WILD 240-80 Spring 2014 Syllabus
Introduction to Biostatistics - Honors – WILD 240-80
Spring Semester 2014
Instructor: Dr. Paul M. Lukacs
Required Readings (read before class each day)
A Primer of Ecological Statistics, 2nd edition. Gotelli and Ellison
 Chapter assignments for each class shown in brackets
Additional readings to be assigned
Class meeting times: T
R
9:40-11:00
9:40-11:00
Office Hours (FOR 307):
TR
January
Tues
28
30
Course introduction and context
Concepts of probability [1,2]
February
Tues
4
6
Probability distributions [2]
Computer lab introduction and logins (Stone 106)
Tues
11
13
Descriptive statistics [3]
Introduction to R (Stone 106)
Tues
18
20
Descriptive statistics [3]
EXAM I
Tues
25
27
Hypotheses [4]
Tues
4
6
Testing Hypotheses [4]
Hypothesis testing in R (Stone 106)
Tues
11
13
Three Statistical Frameworks [5]
Tues
18
20
Experimental design
Tues
25
27
EXAM II
1
3
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
March
April
Page 1 of 4
Tues
DHC 117
Stone 106 or DHC 117
11:10-12
WILD 240-80 Spring 2014 Syllabus
Tues
8
10
Regression [9]
Regression in R (Stone 106)
Tues
15
17
Regression [9]
Regression in R
Tues
22
24
General linear models [9, 10]
Radio transmitter survival analysis (Stone 106)
Tues
29
1
Model selection
Model selection in R (Stone 106)
Tues
6
8
Inference
May
(Stone 106)
FINAL EXAM Thursday May 15, 2014 at 8:10-10:10
GRADING: Grades will be based on 2 mid-term exams, a final exam, and weekly homework
assignments. Late assignments will be penalized 10% for each day late. All assignments must
be turned in as hard copies, emailed or other electronic files will not be accepted.
Mid-term exam 1:
Mid-term exam 2:
Final exam:
Homework:
25%
25%
25%
25%
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: WILD 240 fills a symbolic systems requirement. There are three
primary learning objectives associated with this requirement. These requirements are:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the symbols and the transformations of the system.
a. Students will be expected to manipulate mathematical equations associated with
probability theory and statistical analyses.
2. Relay and interpret information in terms of the given symbolic system.
a. Students will be expected to describe the meaning of equations and graphical
information related to statistics and probability theory.
3. Apply creative thinking using the symbolic system in order to solve problems and
communicate ideas.
a. Students will be expected to solve biological analysis problems through statistical
data analysis.
Students with Disabilities Statement
 UM’s Disability Services for Students Office
(http://life.umt.edu/dss/Faculty/Syllabus_Statements.php) and EO/AA office request you
consider adding one of the following two statements to your course syllabi:
http://www.umt.edu/eo/equalop/faculty/syllabi.php
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WILD 240-80 Spring 2014 Syllabus
o Students with disabilities may request reasonable modifications by contacting me.
The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through
collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability
Services for Students (DSS). “Reasonable” means the University permits no
fundamental alterations of academic standards or retroactive modifications.
or
o The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through
collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability
Services for Students (DSS). If you think you may have a disability adversely
affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with
DSS, please contact DSS in Lommason 154 or 406 243 2243. I will work with
you and DSS to provide an appropriate accommodation.
Student Conduct Code Statement
 A memo issued by the Provost’s Office in 2005 asked that all syllabi include the
following statement referring to the Student Conduct Code:
o All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to
an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the
University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The
Code is available for review online at:
http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
 Please note: The student conduct code gives instructors the right to address plagiarism,
but you may also wish to add to your syllabus a statement more specifically identifying
how you will handle plagiarism in your assignments.
Grading Option Statement
 At UM, grading options for courses are traditional letter grade only (T); credit/no credit
only (CR/NC), or student option (O). Some colleges at UM (e.g., CAS) prefer faculty to
offer classes as “student preference.” However, most of CFC classes are offered
Traditional letter grade only. If you offer your class letter grade only, you may
experience fewer student requests on this issue at the end of the semester if you include
the following statement:
o Please note, this class is offered for traditional letter grade only, it is not offered
under the credit/no credit option.
Course Withdrawal Deadlines Statement
 The CFC Associate Dean would greatly appreciate it if you include a version of the
following statement about dropping a class on your syllabus or Moodle site. (The dates
are also posted at: http://events.umt.edu/?calendar_id=27&upcoming=upcoming&)
Important Dates Restricting Opportunities to Drop a Course Spring 2014:
To 15th instructional
day
Students can drop classes on cyberbear
February 14 = last
day
16th to 45th
instructional day
Drop requires form with instructor and advisor
signature, a $10 fee from registrar’s office,
February 18 through
April 7
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WILD 240-80 Spring 2014 Syllabus
student will receive a ‘W’.
Beginning 46th
instructional day
Page 4 of 4
Students are only allowed to drop a class under
very limited and unusual circumstances. Not
doing well in the class, deciding you are
concerned about how the class grade might affect
your GPA, deciding you did not want to take the
class after all, and similar reasons are not among
those limited and unusual circumstances. If you
want to drop the class for these sorts of reasons,
make sure you do so by the end of the 45th
instructional day of the semester.
April 8