Consulting Laboratory; and
- The encouragement of research activities, in part through the implementation of an active colloquium series and visitors program.
For more information on the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, please visit the department website at www.pstat.ucsb.edu.