<p>Keep in mind that the only glaring difference between a pure math degree and an applied math degree is how much junior/senior analysis (or advanced calculus) and abstract algebra is required (or taken).</p>
<p>In most schools (that offer pure and applied math options), the pure math option REQUIRES a whole year sequence of Analysis/Advanced Calculus/Real Analysis plus a whole year sequence of Abstract Algebra. The applied math option may require just one semester of Analysis/Advanced Calculus/Real Analysis and/or one semester of Abstract Algebra. In other words, just a little bit of theoretical mathematics. Most applied math programs will ask for Complex Analysis, except for the computational math or math/computer science paths of applied math…which will ask for numerical analysis, several CS courses and maybe some STAT courses.</p>
<p>As for the Statistics major, the first thing to realize is that not many schools have Statistics as a separate major. In many cases Statistics is an option of the Math major. I would not say that a Statistics major carries considerably less weight on paper than a Math degree but it is more specialized.</p>
<p>As for how one should construct their undergrad major in Statistics, I will say the following (since half of my graduate engineering degree consists of graduate Statistics courses). Pay attention to the various graduate certificate programs in Statistics…there are a lot of them. There seems to be a “pattern” in which courses make these graduate certificates in Statistics:</p>
<p>Probability Theory
Mathematics Statistics
Design of Experiments (aka Experimental Design)
Statistical Quality Control
Stochastic Processes
Simulation</p>
<p>Right now with the explosion of Big Data, it may not be a bad idea to take a Computational Statistics/Statistical Computing course…especially if the course uses ‘R’.</p>