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Core Course Descriptions

Group A (one course to be taken from the following)


Applied Statistics 363: Quantitative Political Methodology

  • Graduate equivalent is Applied Statistics 563
  • Formerly Applied Statistics 330A: Introduction to Applied Statistics and formerly Applied Statistics 513A: Introduction to Data Analysis
  • Same as home course Political Science 363: Quantitative Political Methodology
  • Course typically taught in Fall semester

This is an introduction to research methodology and quantitative analysis for social scientists. Students will be introduced to the logic of social scientific inquiry, and to the basic statistical tools used to study politics. Students will learn and apply the following to answer substantive questions: measurement, descriptive analysis, correlation, graphical analysis, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, analysis of variance, and regression analysis. Major components of the course include learning how to collect, manage, and analyze data using computer software, and how to effectively communicate to others results from statistical analyses. Students will work collaboratively on research projects where they pose their own questions, design a study, collect and analyze the data, and present their findings in a research paper. Additional work may be required for graduate students.

Applied Statistics 2200: Elementary Probability and Statistics

  • Graduate equivalent is Applied Statistics 5200
  • Formerly Applied Statistics 330D: Introduction to Applied Statistics and formerly Applied Statistics 513D: Introduction to Data Analysis
  • Same as home course Math 2200: Elementary Probability and Statistics
  • Course typically taught in Fall semester

An elementary introduction to probability and statistics. Discrete and continuous random variables, mean and variance, hypothesis testing and confidence limits, nonparametric methods, Student's t, analysis of variance, regression and contingency tables. Graphing calculator with statistical distribution functions (such as the TI-83 series) is required. Prerequisite: Math 131.

Group B (one course to be taken from the following)


Applied Statistics 364: Intermediate Applied Statistics: Linear Models

  • Graduate equivalent is Applied Statistics 564
  • Formerly Applied Statistics 350E: Intermediate Applied Statistics: Linear Models and formerly Applied Statistics 515E: Intermediate Applied Statistics: Linear Models
  • Course is home based in Applied Statistics
  • Course typically taught in Spring semester

This course provides a detailed introduction to linear statistical models, the workhorse of applied statistics. Building on foundations in basic probability theory and central limit theorems, linear statistical models can be built from first principles to describe data and/or formalize statistical inference. The remainder of the course will evaluate the robustness to deviations from the basic assumptions and thus generalize the core principles of the linear regression model. Prerequisites: Applied Statistics 330.

Applied Statistics 413: Introduction to Econometrics

  • Graduate equivalent is Applied Statistics 413
  • Formerly Applied Statistics 350C Intermediate Applied Statistics: Linear Models and formerly Applied Statistics 515C: Intermediate Applied Statistics: Linear Models
  • Same as home course Economics 413: Introduction to Econometrics
  • Course typically taught in Fall and Spring semesters

Course provides a basic working knowledge of econometrics. Topics include: translation of economic theory into statistical models, statistical foundations of econometrics, preregression analysis bivariate and multiple regression techniques, hypothesis testing, multicollinearity, specification error, autocorrelation, errors in variables, identification, and simultaneous estimation. Prerequisite, Econ 103B and 104B and Math 2200 or equivalent.

Group C (one course to be taken from the following)


Applied Statistics 321G: Philosophy of Science

  • Graduate equivalent is Applied Statistics 521G
  • Formerly Applied Statistics 361A Philosophy of Science and formerly Applied Statistics 521A Philosophy of Science
  • Same as home course Philosophy 321G Philosophy of Science
  • Course typically taught in Fall and Spring semesters

What is science? To what extent is it objective? How are scientific theories constructed? How are they confirmed? Other topics include induction and probability, application of statistics, the status of theoretical entities, and scientific revolution.