Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Delivery
- Asynchronous Online: Learning takes place online and asynchronously within a course site, typically hosted in a learning management system (LMS).
Course Materials
- Holmes, A., Illowsky, B., & Dean, S. (2023). Introductory business statistics (2nd ed.) (free online textbook).
- Free online statistical software package: JASP
- JASP Tutorial YouTube Playlist: Research by Design
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)
- Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving: Apply innovative problem-solving to real-world situations and existing issues within students' personal and professional lives.
- Effective Communication: Effectively use communication methods and strategies to share information and ideas from a management perspective through writing and other media.
- Digital Literacy and Data Analysis: Apply digital literacy skills to evaluate the quality and reliability of sources.
- Leadership and Management Skills: Apply effective leadership strategies and knowledge of the aerospace and defense industry to managing people and projects.
- National Security and Political Context: Analyze current and future aerospace and defense practices and developments for implications on national security and politics.
- Statistical Thinking and Data Analytics: Interpret data and make decisions using techniques from statistics and data analytics.
- Technological Tools and Weapons Systems: Use technological tools and weapons systems in the aerospace and defense industry to manage people and projects.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Alignment
| CLO | Description | PLO |
|---|---|---|
| A |
Be able to apply statistical thinking to business and organizational problems. |
1,6 |
| B |
Use spreadsheet and statistical software applications to store and organize data, and to create descriptive statistics reports including tables, charts, and other visuals. |
3, 6 |
| C |
Describe data sets according to relevant statistical measures of center, spread, and relative standing. |
6 |
| D |
Summarize statistical investigation findings. |
6 |
| E |
Draw inference about results found from data. |
6 |
| F |
Interpret and apply results into practical situations. |
6 |
| G |
Explore data analytics careers by identifying professional skills and tools and reflecting on personal career pathways. |
1, 2 |
Grades
| Activity | Description | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|---|
|
Comprehend - Module Quizzes |
Online quizzes covering the terms and concepts from each module. | 30% |
| Connect - Professional Connection Reflections | Assignments that challenge students to connect the course material to their workplaces and careers. | 20% |
| Practice Problems | Video guided homework problems using JASP software and provided datasets. | Ungraded |
| Pop Quizzes | Questions, problems, and tasks presented in announcement and lesson videos. |
30% |
| Application - Survey Analysis Project | Statistical analysis and interpretation of class dataset. | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
We will follow a traditional grading scale in this course with the following breakdown:
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Comprehend - Quizzes
Students will demonstrate their mastery of the course concepts and material through performance on weekly quizzes. The quizzes will cover definitions, concepts, and understanding of techniques from each module. Quizzes will be due on Wednesday evenings. In total, the eight quizzes will count for 30% of the final grade.
Connect - Professional Connection Reflections
Through a series of bi-weekly video reflection assignments, students will explore ways that the course concepts manifest themselves in organizations and various career fields. These video 4-6 minute video reflections will also include connection and reflection of data analytic concepts to career fields and interests. In total the four professional connection reflections will count for 20% of the final grade.
Practice - Practice Problems
To gain practice and confidence solving statistical problems, students are highly encouraged to independently complete practice problems throughout the term. Practice problems will be follow-along assignments using recorded YouTube lessons. Although they are ungraded, these problems are the key to understanding the concepts and techniques of the course. Without consistent and intentional practice, course concepts will be difficult to master.
Pop Quizzes
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the course material, students will complete a series of short quizzes throughout the term, which will be presented in the announcement and lesson videos. These quizzes will include practice problems from the textbook, answers to questions discussed in the announcement videos, and additional topics covered in supplemental lessons. To succeed in this assignment, students are encouraged to regularly watch the announcement videos and stay up to date with the course content. In total, pop quizzes will account for 30% of your final grade.
Application - Survey Analysis Project
Throughout the term, students will apply the concepts and techniques learned in the course to the analysis of a data set. Specific assignments and instructions will be given out as the term progresses. As noted on the course schedule, these assignments will be due every other week and demonstrate the ability to apply statistical techniques to real data and draw appropriate conclusions. In total this project will count for 20% of the final grade.
Course Policies
Late Policy
The nature of this course requires that work be completed on-time on the assigned schedule. Discussion boards posts and comments, in particular, require on-time participation. Late work that occurs after the due dates and closed discussions are not helpful or constructive. With such big enrollments in our classes, it is also impractical to continually go back to revisit past assignments.
Please do your best to get assignments turned in on time. If something comes up that absolutely disrupts your life and the ability to get things submitted on time, let me know. Otherwise, late work will be penalized 10% per day late. Canvas will automatically take that deduction when late work comes in. Again, stay in communication with me if things arise.
It is your responsibility to maintain personal communication with your instructors regarding late work. If you are going to be delayed in submitting assignments due to work, religious observances, or scheduled medical procedures, you should make all efforts to contact your faculty members in advance to let them know about your situation and make arrangements to work ahead whenever possible. Keep in mind that in most cases it is at the discretion of the instructor whether to grant an extension or apply late penalties to an assignment received after the posted deadline. Late work will be graded as soon as possible, but preference will be given to grading on-time submissions in the current week of the course.
Faculty members are not obligated to initiate contact with you before giving assignments or final grades. If you have several outstanding/late assignments, your grade may be seriously impacted. Students are expected to abide by the guidelines in the OU Student Handbook. Failure to abide by these guidelines can lead to sanctions as outlined in the OU Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
Additional Support for Learning
The College of Professional and Continuing Studies provides links to writing resources. If you have questions about assignment requirements or would like to request feedback on a rough draft, you are encouraged to communicate with your course instructors while giving them enough lead time to respond before assignments are due.
The OU Writing Center is a wonderful resource available to all students and is funded in part by your student course fees. The Writing Center is equipped to help students both online and in-person.
OU Libraries resources are available to all PACS students, including the ability to live chat, e-mail, and/or call a reference librarian with questions you may have about finding and evaluating sources for research papers. Students also have access to PACS Library Guides.
Technical Support
Offered through Canvas Student Support and OU IT.
College of Professional and Continuing Studies Teaching Philosophy
We in the College of Professional and Continuing Studies (PACS) believe that higher education is a crucial ingredient in becoming a successful, personally fulfilled human being and an actively engaged citizen of the state, nation, and world. Further, we operate with the foundational assumption that a University of Oklahoma education should be available to all qualified students regardless of their age, geographic location, or life circumstances.
Acting on these assumptions, PACS strives to create significant and meaningful learning experiences through online and accelerated course delivery methods. All PACS courses incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives and provide students with a well-rounded, life-enriching liberal education combined with specialized study in selected program areas, thus preparing them for ever higher levels of learning. PACS faculty members provide instruction, encouragement, timely response, and constructive feedback to broaden and deepen the student's understanding of course materials.
We understand that adult learners prefer and have the best achievement within a collaborative and interactive learning environment while functioning on their own personal schedules. We also believe that all students are capable of learning, and we aspire to enable students' self-agency in attaining their personal learning goals.
College of Professional and Continuing Studies Expectations and Policies
You can expect instructors to:
- Challenge you to think about and understand the material in this course.
- Encourage you to learn the material in the course and become a lifelong learner.
- Be available to return e-mails in a timely fashion, within 48 hours.
- Engage you in discussions.
- Provide feedback.
As the student, you are expected to:
- Accept responsibility for your learning.
- Have all textbooks and course materials before the class starts.
- Be engaged in the course by logging in to the course early each week, checking online discussions for replies and questions related to your postings, reading course announcements, knowing when assignments are due, and turning in all assignments on time.
Many PACS courses are offered in compressed formats, so the time devoted to each class per week should be adjusted accordingly. Set aside enough time to read and understand assigned course materials early in the week, actively participate in class discussions, and successfully complete assessments such as quizzes, projects, written assignments, and research papers.
Read and apply feedback from your instructor. Reach out to ask your instructor any questions you have about the feedback.
Use only your OU email address for all OU correspondence and assignments.
Ask your advisor if you have questions about your degree program or other questions not related to a specific course.
Have a reliable computer and a reliable Internet connection. Do some pre-planning and have a backup plan ready in the event you should have computer or Internet problems.
Submit all assignments and communications related to your coursework in the Canvas online class; do not email assignments to the professor.
Practice your writing skills. Use tools to edit and proofread your papers prior to submission for grading.
Assignment Completion Policies
The College of Professional and Continuing Studies expects students to complete all assignments to earn a final grade in a given course.
Syllabus Updates
This syllabus is subject to change. The instructor will post any substantive changes to the syllabus in an announcement in Canvas.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|