Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHC6096
Tracking Number - 5281
Edit function not enabled for this course.
Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2016-08-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only): None
Comments: In review by OGS; Required for Biostatistics Conc. Course desc too long; pre-req needs prefix/number. Emailed 5/10/16. Updated. Approved 5/23/16. To USF Sys 5/23/16. TO SCNS after 5/31/16. Nmbr 6445 approved as 6096 eff 8/1/16
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2015-10-02
- Department: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- College: PH
- Budget Account Number: 64030010000PUB001
- Contact Person: Alfred Mbah
- Phone: 8139741118
- Email: ambah@health.usf.edu
- Prefix: PHC
- Number: 6096
- Full Title: Fundamentals of Probability
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: N
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?: N
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Fundamentals of Probability
- Course Online?: B -
Face-to-face and online (separate sections)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites: CI
- Corequisites:
- Course Description: Designed for students majoring in Biostatistics; emphasis is given to understanding and mastering of biostatistical theory and methods such as probability distribution and expectations.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for program/concentration/certificate change
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service?
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 1 time
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) PhD
- Objectives: 1. Apply biostatistical methods to the design of experimental and observational studies with respect to sample selection, randomization, and power.
2. Apply common probability distributions to public health outcomes.
3. Use statistical techniques including descriptive statistics and data exploration.
4. Communicate effectively to public health practitioners in terms of formulating research problems and interpreting statistical results.
5. Read and interpret scientific literature on selected public health topics.
- Learning Outcomes: By the end of the term successful students should be able to do the following:
1. Understand the laws of probability, use counting rules, and understand independence.
2. Recognize and understand common discrete and continuous probability distributions and their properties.
3. Be able to use joint, marginal, and conditional densities and moment generating functions.
4. Understand moments, expectation, variance, covariance, correlation, and conditional expectation.
5. Derive theoretical results using algebra and calculus and apply these results to problems from a variety of applications.
- Major Topics: Chapters 2-6 of the Wackerly et al. textbook. Topics covered include: Probability and independence; discrete and continuous random variables; joint, marginal, and conditional densities; moment generating functions; laws of large numbers; binomial, Poisson, gamma, univariate and bivariate normal distributions.
- Textbooks: DD Wackerly, W Mendenhall and RL Scheaffer, Mathematical Statistics with Applications, 7th edition, Buxbury Press (Thomson Brooks/Cole), New York, 2008. ISBN-10: 0-495-11081-7 HSC Bookstore http://usfhsc.bkstore.com.
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: 1) JA Rice, Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis, Third Edition, Duxbury Press: Belmont, CA, 1995
2) RP Cody and JK Smith, Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language, Third Edition, Prentice Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1996.
3) WN Venables and BD Ripley, Modern Applied Statistics With S. 4th edition, Springer: New York, 2002.
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Students are expected to actively engage in class discussions and skill activities about the assigned readings and related concepts. Students’ participation will be evaluated in terms of the following: (a) apparent thoughtfulness of comments; (b) active engagement in skill activities; and (c) ability to keep an open mind, even when discussing complex viewpoints.
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: Chapters 2-7 of the Wackerly et al. textbook. Topics covered include: Probability and independence; discrete and continuous random variables; joint, marginal, and conditional densities; moment generating functions; laws of large numbers; binomial, Poisson, gamma, univariate and bivariate normal distributions.
Students will have two exams: midterm and final exams
• Midterm exam: A 2.5 hours, closed book/closed notes exam is scheduled. It will be administrated in classroom in the format of questions from Chapter 2 to Chapter 4.
• Final exam: A 2.5 hours, closed book/closed notes exam is scheduled. It will be administrated in classroom in the format of questions from Chapter 5 to Chapter 7.
- Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work: Examination Policy: All examinations are closed book, unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Students may not use any electronic devises or leave the classroom during the examination without the instructor’s permission. Students who fail to appear for the examination or other course grading event, who did not receive permission in advance for the absence, will only be allowed to retake the examination or other grading event based on documentation of the serious and unanticipated nature of the absence. The justification must be acceptable to the instructor and approved by the Department Chair.
- Program This Course Supports: Biostatistics concentration
- Course Concurrence Information: None
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.