A Capstone Course for Undergraduate Statistics Majors


Authors: 
Spurrier, J. D.
Category: 
Volume: 
9(1)
Pages: 
Online
Year: 
2001
Publisher: 
Journal of Statistics Education
URL: 
http://www.amstat.org/publications/jse/v9n1/spurrier.html
Abstract: 

This article discusses a capstone course for undergraduate statistics majors at the University of South Carolina. The course synthesizes lessons learned throughout the curriculum and develops students' nonstatistical skills to the level expected of professional statisticians. Student teams participate in a series of inexpensive laboratory experiments that emphasize ideas and techniques of applied and mathematical statistics, mathematics, and computing. They also study modules on important nonstatistical skills. Students prepare written and oral reports. If a report is not of professional quality, the student receives feedback and repeats the report. All students leave the course with a better understanding of how the pieces of their education fit together and with a firm understanding of the communication skills required of a professional statistician.

The CAUSE Research Group is supported in part by a member initiative grant from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education

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