Syllabus

2024-4 Fall

Subject to revision (last updated: Aug 13, 2024)

Contact information

Class meetings

  • Section 1: 1 - 2:40 PM
    • Tuesdays: classroom
    • Thursdays: lab
  • Section 2: 3 - 4:40 PM
    • Tuesdays: classroom
    • Thursdays: lab

Course description

This is an applied course that builds upon knowledge acquired from lower-division statistics coursework. It exposes students to the research and data analysis practices executed in the business world. A focus of this course is on generating reproducible analyses using the R programming language.

Prerequisites

  • Pre-business requirements
  • Proficiency in spreadsheet software

Learning objectives

  • Determine question want to answer with data analysis
  • Extract, transform and load relevant data (ETL process)
  • Apply appropriate data analytic methods
  • Interpret and present the results

Course materials

Grading

There are 1000 possible points in the course. Your grade will be determined by your total points:

Grade Points
A 950
A- 900
B+ 870
B 830
B- 800
C+ 770
C 730
C- 700
D+ 670
D 600
Activity Total Points
Quizzes 385
Assignments 315
Final Project 300

Quizzes - 385 points

  • Each quiz is worth 35 points.
  • You will be required to complete the quiz in-class.
    • If will miss class due to illness or an emergency, you must contact me before the start of class to be eligible to make up the quiz during the next class period.
    • If you are not present when attendance is taken on a Tuesdays and have not contacted me prior about an absence, you will not be able to access or complete that day’s quiz.
  • The quiz will be based on the lecture that day.
  • You will have the last 30 minutes of the class to complete each quiz.
  • Your two lowest scores will be dropped (max points = 11 x 35 = 385).
  • Questions will be numerical and multiple-choice.
  • For each quiz you will have one attempt.

Assignments (links to your blog) - 315 points

  • Each link to your blog (assignment) is worth 35 points.
  • For most topics you will provide the link to your blog page containing your work.
  • Each submission (assignment) is worth 35 points.
  • Your two lowest scores will be dropped (max points = 9 x 35 = 315)

In general, late submissions will not be accepted. If you need an extension because of illness, mental health challenges or family concerns, please let me know as soon as possible and provide documentation if possible. The most important thing that you can do is communicate with me so I can work with you to determine what options there are for you to succeed.

University Policies

There are important University policies that you should be aware of, such as the add/drop policy; cheating and plagiarism policy, grade appeal procedures; accommodations for students with disabilities and the diversity vision statement.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. How to Register has step-by-step instructions and important deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.

Campus Policy on Disability Access for Students

If you are a student with a disability, and think you may need academic accommodations, please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS), located in Salazar Hall, Room 1049, Voice: (707) 664-2677, TTY/TDD: (707) 664-2958, as early as possible in order to avoid a delay in receiving accommodation services. Use of DSS services, including testing accommodations, requires prior authorization by DSS in compliance with university policies and procedures. See SSU’s policy on Disability Access for Students.

Academic Integrity

Students should be familiar with the University’s Cheating and Plagiarism Policy. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at Sonoma State University and the University’s policy, require you to be honest in all your academic coursework. Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified.

Use of AI

Use of ChatGPT (or other similar tools that generate text) is allowed in this class for specific assignments only. When use of the tool is allowed, it will be explicitly noted in the assignment directions. If you utilize tools such as ChatGPT for any part of the assignment (from idea and code generation to text creation to text editing), you must properly cite ChatGPT. Failure to cite is considered a violation of the SSU’s Cheating and Plagiarism policy. Violations could result in failure of the assignment or failure of the course. You are responsible for fact checking the accuracy of statements composed by AI language models.

Recording

Students may not record (audio or video) in this class except in accordance with ADA accommodations. Any recordings made in connection with a disability accommodation are for the student’s personal academic use only and may not be distributed in any manner to any other individual.

University services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS is a unit of the division of Student Affairs of Sonoma State University. CAPS offers confidential counseling to students experiencing personal problems that interfere with their academic progress, career or well-being. The CAPS website provides information only. If you would like to talk with someone or make an appointment, please call (707) 664-2153 between 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday during the academic year.

Basic Needs

We learn as whole people. To learn effectively, you must have basic security: a roof over your head, a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat. If you are having trouble with any of those things, please visit Student Affairs’ Basic Needs webpage for resources to support your well-being both inside and outside the classroom.

Religious Observances

The observance of religious holidays (activities observed by a religious group of which a student is a member) and cultural practices are an important reflection of diversity. As your instructor, I am committed to providing equivalent educational opportunities to students of all belief systems. At the beginning of the semester, you should review the course requirements to identify foreseeable conflicts with assignments, exams, or other required attendance. If at all possible, please contact me (your course coordinator/s) within the first two weeks of the first class meeting to allow time for us to discuss and make fair and reasonable adjustments to the schedule and/or tasks.

Fires and/or power-outages

Sonoma County has seen an increase in fire activity and public safety power outages that have had an impact on campus operations intermittently since 2017. In the event that we experience a similar disruption to our course this semester, I will communicate with class via email within 24 hours of the disruption around potential changes to assignments, due dates, or readings. If the disruption continues for more than one week of our regular class meetings, I will subsequently follow up on a weekly basis. Please sign up to receive university emergency alerts by texting SSUALERTS to 67283.