Syllabus

Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals

MATH 1030: Intro to Statistics (Fall 2024)

Credits - 3

Description

This course introduces the students to both descriptive and inferential statistics.  Emphasis is placed on the practical use of statistics in the collecting, organizing, analyzing and interpreting of data. Students will learn standard topics such as sampling, bias, organization of data, measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlation and regression, probability, normal and standard normal distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.

Materials

Text

Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost. 

Illowsky, B., Dean, S. (2020). Introductory Statistics. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/details/books/introductory-statistics

Digital ISBN 1947172050

Print ISBN 1938168208

This textbook is available in web view and PDF. You can also choose to purchase on iBooks or get a print version via the campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com.

You can use whichever format you want. Web view is recommended — the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)

Publish Date:  Sep 19, 2013

Resources

Microsoft Office: Word and Excel (Free to UNE students)

Scientific or graphing calculator (TI-83+ or TI-84)

Hardware

UNE-compliant webcam and whiteboard – To be used during proctored exams

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Recognize common terms used in statistics
  • Organize data using tables and graphical representation
  • Compute measures of central tendency and variation
  • Apply basic rules of probability 
  • Analyze scatterplots and regression models
  • Utilize properties of The Normal Distribution
  • Determine confidence intervals
  • Formulate a hypothesis and test a hypothesis

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Assignments

Practice Proctored Exam

There is a highly recommended Practice Proctored Exam available to all students. The first attempt is free. This exam does not cover course material and is not included in your overall course grade. It prepares test takers for what the testing environment will be like, what forms of identification are needed, and provides a chance to test your external webcam with a live proctor. This is a great way to become familiar with and prepare for your exam!

Homework

Weeks 1 – 15 each have a 30-point homework assignment.  You will have one attempt.

Discussions

There are 4 discussions (weeks 3, 7, 10, and 14), and each discussion is worth 30 points. 

Midpoint Assessment- Proctored

There is a midpoint assessment in Week 9, worth 160 points.  This exam is proctored and timed;  you will have 2.5 hours to complete the assessment. This exam must be taken through ProctorU. See UNE’s Online ProctorU Site for information about signing up and scheduling your exam. The UNE-compliant webcam is required (see the Course Materials section, above, for more information).

Statistics Project

There is a course project that is broken up into 3 parts. Each part is worth 80 points, for a total of 240 points (Part 1 is due in Week 6, Part 2 is due in Week 12 and Part 3 is due in Week 16).

Reflection Essay

There is a course reflection essay worth 30 points due in Week 16.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment CategoryPointsPercent
Homework45045%
Discussions12012%
Midpoint Assessment Exam16016%
Statistics Project Part 1808%
Statistics Project Part 2808%
Statistics Project Part 3808%
Course Reflection Essay303%
Total1000 points100%

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

 

Week

Topic

Readings

Assignments

1

Introduction to Statistics 

Textbook: Chapter 1—Introduction, 1.1, 1.2

Homework (30 pts)

2

Levels of Measurement 

Textbook: Chapter 1— 1.3, 1.4, Review 

Homework (30 pts)

3

Organizing Data 

Textbook: Chapter 2—Introduction, 2.1, 2.2

Discussion (30 pts)

Homework (30 pts)

4

Organizing Data 

Textbook: Chapter 2—2.3, 2.4

Homework (30 pts)

5

Measures of Center

Textbook: Chapter 2—2.5, 2.6

Homework (30 pts)

6

Measures of Variation 

Textbook: Chapter 2—2.7, Review

Homework (30 pts)

Project Part 1 (80 pts)

7

Correlation

Textbook: Chapter 12—Introduction, 12.1, 12.2

Discussion (30 pts)

Homework (30 pts)

8

Regression

Textbook: Chapter 12—12.3, 12.5, 12.6, Review

Homework (30 pts)

9

Probability

Textbook: Chapter 3—Introduction, 3.1, 3.2, Review

Irma Shifting Forecasts: It’s All a Matter of Probability

Probability

Homework (30 pts)

Midpoint Assessment (160 pts)

10

Normal Distribution

Textbook: Chapter 6— Introduction, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, Review

Normal Table

Discussion (30 pts)

Homework (30 pts)

11

Central Limit Theorem 

Textbook: Chapter 7— Introduction, 7.1., 7.3, Review

Normal Table 

Homework (30 pts)

12

Confidence Intervals

Textbook: Chapter 8—Introduction, 8.1

Homework (30 pts)

Project Part 2 (80 pts)

13

Confidence Intervals

Textbook: Chapter 8—8.2, 8.3, Review

Student t table

Homework (30 pts)

14

Hypothesis Testing 

Textbook: Chapter 9—Introduction, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3

Discussion (30 pts)

Homework (30 pts)

15

Hypothesis Testing 

Textbook: Chapter 9—9.4, 9.5, Review

Homework (30 pts)

16

Course Wrap Up

None

Project Part 3 (80 pts)

Reflection Essay (30 pts)

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you - they will monitor course progression and provide assistance or guidance when needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, course materials, billing, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Science Prerequisites page

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

Student Lounge

The Student Lounge Discussion Forum is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.

Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.

Policies

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded any required additional software. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Exam Attempts Policy

Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade. Students can schedule their second attempt by following the same ProctorU instructions as with the original exam.

All students are encouraged to utilize a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.

Course Discussions

Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.

To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.

Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.

  1. Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
  2. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  3. Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.

Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.

In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.

Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.

Unauthorized Use

Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.

Citing AI Use

If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools. 

Instructor responsibility

Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE Online’s Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester. 

Student responsibility

Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.