Graduate certificate in applied statistics now offered online

Convenient format meets need in growing analyst and research professions

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State is offering a new online graduate certificate in applied statistics. The certificate, targeted towards data-analyst professionals, aims to improve research and data analysis expertise, as well as refine and maximize analytical skills.

The program, beginning in September, allows professionals to gain highly valued statistical skills that could help advance their careers. The courses make use of both the SAS and Minitab software packages and help participants gain a deeper knowledge of the use of statistics to complement their work experiences and software-specific proficiencies.

The skill set students gain can be applied across business, education, health, science, governmental and technology fields. This skill set is essential in several high-growth jobs -- such as budget, credit, financial, management, market research and survey analysts, as well as personal financial advisers; up to 26 percent of growth is predicted in these professions by the year 2014. Nearly every industry hires individuals in these occupations; the largest number of these employees are in finance and insurance, scientific and technical services, public administration and manufacturing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The courses' graduate level credits can be applied towards a master's degree -- including a Penn State professional master of applied statistics degree.

See http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/psustatistics/ for more information. For more information about other Penn State programs offered online, visit http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/