2025 Fall Course Syllabus - Mathematics 1044.003

Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences

4

In person

Lecture: TR 9:50 am - 11:30 am

Recitation: F 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

Lecture: Beury 166

Recitation: Wachman 406

Andy Eisenberg

Andy.Eisenberg@temple.edu

Office hours via Zoom

n/a

tbd (check Canvas)

Textbook: Probability and Statistics for Data Science, by Carlos Fernandez-Granda (preprint). A PDF edition is freely available at https://www.ps4ds.net/ 

Calculator: You will need a scientific calculator (NOT a graphing calculator and NOT a calculator app on your phone/watch). Any calculator capable of symbolic differentiation/integration or performing statistical tests is NOT allowed. Scientific calculators (such as https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000JBNX) typically cost around $10.

Homework: 5%

Quizzes: 15%

Test 1: 24%

Test 2: 24%

Final Exam: 32%.

MATH 1041 (C), MATH 1038 (C), MATH 1941 (C), MATH 1951 (C), MATH 2043 to 3080 (C-), MA06 Y.

To introduce some of the basic concepts and techniques of probability and statistics, as applied in the Life and Environmental Sciences.

Probability Theory and Descriptive Statistics ; Probability Models; Introduction to Inferential Statistics.

Test 1: Tuesday September 30 (in class)

Test 2: Tuesday November 11 (in class)

Final Exam: Thursday December 11, 8:00 am - 10:00 am

Attendance is expected and will be recorded. If you need to miss a class for some reason, it is your responsibility to get notes from another student for any material you've missed, and to arrange to turn in/make up any in-class or collected work.

You will need a basic scientific calculator for use during quizzes and tests. You will also need a device (phone or tablet) to take pictures of your quizzes/tests and upload your work to Canvas.

You may use a scientific calculator and a standard 3 inch by 5 inch index card with prepared notes during exams. You must write your full name in the top right corner of the index card and turn it in along with your exam.

There are no quiz makeups. The lowest two quiz scores will be dropped and replaced with the cumulative Recitation score.

0-49 F, 50-54 D-, 55-64 D, 65-69 D+, 70-72 C-, 73-76 C, 77-79 C+, 80-82 B-, 83-86 B, 87-89 B+, 90-92 A-, 93-100 A.

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person  classes or activities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. 

Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

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 (opens in new tab/window).

Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.

 

During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class unless specifically announced for a particular assignment; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University's Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of zero on the assignment; a second offense will be reported to the Student Conduct Board.

The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window): 
    The Math Consulting Center 
    Student Success Center 
    University Libraries 
    Undergraduate Research Support 
    Career Center 
    Tuttleman Counseling Services 
    Disability Resources and Services 
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.