Spring 2010 Course Syllabus
Course: 3033.001.
Course Title: Introduction to Probability Theory with Lab.
Time: Lecture: TR 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM; Lab: M 3:00 PM - 4:50 PM.
Place: Lecture: Tuttleman 0001A; Lab: Wachman 104.
Instructor: Wang, Pei.
Instructor Office: Room 1050, Wachman Hall.
Instructor Email: pei.wang@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: (215)204-9255.
Course Web Page: http://www.cis.temple.edu/~pwang/3033-PL/3033-index.htm
Office Hours: TR 12:30-2:00 or by appointment.
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Math 1042 (0086) with a grade of C or better or transfer credit for Math 1042 (0086).
Textbook: Dekking, F.M., Kraaikamp, C., Lopuhaa, H.P., Meester, L.E., A Modern Introduction to Probability and Statistics. Springer 2007, ISBN: 978-1-85233-896-1.
Course Goals: This course covers counting techniques, axiomatic definition of probability, conditional probability, independence of events, Bayes Theorem, random variables, discrete and continuous probability distributions, expected values, moments and moment generating functions, joint probability distributions, functions of random variables, covariance and correlation. Included is a computational lab component to discuss applications of probability and statistics to solving problems in Computer Science using MATLAB.
Topics Covered: 1. Introduction, 2. Probability Concepts, 3. Sampling Concepts, 4. Generating Random Variables, 5. Exploratory Data Analysis, 6. Finding Structure in Data, 7. Monte Carlo Methods in Inferential Statistics, 8. Data Partitioning, 9. Probability Density Estimation, 10. Supervised Learning, 11. Unsupervised Learning, 12. Parametric Models, 13. Nonparametric Models, 14. Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods.
Course Grading: Assignments: 30%, Class participation: 5%, Quizzes: 15%, Midterm: 20%, Final: 30%.
Exam Dates: Mid-term: 3/04; Final: 5/11, 10:30-12:30.
Attendance Policy: Attendance to all lectures, labs, and examinations is required.
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.
Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:
- The first day of classes is Tuesday, January 19.
- The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 1.
- Spring recess is the week of Monday, March 8.
- The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 29.
- The last day of classes is Monday, May 3.
During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.
The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.