Overview
This is a three-credit, introductory course in statistics designed to provide students with the basic concepts and methods of statistical analysis. The course and the textbook are tailored to meet the needs of students in administrative studies. Accordingly, application problems are borrowed from business and economics, with many exercises based on real data. Credits earned in MGSC 301 may be applied toward the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS) diploma.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, students should be able to
- articulate the importance of using statistics in making business decisions.
- apply the basic concepts, tools, and techniques of statistics.
- demonstrate quantitative skills and statistical reasoning.
- collect data and perform basic statistical tests to validate or reject a hypothesis.
- assess the probability of different events occurring.
- appropriately use probability distributions such as the normal probability distribution, Poisson, and Binomial probability distribution to calculate their associated probabilities.
Evaluation
To receive credit for MGSC 301, you must submit all assignments, achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on both the midterm and the final examination and achieve a minimum overall grade of D (50 percent) for the entire course.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 2 | 10% |
| Midterm Exam | 30% |
| Assignment 3 | 10% |
| Assignment 4 | 10% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Anderson, D. R., Sweeney, D. J., Williams, T. A., Camm, J. D., Cochran, J. J., Fry, M. J., & Ohlmann, J. W. (2020). Statistics for business and economics (14th ed.). Cengage. ISBN: 978-1-337-90106-2
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive creditfor the MGSC 301 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent)on the examination.
Paper Exam
Challenge for credit course registration form