STAT 407 - Syllabus


Instructor

Samuel P. Wilcock, PhD

Professor of Statistics; Dept. of Computing, Mathematics, and Physics
  • Contact Information
    •     Office: F328
    •     E-mail: SWilcock@Messiah.edu
    •     Phone: x7092
  • Education
    •     Garden Spot High School, New Holland, PA
    •     B.A., Messiah College, Major: Mathematics (minor: Statistics)
    •     M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Major: Statistics
    •     Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Major: Statistics
  • Personal
    •     Married, 5 Children (Ages 5-15)
    •     English and Jewish ancestry
    •     Straight, Cis, He/His


Textbook

Hogg, Robert V., Joseph W. McKean, and Allen T. Craig, Introduction to Mathematical Statistics, Seventh Edition.

  • This text will serve as a valuable resource for you throughout this course, and may be a useful resource for you if you do graduate work in statistics. We will be covering many of the sections, so I strongly suggest you read through the sections in the book as we go to insure that you are understanding what I cover in class. Also, most of your homework assignments will be problems directly from this edition of the text.


Attendance Policy

Class attendance is not required, but is strongly encouraged whether in person or any synchoronous online meetings. Active participation with any class session or material will aid you in learning the material that we are covering, and is therefore encouraged. In addition, you should come to class prepared with any material you have been told to bring along and have completed any assigned readings or practice and watched any suggested videos. This may include having physical or electronic access to handouts, tables, calculators, etc. Late graded material will only be accepted with a medical excuse. You should also be aware that an announcement made in Canvas will be considered sufficient warning about any changes to the course including deadlines and assignments. It is your responsibility to check email and Canvas regularly to be aware of any changes that have been made. I will not reteach material during my office hours that has already been covered in another venue, but will gladly halp you apply the material.

Proviso

The instructor reserves the right to penalize a student if excessive absences from in person classes or synchronous class meetings are noted. If such a situation should arise, the student will receive one warning via email or Canvas message, after which continued absences may result in a lowering of the overall course average by up to one percent per occurence of unexcused absences. It is expected that this proviso will rarely be invoked.


Office Hours

My office hours will be by appointment only. You may feel free to come and ask any questions about course material or anything else you may need help with. There is no limit to how many times you may use my office hours, but I ask that you sign up for one slot at a time. I would rather you use these times frequently and ask questions, than not use this resource and therefore do poorly in the class. Please email with some time for me to see and reply as well as several options that work for you since I may have other commitments that affect my availability. Please do not email requesting a meeting in just a few minutes as I may not be able to be that flexible. Check Canvas for more information about my expected availability and links to sign up for times (regular semester only).

Before Coming

Before coming to my office hours, whether in person on virtually, please take the time to adaquately prepare. You should organize your specific questions for me. Also, make sure that your notes, text, handouts, or any provided resources (videos, Canvas posts, etc.) do not already answer your question(s). This implies that you should already have read the sections of the text that correspond to the topics about which you have questions when you come to my office. I will assume that you have done this already. Your work with the text should include reading through the examples in the text, and possibly even working some of the problems from the section/chapter.


Course Objectives

To more fully understand probability, and how it lays a foundation for the inferential statistics that you have seen in 291 and other stat courses. We will begin to look much more fully at probability distributions. We will discuss the underlying assumptions, and explore more full the various characteristics of distributions.
To intuitively understand each topic. I will often ask you as a class to discuss why a particular theorem or corollary makes intuitive sense, and how this might help us in obtaining a proof.
To understand the rigor of a mathematical proof. I will require that proofs offered in class or on homework or exams meet the rigor expected of a real proof. All steps of the proof should be shown to be true, and it should not be assumed that the next step is ``obvious''.
To integrate topics by identifying commonalities. As we move through the course, we will endeavor to identify places where connections can be made between the current topic and one we have previously covered. This may, for instance, provide a way to simplify a proof by referring to a previous result and citing how this theorem is related.
To understand the limitations of each analysis through consideration of assumptions. Each analysis we cover in this course, or you have seen in previous courses, is limited by the assumptions that are made. We will discuss this as we go through the course.
To use the general concepts to solve theoretical and applied problems. Homework problems that are assigned will cover both theory and application, so that we can appreciate the mathematical relationships, but also see how the math may be applied to actual settings.

Course Content

Chapter 1:1-10 (all subsections)
Chapter 2:1-8 (all subsections)
Chapter 3:1-6 (but not 3.4.1 & only part of 3.5)
Chapter 5:1-3 (but only 5.2.3, not 5.2.1 & 5.2.2)
Chapter 4:1,4 (but only up to 4.4.1)


Homework

As we move through the semester, you will be assigned many homework sets to complete. These sets will be due at the beginning of class on the date specified when they are distributed. Late homework will not be accepted. Each of these homework assignments will be given with instructions for their completion. You may feel free to discuss your work with friends in the class, unless otherwise indicated. Each of you will turn in your own solution, even if you worked with friends to accomplish the task. It is vital that you be sure that you understand all the steps to arriving at the conclusion, since exams will be done without the aid of others. Homework will be worth 40% of your final grade.


Minitab

There will be no "projects" using Minitab in this course. However, there will be times when using Minitab makes completion of the homework easier by finding exact probabilities quickly and easily. In some cases, the use of Minitab will be encouraged or required.


Exams

Three or four exams will be given this semester, depending on how far we get in the material (none inherently comprehensive). For each exam we will spend some time in review and you will be clearly informed as to the material for which you are responsible. Each exam will be an untimed takehome exam, and you will be allowed to use your notes and text. You will not, however, be allowed to discuss your work with anyone other than the professor. Exams will be 60% of your final course grade.


Grading

Graded material will fall into the categories of homework and exams. The total points earned on the homework will be divided by the total number of points available during the semester. This will be weighted 40%. Each exam will be weighted equally with the total accounting for 60% of the final grade. The weighted average will be found. This will be converted to a percentage, using the usual convention of rounding .5 and above up. The percentage will then be compared to the usual table (seen below) to find the appropriate letter grade.

  • 93 - 100 = A
  • 90 - 92 = A-
  • 87 - 89 = B+
  • 83 - 86 = B
  • 80 - 82 = B-
  • 77 - 79 = C+
  • 73 - 76 = C
  • 70 - 72 = C-
  • 67 - 69 = D+
  • 60 - 66 = D
  • 0 - 59 = F

ADA Statement

Americans with Disabilities Act: Any student whose disability falls within ADA guidelines should inform the instructor at the beginning of the semester of any special accommodations or equipment needs necessary to complete the requirements for this course. Students must register documentation with the Office of Disability Services (Murray Library, Suite 115). If you have questions, call extension 7258. Note: It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor at the beginning of the semester. The instructor will work with any student who needs accomodations as long as they are documented by the Office of Disability Services, and the instructor is informed at the beginning of the semester.

Harassment and Violence Statement

Messiah College prohibits all forms of discrimination and violence, including harassment, stalking, interpersonal violence, and sexual assault. If I learn of any potential violation of our harassment, stalking, sexual assault, and/or interpersonal violence policy by any means, I am required to notice the College. Students may request confidentiality from the institution, which I will communicate to the appropriate office or the Title IX Coordinator (Amanda Coffey). Confidential resources are available on or off campus:
Engle Center Counseling Services (x5357)
Engle Center Health Services (x6035)
Don Opitz, College Pastor (x6520)
YWCA Carlisle (1.888.727.2877)
YWCA Harrisburg (1.800.654.1211)
Confidential resources can walk students through all of their reporting options, including making a formal report to the Title IX Coordinator if and when they are ready. They can also provide students with information and assistance in accessing academic, medical, and other support services they may need. (© 2015, adapted from Victim Rights Law Center)


Academic Integrity

It is expected that you are familiar with the Academic Integrity policy of the College, found in the Student Handbook. In particular, you should be aware that any use or provision of unauthorized aids on exams or other graded material will not be tolerated. This means that it is not only a violation of the policy to obtain unauthorized aid, providing such aid to another student is also a violation of this policy. If an offense is suspected, the instructor will notify the student(s) involved by email. Students will have one week from the sending of this email to provide defense of their actions. If no defense is given, or it is found to be insufficient to the instructor, then penalties will be assessed. On the first offense, no credit will be granted for the assignment. Any further offense will result in a failing grade for the course. There will be no make-up work given to compensate for either penalty. In addition, the instructor may choose to decline signing a drop or withdrawal request if a student has violated this policy. Students should carefully read all assignments to determine what is allowed, and what is prohibited.