UC launches Department of Statistics and Data Science
New department positions UC at the forefront of a data-driven world
The University of Cincinnati's College of Arts and Sciences has launched a new Department of Statistics and Data Science, elevating what was formerly the Division of Statistics within the Department of Mathematical Sciences into a fully independent academic unit.
The move formalizes a program with deep roots at UC, one that has long trained students for careers in data-intensive fields and provided statistical expertise across the university. The new department gives that work a dedicated academic home, adding a focus on statistical theory and methodology that complements programs across the university.
Professor Seongho Song at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/Hannah White/UC A&S Marketing and Communication.
"Our department provides the methodological and theoretical foundation — inference, uncertainty quantification, and statistical modeling — that underlies data-driven work across campus," said Seongho Song, professor and department head of the Department of Statistics and Data Science.
"Having our own department gives us a clear identity as a Statistics and Data Science program," Song said. "It gives us the ability to grow in ways that simply weren't possible as a division."
The new department reflects the growth of data science as a discipline and a profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects sustained, rapid growth in demand for statisticians and data scientists nationwide. Employers increasingly seek well-trained professionals at every level, from graduates with strong applied and computational skills to doctoral-level researchers capable of driving methodological innovation.
"This is about giving students a clear, rigorous pathway into one of the most in-demand fields in the economy — and deepening UC's capacity for the kind of interdisciplinary research and education that defines what we do best," said James Mack, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
A foundation built on excellence
The Department of Statistics and Data Science offers a comprehensive range of programs: a Bachelor of Science in Statistics, a minor in statistics, a Master of Science in Statistics, a Graduate Certificate in Statistical Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics.
The department's faculty — seven tenure-track researchers and three educator faculty — bring expertise across statistical inference, computational statistics, Bayesian methods, spatial statistics and applied data analytics. That research profile is backed by more than $2 million in active external funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and NASA.
The PhD program currently enrolls approximately 32 doctoral students, and the department projects steady-state doctoral enrollment of 35–40 students as the new unit matures. At the undergraduate level, current enrollment of approximately 100 students is projected to grow to 150–200 within five years, driven by the increased visibility and recognition that a dedicated department provides.
Industry partnerships and career pathways
Cincinnati's concentration of healthcare, business and technology employers creates opportunities for collaboration, internships and workforce development. The department's doctoral internship program has partnered with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Procter & Gamble for more than 20 years, and students have also completed internships with Medpace. 
Students who thrive in the program enjoy both mathematical and statistical thinking while solving real-world data problems. Graduates pursue careers in data science, analytics, actuarial science, healthcare, government and industry, while others continue into graduate study and research.
Looking ahead
The creation of the Department of Statistics and Data Science positions UC to strengthen its presence in a field that continues to grow in importance across research, industry and public service. Future plans include a new tenure-track faculty hire, continued development of actuarial science, expanded research partnerships and deeper collaboration with units across the university. 
"We want to become a regionally and nationally competitive hub for Statistics and Data Science," Song said. He pointed to plans to modernize the curriculum around AI and machine learning, expand research partnerships through the department's Statistical Consulting Services, strengthen actuarial science offerings and develop joint programs. 
By establishing a dedicated department, UC has created a platform for continued growth in statistics and data science education, research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Featured image at top: UC's College of Arts and Sciences announced it has established the new Department of Statistics and Data Science. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC
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