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2004-2005 Course Catalog

Statistics


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Course Offerings

Statistics, a branch of applied mathematics, studies the methodology for the collection and analysis of data and the use of data to make inferences under conditions of uncertainty. Statistics plays a fundamental role in the social and natural sciences, as well as in business, industry, and government.

Statistical practice includes: collection, exploration, summarization, and display of data; design of experiments and sampling surveys; drawing inferences and making decisions based on data and assessing the uncertainty of such inferences and decisions; and the construction of mathematical models for analysis of random processes. Probability forms the conceptual foundation and mathematical language for the inferential aspects of statistics.

The statistics program is offered cooperatively by the Departments of Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, and Sociology. The program is administered by an Interdisciplinary Statistics Committee headed by the Statistics Program director, who is appointed by the dean of the Division of Social Sciences. The statistics minor is administered by the Department of Mathematics. Students interested in a statistics minor are encouraged to discuss course selection with a statistics faculty member from any discipline.

Faculty: Selected faculty from the Departments of Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, and Sociology.

Statistics Minor: A minimum of 16 semester hours to include Statistics 341, at least 8 hours from among the other statistics courses, and Computer Science and Computer Engineering 120 or 144.

The statistics courses chosen for a statistics minor will vary with the interests of the student. Some typical programs leading to a statistics minor are listed below; Computer Science and Computer Engineering 120 or 144 must be added to each list.

For students interested in mathematics, graduate or professional work in statistics, or an actuarial career:
    Statistics 341, 342, 348

For students interested in economics or business:
    Statistics 231; 341, Economics 344 or Statistics 341; 342, Economics 344

For students interested in other social sciences:
    Statistics 231; 341; Economics 344 or Statistics 231 (Psychology students should take designated sections of Statistics 231.)

For students interested in natural sciences:
    Statistics 341, 342, 348 or Statistics 231, 341, 348

Course Offerings – STAT

231 Introductory Statistics – MR
Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency and dispersion. Inferential statistics: generalizations about populations from samples by parametric and nonparametric techniques. Methods covered will include estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation analysis, regression, chi square, and ANOVA analysis. Includes a required computer lab. Students should register for the lab corresponding to their lecture section. (May not be taken for credit after 341 has been taken.) (4)

341 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics - MR, NS
Data description, probability, discrete and continuous random variables, expectation, special distributions, statements of law of large numbers and central limit theorem, sampling distributions, theory of point estimators, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, regression (time permitting). Prerequisite: 152. F (Crosslisted with STAT 341.) (4)

342 Probability and Statistical Theory - MR, NS
Continuation of 341. Topics may include: joint and conditional distributions, correlation, functions of random variables, moment generating functions, inference in regression and one-way ANOVA, Bayesian and non-parametric inference, convergence of distributions. Prerequisite: 341. a/y (even years) S (Crosslisted with STAT 342.) (4)

343 Operations Research – MR
Quantitative methods for decision problems. Emphasis on linear programming and other deterministic models. Prerequisite: 231 or equivalent. (Crosslisted with ECON 343.) (2)

344 Econometrics – MR
Introduction to the methods and tools of econometrics as the basis for applied research in economics. Specification, estimation, and testing in the classical linear regression model. Extensions of the model and applications to the analysis of economic data. Prerequisite: 231. (Crosslisted with ECON 344.) (4)

348 Applied Regression and Analysis and ANOVA – MR, NS
Linear, multiple and nonlinear regression, regression diagnostics and violations of model assumptions, analysis of variance, exper-imental design including randomization, and blocking, multiple comparisons, analysis of covariance. Substantial use of a stati-stical computer package and an emphasis on exploratory analysis of data. Prerequisite: 341 or consent of instructor. a/y (odd years) S (Crosslisted with MATH 348.) (4)

491 Independent Studies – MR (1–4)

500 Applied Statistical Analysis
(Will not count for statistics minor) An intensive introduction to statistical methods for graduate students who have not previously taken Introductory Statistics. Emphasis on the application of inferential statistics to concrete situations. Topics covered include measures of location and variation, probability, estimation, hypothesis tests, and regression. (Crosslisted with ECON 500.) (4)