What You Can Study and Research in Mathematics and Statistics at WSU

Washington State University's Department of Mathematics and Statistics presents mathematics and statistics as "dynamic, growing disciplines" with direct connections to technology, biology, cryptography, physics, education, psychology, business, and more. The department emphasizes investigating and solving both real and theoretical problems, and it frames the degree as opening doors to a wide range of careers. If you want to understand what the field actually touches before choosing a program or research direction, the department's own examples are a useful starting point.

Where Mathematics and Statistics Apply

The department's homepage gives three concrete illustrations of how the disciplines connect to other fields:

These examples are worth reading as a signal of breadth rather than a complete list. The same page names technology, biology, cryptography, physics, education, psychology, and business as connected fields, so a student can reasonably expect coursework and research that reach into applied domains alongside core theory.

Real Problems and Theoretical Problems

A distinguishing feature of the department's self-description is that it does not separate applied work from theory. The page states that at WSU "you'll investigate and solve both real and theoretical problems." For a prospective student, that means the program is not framed as a purely abstract mathematics track or a purely applied statistics track; the department positions both modes of work as part of the same training.

Research Strengths and Faculty

The department says its faculty are "active researchers at the forefront of current global interests" and directs readers to learn about its research strengths. The site does not enumerate those strengths on the homepage, so anyone comparing research groups should follow that link rather than rely on the summary text.

What Current Research Looks Like

The department's news items give a sense of the kind of work happening under its umbrella:

• Computational modeling of viral outbreaks. A WSU mathematician, Xueying "Snow" Wang, is using computational modeling to decipher how viral infections spread across multiple scales, from processes inside individual cells to outbreaks across populations (news item dated September 8, 2026).
• Hosting international conferences. Mathematicians and statisticians from around the world came to Pullman for the regional conference of the International Biometric Society in early June 2026, and Kalispel students were invited to join (July 2, 2026).
• Undergraduate research. Seventy-three students at the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) 2026 received 65 awards totaling $14,000 (April 29, 2026).

The first item is the clearest illustration of the "real and theoretical" claim: computational modeling of disease spread sits at the intersection of differential equations, statistics, and biology. The SURCA item is relevant if you are considering undergraduate research, since it shows that undergraduate work in this area is presented and recognized at the university level.

Career Paths and an Alumni Example

The department states that studying mathematics and statistics opens doors to a wide range of careers, consistent with the list of connected fields above. The site's alumni spotlight offers one concrete trajectory: Dr. Cameron Sweet, recently elected Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Associate Professor at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington, completed a Ph.D. (2018) in Mathematics with Education Emphasis and an M.S. (2016) in Statistics at WSU. As a graduate teaching assistant he often taught STAT 412, STAT 212, and introductory mathematics courses, and he participated in the department's Math Education Seminar and AMS activities.

That example is useful if you are weighing a teaching-oriented path: it shows a route from a WSU graduate degree in mathematics with an education emphasis into a faculty leadership role at another institution. It is one data point, not a guarantee of outcomes.

How to Use This Information

If you are deciding whether WSU's department fits your goals, work from the specific to the general:

1. Match your interest to an application area. If you are drawn to cryptography, biology, or neuroscience-adjacent modeling, the department's examples confirm those connections exist in how it describes itself.
2. Check research strengths directly. The homepage points to a research strengths page; use it to see whether a specific faculty group matches your intended specialization, since the summary text does not list them.
3. Look at recent news for active projects. The viral-outbreak modeling item and the conference hosting show current activity, which is more informative than a static program description.
4. Consider undergraduate research early. The SURCA results suggest undergraduate research is an active part of the department's culture, so ask about opportunities rather than assuming they are reserved for graduate students.

The main limitation to keep in mind: the department's homepage is a summary, not a catalog. It does not list degree requirements, course sequences, or admission conditions, so treat it as a map of the field's connections and follow its links for the details you need to make a decision.