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EN.553. 211 Syllabus Syllabus

Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences

Course Information

Course Information: 

Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences
EN.553. 211 ( 4.0 Credits )
Description
This is an introduction to statistics aimed at students in the life sciences. The course will provide the necessary background in probability with treatment of independence, Bayes theorem, discrete and continuous random variables and their distributions. The statistical topics covered will include sampling and sampling distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for means, comparison of populations, analysis of variance, linear regression and correlation. Analysis of data will be done using Excel.
Department: EN Applied Mathematics & Statistics
College: Whiting School of Engineering

Instructor Information: 

Instructor

  • Instructor Name

    Instructor Campus Address
    instructorEmail@emailaddress.edu

Class Times: 

 

Course Duration: 

 

Course Learning Objectives

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs): 

  • Descriptive Statistics (2 weeks): Observational cases and variables, types of variables; scatterplots, contingency tables, association vs. causation; data collection principles, simple random sampling, sample mean; observational studies vs. experiments, control vs. experimental groups, blocking; dot plots, histograms, mean, median, variance and standard deviation, box plots.

  • Basic Probability (4 weeks): Basic set theory and operations, sample space, events, probability, probability rules; independence, conditional probability, total probability theorem, Bayes’ rule; basic combinatorics, permutations and combinations; repeated and independent trials, Pascal’s triangle, Binomial theorem; random variables, Binomial random variables, other examples; expectation, variance and standard deviation; Normal random variables, mean and variance, Central Limit Theorem

  • Inferential Statistics (7 weeks): Sample mean as a random variable, sampling distribution of the sample mean; confidence intervals for the population mean, for a large sample; Student’s t distribution, degrees of freedom, confidence intervals for small samples; estimating the difference between population means, standard error; hypothesis testing, null and alternative hypotheses; significance level, rejection region; p-value, t-test, types of error (Type I/Type II); inferential statistics for categorical data: confidence interval and hypothesis testing for proportions; differences of proportions, pooled standard deviation; Chi-squared test: goodness of fit, contingency tables; F-distribution, F-test for the ratio of variances; ANOVA (Analysis OF Variance); linear regression and correlation.

Required Text and Other Materials

Textbooks: 

Textbooks
I will be distributing my own notes, and I will type up homework problems. However, please download the
(free!) textbook (you can also buy a bound paperback copy for $20):
[1] OpenIntro Statistics, 4th edition, https://www.openintro.org/stat/textbook.php
In addition, I strongly recommend getting a textbook for reference, e.g. the one that was used in previous years:
[2] Mendenhall, Beaver & Beaver, Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Brooks/Cole, any edition
The current edition is the 15th one and it is expensive ($180). But any earlier, used, and cheaper edition of the
book will do. The bookstore has several of these older editions, and so does Amazon (for $30-$40, I believe).

Evaluation and Grading

Grading Breakdown: 

The student’s final grade will be based on weekly homework assignments, two midterm exams, and one final
exam. The breakdown will be as follows: Homework: 15%, Midterm 1: 25%, Midterm 2: 25%, Final: 35%.
The grade will be curved, and course average (typically a B) will depend on how satisfied I will be about the
general outcome of the class.

Grading Scale: 

Policies

Academic Policies: 

  • Disability Services

    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 by reaching out directly to the instructor 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 Homewood Campus, Shaffer Hall #101, call: 410-516-4720 and email: studentdisabilityservices@jhu.edu or visit the website.  

  • Mental Health Statement

    Many students struggle with stress and a variety of other mental health concerns during their academic careers. JHU supports students' mental health and well-being in multiple ways.

    Within the Student Health and Well-Being division, Mental Health Services provides many services and resources to students. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at the Whiting School of Engineering are eligible for services at MHS – Homewood (Counseling Center).

    MHS also partners with TimelyCare, which offers on-demand mental health support through TalkNow, as well as up to 12 free counseling appointments with the provider of the student's choice. Psychiatric care is also available through TimelyCare for routine medication management (no stimulants or other controlled substances). https://app.timelycare.com/auth/login.

    In addition, The Johns Hopkins University Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST) pairs experienced, compassionate crisis clinicians with specially trained public safety officers on every shift on and around the Homewood campus, seven days a week. The BHCST will provide immediate assistance to those who need it and, just as importantly, link individuals in crisis to ongoing support services in the days and weeks that follow. Call Public Safety, 410-516-5600, and ask for a BHCST clinician.

    Specifically for graduate students, the Whiting School of Engineering has a dedicated office with Student Support and Advocacy.  Engineering Student Support & Advocacy (ESSA) helps students navigate non-Academic issues including mental or physical health, interpersonal issues, conflict with advisors, financial concerns, time management, leaves of absence, being victimized, and family emergencies. Please find information about this office here: https://engineering.jhu.edu/studentaffairs/navigatingnonacademicissues/

    Eligibility for services for Engineering for Professionals students varies. Visit the EP eligibility page to learn more. 

    For concerns about a specific student, please contact: 

    • For emergencies (threat to self or others): 410-516-4600 or 911
    • For on-scene mental health support: BHCST at 410-516-4600 
    • For WSE and KSAS undergraduates: Student Outreach & Support at 410-516-7857 or  studentoutreach@jhu.edu (undergraduates) 
    • For KSAS Graduate Students: Renee Eastwood, Assistant Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Academic and Student Affairs
    • For WSE Graduate Students:  Megan Barrett, Assistant Dean for Engineering Student Affairs

  • Academic Integrity

    The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition. 

    Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You can also contact:   

    For undergraduate students, the adjudication procedures can be found online here

    For graduate students the policy can be found on the Homewood Graduate and Postdoc Affairs website.

     

     

  • Inclusivity

    The following statement was written by the Homewood Council on Inclusive Excellence, not by the instructor of this course. Schools were asked to include this language in all course syllabi.

    Johns Hopkins University is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring.  Everyone here has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.  Fostering an inclusive climate is important because research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes.  Please join us in creating a welcoming and vibrant classroom climate.  Note that you should expect to be challenged intellectually by the instructor, the TAs, and your peers, and at times this may feel uncomfortable.  Indeed, it can be helpful to be pushed sometimes in order to learn and grow.  But 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 ever have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to your instructor or the TAs who will take your communication seriously and will seek mutually acceptable resolutions and accommodations.  Reporting will never impact your course grade.  You may also share concerns with the department chair, the Director of Undergraduate Studies (WSE Department Heads and DUSes), the WSE Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion (Darlene Saporu, dsaporu@jhu.edu), the KSAS Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion (Araceli Frias, afrias3@jhu.edu) or the Office of Institutional Equity (oie@jhu.edu).  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 Evaluation

Course Evaluation: 

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