Fundamental Concepts of Statistics

This course is an introduction to the fundamental principles of statistical science. It does not rely on detailed derivations of mathematical concepts, but does require mathematical sophistication and reasoning. It is an introduction to statistical thinking/reasoning, data management, statistical analysis, and statistical computation. Concepts in this course will be developed in greater mathematical rigor later in the statistical curriculum, including in STAT 315, 516, 525, and 535. It is intended to be the first course in statistics taken by math majors interested in statistics. Concepts covered include point estimation, interval estimation, prediction, testing, and regression, with focus on sampling distributions and the properties of statistical procedures. The course will be taught in a hands-on manner, introducing powerful statistical software used in practical settings and including methods for descriptive statistics, visualization, and data management.