625.603.82 - Statistical Methods and Data Analysis

Course Structure

• Course modules officially start on a weekly basis at the end of each Monday.
• Due dates for assignments are always at the end of the next Monday for each module.
• First original discussion posting for a given module is due by the end of Friday for that module.
• The first response to another student’s original posting is due by the end of Sunday.

Course Topics

• Discrete Distributions
• Properties of Distributions
• Probability Inequalities,
• Sampling from a Distribution
• Multiple Variables
• Special Distributions
  
• Properties of Estimators
• Hypothesis Testing
• Two sample inference & goodness of fit
• Least squares & Multivariate Normal
• Bayesian Analysis

Course Goals

The goal of this course is to give students the ability to identify and apply suitable statistical analysis techniques. At the end of this class students will have a working knowledge of probability theory and applications to univariate and multivariate data analysis problems. Students will gain experience using statistical methods and learn to identify which methods to apply to a particular problem.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Apply probabilistic formalisms and reasoning.
• Construct and manipulate discrete/continuous and univariate/multivariate random variables and their distributions.
• Develop estimators, evaluate their properties, and apply to data.
• Demonstrate hypothesis test development, master common procedures, and apply to data.
• Develop statistical models, evaluate their properties, and apply to data.

Textbooks

Larsen, R. J., & Marx, M. L. (2018). An introduction to mathematical statistics and its applications (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780134114217

Student Coursework Requirements

There will be weekly homework assignments as well as discussions and a term project towards the end of the semester. There will be a midterm as well as a final. Contributions of these to your final grade are as follows:

* Assignments 20%
* Discussion 10%
* Project 10%
* Midterm 30%
* Final 30%

Midterm and final are timed exams that will be available for 3 days (typically Friday-Sunday) during which you can pick a suitable time that fits your schedule. Dates will be announced well in advance for you to plan.

Late HW policy: There will be a 10% deduction for each day that you are late to submit your assignment. If you are late by more than 3 days you will not get any credit.

Grading Policy

Grade scales provided below are only estimates. Final letter grades are assigned based on the actual distribution of grades each semester and slightly vary from semester to semester.   

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.