STAT 101: Introduction to Statistics: Life Sciences
STAT 102: Introduction to Statistics: Political Science
STAT 103: Introduction to Statistics: Social Sciences
STAT 105: Introduction to Statistics: Medicine
STAT 106: Introduction to Statistics: Data Analysis
Statistics is the science and art of prediction and explanation.
In most fields of study research relies on statistical analysis of
data. Each of these courses, led by an expert from the field of
study, introduces statistical reasoning and
emphasizes
how Statistics is applied to the particular discipline. Topics
include numerical and graphical summaries of data, data acquisition and
experimental design, probability, hypothesis testing, confidence
intervals, correlation and regression. Students will learn to
apply
statistical concepts to data using Minitab and reach
conclusions about real-world problems.
Each course focuses on
applications to a particular field of study and is taught jointly by
two instructors, one specializing in statistics and the other in the
discipline particular to the course (Life Sciences for Stat 101,
Political Science for Stat 102, and so on). The courses meet
together for the
first seven weeks and separately for the final six weeks. The
first part of the course is taught by Jonathan Reuning-Scherer and
covers fundamentals of probability and statistics. Periodic
examples are provided by individual course instructors. The
courses separate by area of specialty for the final six weeks.
Students
interested in a course that covers similar material at a slower pace
without the specialization to a particular field of study should
consider taking Stat 100b instead.
Students who already have been
exposed to the course topics or who have extensive quantitative
backgrounds should speak with the instructor about other course
opportunities. For example, students seeking a more
mathematically rigorous or computationally
intensive introduction to probability and statistics could consider
taking Stat 238a. Students with previous
exposure to the concepts of statistics (for instance through AP
Statistics) interested in focusing on the practice of data analysis
should consider Stat 230b.
Workload: Regular problem
sets, two midterms, and a final exam.
Expected Quantitative Preparation: This
course is intended to be accessible to all
students having a basic knowledge of high school algebra.
Students will be challenged by statistical reasoning, not by
mathematical manipulations. If you have any concerns about
whether
you are ready for this course, please contact the instructor.
Examples of the most challenging math you will see in this
course:
Solve the following equation for n
:
Plot and label the following points on graph paper:
- {5,0}
- {5,5}
- {1,3}
- {-1,-1}
Plot and label the following functions on graph paper:
- Y = 2X + 4
- X = 4
- Y = -2
- Y= -X + 2