Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | MAT-2021-VG01 - Statistics

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Jesse Herbert
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Deb Grant

General Education Requirements

VSCS Mathematics

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the basic ideas and techniques of probability and statistics. Topics may include numerical and graphical descriptive measures, probability, random variables, the normal distribution, sampling theory, estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression. The use of technology may be required. Students must take a math assessment for placement purposes prior to registration. Prerequisite: Math & Algebra for College or equivalent skills.

Essential Objectives

1. Outline the general development of statistical science and list a number of common applications of statistical methodology.
2. Distinguish between descriptive and inferential statistics.
3. Create and apply various techniques used to describe data, such as pie charts, bar graphs, frequency tables, and histograms.
4. Define three common measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode), and demonstrate the ability to calculate each manually from a series of small data sets.
5. Describe common methods of measuring variability, including range, percentiles, variance, and standard deviation and calculate each from a series of small data sets.
6. Explain the Normal Probability Distribution, techniques of sampling, the Central Limit Theorem, and the concept of standard error, and compute probabilities associated with normally distributed samples.
7. Test hypotheses about the value of the mean assuming the normal distribution and large sample results.
8. Select and perform common statistical tests including one- and two-tailed tests.
9. Define linear regression and correlation and discuss their applications.
10. Interpret and evaluate the validity of statistical data and reports.
11. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, evaluating and applying quantitative data and information.
12. Apply mathematical reasoning to analyze social justice problems in a variety of different contexts and consider whether these approaches are just and equitable.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

Instructional methods will include lecture, sample problems, and guided practice. Some group work will be utilized, and a final presentation serves as an in depth learning experience. The final presentation must include peer reviewed citations. Don't worry if you do not know what this means, we will go over it and include examples throughout the course.

Evaluation Criteria

Homework: 30%

Tests: 50%

Final Presentation: 20%

Homework: Beginning Week 2, a weekly homework quiz consisting of three multiple choice questions determines your homework grade (the 60 minute time limit is typically more than ample, these are straight forward questions). For assigned exercises, simply check your answers in the back of the textbook. Two attempts are allowed, with the best of either recorded. The lowest quiz mark is dropped.

Tests: If an emergency arises and you are unable to take the test in the week-long window provided, you must notify your instructor of this by email ahead of time to make alternate testing arrangements. Generally, one excused make-up test is allowed.

Final Presentation: Research on a topic of your choosing will be presented at the semester's end, and must relate to a statistics topic covered in class. It should take five to ten minutes. Incorporation of peer reviewed data from the literature is required (how to easily accomplish this is covered in the course). Presentations can not be accepted for partial credit beyond the end of the course*.

*If you provide documentation of a genuine emergency, this may be accepted/waived.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Late work earns 80% of full credit.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity