Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Statistical Inference (Face-to-Face)

MATH 1040-10

Course: MATH 1040-10
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MATH
CRN: 31620

Course Description

An introduction to the basic concepts and methods of statistical data analysis. Students will summarize and interpret data, evaluate important assumptions, and draw appropriate conclusions based on sample data sets from a variety of disciplines. Topics include descriptive statistics, statistical graphs, probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests with one and two samples, correlation and regression, chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): MATH 1010 or adequate test score within the last two (2) years - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Prerequisite Test: ACT Math Subscore or Accuplacer Elementary Algebra or ALEKS PPL - Prerequisite Test Score: 23 or 100 or 50 Registration Restriction(s): None General Education Category: Quantitative Literacy

Required Texts

None, but course content will mostly align with Elementary Statistics, 8th edition, by Larson, 2022. You will not need to purchase this book since the course notes should be comprehensive enough, but you can if you’d like the extra resource.

Learning Outcomes

This is a general education (GE) course. By the end of it students should demonstrate 
1. Communication (Students develop and express ideas and will be able to do so in a variety of ways, namely in writing, by speaking, visually, kinesthetically, through design or aurally).
2. Problem solving (Students design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer open-ended questions or achieve a desired goal).
3. Quantitative Literacy (Students can understand and create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence and clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate).

Course Requirements

Attendance (5% of final grade): Attendance is required in this class. Since we only have two classes a week, we do not have many class sessions and things move fast. In addition, you will be working in groups on activities most days, so too many people being absent can negatively affect your group. You can miss 2 classes for any reason. After that, every absence that is not excused will deduct 1% from your overall grade up to a total of 5%.

Activities (9% of final grade): About half the class time will be dedicated to in-class activities you will work through in groups. You will sometimes be able to finish these in class, but many times, it is up to you to finish it outside of class. These activities are not graded for being correct, but will be submitted and are typically due the Sunday after we cover the content in class. The solutions to these activities will be unlocked as soon as you submit the assignment on Canvas. It is up to you to check these solutions and make sure you understand the materials. These will not be accepted late, but the lowest 4 will be dropped.

Homework (8% of final grade): Working hard on the homework is how you will succeed in this course, so please take the homework seriously. You may work with classmates on homework assignments, but you must write up your own solutions in your own words. These homework assignments will also not be graded for correctness, but feedback on them will be provided. These will typically be due once a week. It is up to you to make sure you understand the concepts on the homework. Exam problems will be similar to those on the homework.

Midterms (48% of final grade): There will be three “semi-cumulative” midterm exams. You may bring a sheet of notes (front and back) to these exams in addition to an inference summary sheet that I will provide. These exams will be taken in the testing center. More will be said about this when the exam dates draw closer.

Final Exam (18% of final grade): There will be a “mostly-cumulative” Final Exam that will be open in the testing center during finals week. A sheet of notes is permitted on the final too. The final is required, but the score you get on the final exam will replace your lowest midterm score if you do better on the final. If your final exam is your lowest test score, no score gets replaced.

Final Project (12% of final grade): There will be a project toward the end of the summer session where each student must use inferential statistics to answer a research question of their choice. More information on the project will come later.

Course Outline

This course outline is tentative. 

Week 1: Introduction to statistics
Week 2: Introduction to statistics and descriptive statistics
Week 3: More descriptive statistics
Week 4: Intro to probability
Week 5: Exam 1 and probability distributions 
Week 6: More probability distributions 
Week 7: Normal probability distributions and the CLT
Week 8: Fall break and confidence intervals
Week 9: Exam 2 and more confidence intervals
Week 10: More confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for single parameters
Week 11: More hypothesis testing for single parameters
Week 12: Hypothesis testing for two parameters and correlation
Week 13: Simple linear regression and Exam 3
Week 14: Thanksgiving break
Week 15: Chi-square tests and ANOVA
Week 16: Finals

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

The activities are not accepted late. 
The homework is accepted up to one day late, but with a 10% grade penalty. 

Make-ups for tests will be given under special and extenuating circumstances such as a family emergency or illness. It is your responsibility to notify me as soon as you know that you will miss any test and to make sure that a make-up is scheduled. If you are unable to contact me in person, then please send an email so that it will be convenient to get back to you in order to schedule a make-up. Early final exams will not be given.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required in this class. Since we only have two classes a week, we do not have many class sessions and things move fast. In addition, you will be working in groups on activities most days, so too many people being absent can negatively affect your group. You can miss 2 classes for any reason. After that, every absence that is not excused will deduct 1% from your overall grade up to a total of 5%.

Course Fees

There is a fee of $5 to take this course. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.