THE Quantitative Analysis Certificate
In an increasingly data-driven world, many sectors of the job market are seeking people
with basic quantitative skills. Now thanks to the new Quantitative Analysis Certificate,
you can develop your data analytic skills in an interdisciplinary social science context!
About the Quantitative Analysis Certificate
This certificate is aimed at providing students a set of skills that will make them valuable in a multitude of contexts where data and evidence-based decisions are made. The skills are based on promoting understanding as to how data can be collected, how to describe and make inferences from data, and expressing the implications of data to other individuals.
Students will become competent in three primary areas: skills in implementing statistical analyses, skills in research methodology, and skills in communicating research findings.
Certificate Requirements
This certificate requires 8 courses (minimum 24 credits) as described below. Students must complete requirements in each of six different components, matching the educational objectives. It is anticipated that the degree requirements of all departments in the College of Social and Behavioral Science will partially meet the requirements for this certificate. At least 9 credit hours outside the student’s major are required to complete the certificate.
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Course Requirements
These courses cover foundational topics, including: basics of probability, descriptive
statistics, and introductory inferential statistics (t-tests, linear regression).
ANTH 5230: Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Anthropology
ECON 3640: Probability and Statistical Inference for Economists
FCS 3210: Statistics in Family and Consumer Studies
GEOG 3020: Geographical Analysis
POLS 5001: Quantitative Analysis in Political Science
PSY 3000: Statistical Methods in Psychology
SOC 3112: Social Statistics
SOC 6120: Statistics I
Methodology courses are focused on strategies and techniques for collecting valid
data. These courses are grouped into four different categories, based on the overlap
in content between courses. Students are required to take two courses, drawn from
two different categories, to ensure methodological breadth.
A) Experimental designs with consideration of reliability/validity
PSY 3010: Research Methods in Psychology
FCS 3200: Research Methods in Family and Consumer Studies
POLS 3001: Political Analysis
SOC 3111: Research Methods
SOC 3673: Social Epidemiology
B) Demographic/Survey Methods
FCS 5700: Analyzing Community Growth: An Evidence-based Approach
FCS 5120: Demographic Methods
C) Geospatial analyses
GEOG 3140: Intro GIS
GEOG 3170/5170: Satellites, Lasers and Compasses: Field Methods for Geographic Data
GEOG 5150: Spatial Data Design
GEOG 5190: GIS for Environmental and Public Health
D) Field work, Interviewing, Observation
ANTH 4169: Ethnographic Methods
These courses require a substantial proportion of time spent on developing programming
skills in one or more common programs for data analysis (R, SAS, Stata, SPSS, etc.).
Minimum of approximately 1/3 emphasis on software/programming. Students are encouraged
to consider completing more than one course emphasizing the application of statistical
software, employers frequently list skills in SAS/SPSS/R as desirable.
ECON 4650: Principles of Econometrics
FCS 5120: Demographic Methods
GEOG 1180: Introduction to Geo-Programming
GEOG 5180: Geoprocessing with Python
GEOG 5680: Introduction to R Programming
STAT 5003: Survey of Statistical Computer Packages
These courses are primarily focused on the development of statistical skills, research
methodology skills, and/or programming skills.
ANTH 5485: Graphical Data Analysis
ANTH 5850: Quantitative Analysis of Archaeological Data
ANTH 4962/5962: Spatial Analysis in Anthropology
ANTH 4250: Spatial Analysis
ANTH 5221: Human Evolutionary Genetics
ANTH 4351: Anthropological Demography
COMP 5360: Introduction to Data Science
ECON 4650: Principles of Econometrics
ECON 4660 & 4670: Statistical Analysis for Economics
GEOG 5020: Advanced Spatial Analysis
GEOG 3140: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GEOG 5140: Methods in Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 5160: Spatial Modeling with GIS
GEOG 5150: Spatial Data Design for GIS
GEOG 5165: Web GIS.
POLS 3002: Quantitative Approaches to International Relations
PSY 5500: Quantitative Methods
PSY 5510: Quantitative Methods II
SOC 3650: Population and Society
These courses contribute to the written or oral expression of technical/scientific
material. Courses are required to include a significant writing or oral presentation
related to the results of a data collection and/or analysis. Courses with a CW designation
do not automatically meet this requirement, but must also include a substantial exercise
in communicating about data. The course will typically have a CW designation; courses
without this designation can meet this requirement if there is a substantial writing/presentation
requirement that is consistent across all offerings of the course.
PSY 3010: Research Methods in Psychology
WRTG 3012: Writing in the Social Sciences
WRTG 3014: Writing in the Sciences
WRTG 3015: Professional/Technical Writing
Students are required to complete a capstone project which shows the integration of statistical methods, research methodology, programming skills, and communication skills. The administrator of the course is required to endorse a form indicating whether the capstone selected by the student meets the capstone requirements. Capstones must be completed and submitted at least one week before the last day of classes in the semester one plans to graduate. Earlier submission is recommended to allow for revisions.
For an overview of the capstone and details about the process, see:
Capstone Guidance Form
When prepared to submit the capstone for review:
Capstone Completion Application
Sample 4-year Degree Plans
Please note that these are sample plans. They do not take place of an advising appointment.
Anthropology with Quantitative Analysis
Criminology with Quantitative Analysis
Economics with Quantitative Analysis
Environmental and Sustainability Studies with Quantitative Analysis
Family, Community, and Human Development with Quantitative Analysis
Geography with Quantitative Analysis
Health, Society & Policy with Quantitative Analysis
Political Science with Quantitative Analysis
How to Declare
Declare the Quantitative Analysis Certificate as part of your studies by clicking the button below or emailing quantcertificate@utah.edu
Contact Information
Interested in learning more about the new Quantitative Analysis Certificate?
Please contact us by email at quantcertificate@utah.edu OR book an appointment with an advisor.