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Home → Math/SDS/DS Majors and Minors → Curriculum and Courses → SMEP Statistics Requirements

6.3. SMEP Statistics Requirements

The statistics requirements for the Secondary Mathematics Education major are changing.

 

Starting with the Fall 2026 catalog, the program will include new courses focused on teaching and learning Statistics and Data Science at the secondary level:

• MATH 263 (3 units) – Provides a foundation in basic statistics.
• MATH 306 (1 unit) – Focuses on methods for teaching statistics. (Offered as MATH 199 in Spring 2026 before it officially becomes MATH 306.)
• DATA 201 (3 units) – A Building Connections Gen Ed course introducing the foundations of data science, which is increasingly taught in secondary schools.

 

These courses will replace MATH 361 in the official degree requirements starting Fall 2026.

 

 

What This Means for You

• If you haven’t taken MATH 361 yet:
  You’ll need to take MATH 263 instead.

We also recommend that you take MATH 199 (Spring 2026) or MATH 306 (Fall 2026 and later) and DATA 201 if you can fit them into your schedule.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: I already completed MATH 361. Do I need to take anything else?
A: No, your statistics requirement is already complete. However, you might still consider DATA 201 and/or MATH 199/306 if you want more experience with data science or teaching methods in statistics. You may also take MATH 263 if you’d like to reinforce your stats background—or possibly boost your major GPA.

 

Q: I have AP Statistics credit. Does that count for MATH 263?
A: Yes, if you earned a 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics exam. (A score of 3 does not meet the requirement.)

 

Q: When is MATH 263 offered, and what are the prerequisites?
A: MATH 263 is offered Fall, Spring, and usually Summer (typically online in Summer).
Prerequisite: MATH 112 or equivalent math placement.

 

Q: When will MATH 199/306 and DATA 201 be offered, and what are the prerequisites?
A:

• MATH 199/306: Developed by DeAnna McDonald, an experienced statistics educator. The pilot course (MATH 199) will run in Spring 2026, and future offerings of MATH 306 are expected each Fall.
• Prerequisites: Completion of MATH 205, and either completion or concurrent enrollment in MATH 263 and DATA 201.
• DATA 201: Offered Fall and Spring (and possibly Summer in the future), usually both in person and online.
• Prerequisites: Completion of calculus (e.g. MATH 122B or 125) or a statistics course (e.g. MATH 163). Some programming experience can be helpful but isn’t required.

 

Q: How do I enroll in MATH 199 for Spring 2026?
A: You’ll need to be manually enrolled by the Math Center. Just email us at MATH-mcenter@arizona.edu and let us know you’d like to take the Statistics Teaching course.

 

Q: Will MATH 361 still be offered?
A: No, MATH 361 will be discontinued as of Spring 2026.

 

 

If you have additional questions that aren’t answered here, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Math Center. We are here to help!