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2006-07 PLU Catalog

Statistics

Faculty Minor Course Offerings


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Statistics (STAT), 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.

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.

Minor: - minimum of 16 semester hours

STAT 341
At least eight semester hours from the other statistic courses
CSCE 120 or 144

Typical Programs for a Minor


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:

STAT 341, 342, 348
CSCE 120 or 144
STAT 231, 341
ECON 344
CSCE 120 or 144

STAT 233, 341
ECON 344 or STAT 232 (Psychology students should choose STAT 232)
CSCE 120 or 144

STAT 341, 342, 348
CSCE 120 or 144

Course Offerings – Statistics (STAT)


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 STAT 341 has been taken.) (4)

STAT 232: Introductory Statistics for Psychology Majors - 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. This section is intended for Psychology majors. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or equivalent. (4)

STAT 233: Introductory Statistics for Sociology Majors - 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. This section is intended for Sociology majors. Prerequisite: SOCI 101 or equivalent. (4)

STAT 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). (Cross-listed with STAT 341) Prerequisite: MATH 152.   (4)

STAT 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: STAT 341.  (Cross-listed with STAT 342.) (4)

STAT 343: Operations Research – MR

Quantitative methods for decision problems. Emphasis on linear programming and other deterministic models. (Cross-listed with ECON 343.) Prerequisite:  STAT 231 or equivalent. (2)

STAT 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. (Cross-listed with ECON 344.)  Prerequisite: STAT 231. (4)

STAT 348: Applied Regression and Analysis and ANOVA – MR, NS

Linear, multiple and nonlinear regression, regression diagnostics and violations of model assumptions, analysis of variance, experimental design including randomization, and blocking, multiple comparisons, analysis of covariance. Substantial use of a statistical computer package and an emphasis on exploratory analysis of data. (Cross-listed with MATH 348.) Prerequisite:  STAT 341 or consent of instructor.   (4)

STAT 491: Independent Studies – MR (1–4)

STAT 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. (Cross-listed with ECON 500.) (4)