Mathematics and Statistics

Data Analysis Post-baccalaureate certificate

Data analysis is the science of correctly collecting data, assessing it for trustworthiness, extracting information from it, and presenting it in a comprehensible informative way. These skills are vital to institutions such as government, business, or health care where sound decisions must be made based on data and the way it is interpreted.

Students will acquire the skills needed to extract reliable information from large data sets. With carefully designed courses taken in both computing and statistics, students will gain the data-base skills needed to house, extract, manipulate, and maintain data, and will learn the statistical techniques needed to collect data correctly, assess its quality, analyze it, and present the information effectively to decision makers. The industry standard statistical software environments SAS and R will be used throughout.

Entrance requirements

1. A Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.

Note: Students currently earning a university degree may enrol in the courses of the Data Analysis Post-baccalaureate certificate, provided they meet the course prerequisites. They will be granted credit for having completed the certificate when they have met its requirements, and have fulfilled the requirements of their degree.

2. One of the following programming courses:
   • COMP 120, Computing for the Sciences
   • COMP 150, Introduction to Programming
   • COMP 152, Introduction to Structured Programming
   • COMP 155, Object-oriented Programming (recommended)
3. Applicants must meet the Degree/diploma level English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see the English language proficiency requirement section of the calendar.
4. One of the following:
   • Prerequisites for STAT 106
   • A score of 155 or higher on the Quantitative Reasoning section of the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE)

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the late Summer (July/August) semester, although students whose applications demonstrate completion of STAT 106 or MATH 270/STAT 270 or an equivalent course will begin their study in the Fall semester. Because there are limited seats available, and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, applications and supporting documents should be submitted to UFV as soon as possible (in January of the year in which the program is to begin, at the latest). For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/apply.

Additional documents required for a complete application:

• Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all post-secondary institutions attended showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section.

Program duration

Students must complete 10 courses, for a total of 31 credits. The certificate can be earned in about one year, beginning in July and finishing at the end of the following June. Those students who begin the program with credit for STAT 106 or MATH 270/STAT 270 can earn the certificate in about 10 months, beginning in September and finishing at the end of the following June. Students planning to complete the DAC within 12 months may need a B or better in STAT 106 in order to have the prerequisites in place for all of their Fall courses. For a detailed schedule, see the Typical program plan section below.

Program outline

Required courses

Note: Students planning to complete the DAC within 12 months may need a B or better in STAT 106 in order to have the prerequisites in place for all of their Fall courses.

Elective courses

Students must choose three courses from the following:

Co-operative Education option

Co-operative Education (Co-op) combines academic studies with relevant work experience. Academic semesters alternate with work terms, providing students work experience that draws upon and reinforces the skills that they have been building in the classroom and lab, as well as opportunities to meet with potential employers in their field of study.

Co-op students must complete 10 courses as well as a four-month Co-op work term in the Summer semester directly before their final academic semester. The certificate with Co-op option can be earned in about 18 months, beginning in July and finishing in December of the following year. Those students who begin the program with credit for STAT 106 or MATH 270/STAT 270 can earn the certificate in about 16 months, beginning in September and finishing in December of the following year. For a detailed schedule, see the Typical program plan (Co-op option) section below.

Co-op work term

In order to satisfy the requirements of the Data Analysis Post-Baccalaureate certificate (Co-op option), students must complete two four-month semesters of academic study (9 credits each), followed by a four-month Co-op work term (typically during a Summer semester), followed by one more semester of academic study (9 credits). Some students will also need to initially begin with a July–August Summer semester with STAT 106 (4 credits). Students who complete all of the academic requirements of the certificate but do not complete the Co-op semester may still earn the Data Analysis Post-baccalaureate certificate without a Co-op option designation.

For more information about Co-op programs at UFV, see the Co-operative Education section of the calendar.

Typical program plan

Semester I: Late Summer session (July–August)

• STAT 106

  Note: Students planning to complete the DAC within 12 months may need a B or better in STAT 106 in order to have the prerequisites in place for all of their Fall courses.

Semester II: Fall (September–December)

• STAT 271
• STAT 272
• COMP 230
• STAT 350 or STAT 330

Semester III: Winter (January–April)

• STAT 315
• COMP 331/STAT 331
• STAT 307
• CIS 385, STAT 402, STAT 430, or STAT 470

Semester IV: Early Summer session (May–June)

• COMP 381 or STAT 431/COMP 431

Typical program plan (Co-op option)

Semester I: Late Summer session (July–August)

• STAT 106

Semester II: Fall (September–December)

• STAT 271
• STAT 272
• COMP 230

Semester III: Winter (January–April)

• STAT 315
• COMP 331/STAT 331
• STAT 307

Semester IV: Summer (May–August)

• Co-op work term

Semester V: Fall (September–December)

• STAT 350 or STAT 330
• CIS 385, STAT 402, STAT 430, or STAT 470
• STAT 431/COMP 431 or COMP 381

Undergraduate continuance

Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or above) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits. For further details, see the Academic standing and undergraduate continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV's Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).

Course repetition

A maximum of three repeated courses are permitted without dean’s approval. Where a course has been repeated, only the higher grade is counted in the GPA calculation.

Residency

Students must complete at least 21 of the credits required for the certificate (excluding Co-op) at UFV.

Graduation requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring they are eligible to graduate, and should regularly consult with an Academic Advisor. To be eligible to graduate, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all 10 courses (31 credits) required to complete the program.

To graduate from the data analysis certificate, students must have completed the requirements of a university degree.

Students must apply for graduation by completing the Graduation Request form available at ufv.ca/registrar/forms, or from the Office of the Registrar. This should be done in the first month of the final semester. The final deadline for students who wish to attend the June Convocation ceremony is April 1 of each year, with all program requirements completed by the Winter semester grade deadline (see Important Registration Dates) of each year.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.