BU.914.610.XX Quantitative Methods Instructor Page 1 of 5
BU.914.610.XX – Quantitative Methods – Instructor – Page 1 of 5
/ Quantitative Methods
2 CreditsBU.914.610.XX
[Day & Time / ex: Monday, 6pm-9pm]
[Start & End Dates / ex: 3/24/17-5/12/17]
[Semester / ex: Fall 2016]
[Location / ex: Washington, DC]
Instructor
[Full Name]
Contact Information
[Email Address]
[Phone Number, ###- ###-#### (Optional)]
Office Hours
[Please specify the day and time of the 2 hours that will be dedicated to office hours each week. For evening classes, faculty may wish to hold their office hours by phone or email. While faculty are permitted to state “and by appointment,” office hours should not be held exclusively by appointment.]
Teaching Assistant:
TBA
E-mail: TBA
Office hours: TBA
Texts Learning Materials
There is no required textbook.
The class is based on several lecture notes in PDF and the slides.
All the material you need to know for the homework and final exam is contained in the notes and slides, and will be communicated during the lectures. I will post the lecture notes and slides on Blackboard after each class.
Even if there is no book required for the class, some of you may prefer to have one. Any undergraduate level statistics for business book will be sufficient. I suggest:
Business Statistics: Communicating with Numbers, by Sanjiv Jaggia and Alison Kelly, McGraw-Hill
http://www.amazon.com/Business-Statistics-Communicating-Sanjiv-Jaggia/dp/0073373664
PreMBA Analytical Primer, by Regina Trevino.
http://www.amazon.com/PreMBA-Analytical-Primer-Essential-Quantitative/dp/0230609139#
Additional notes, slides, tutorials, videos, data, and readings will be posted via Blackboard for each session. You are responsible for all the material assigned, including the slides.
Course Description
Students learn statistical techniques for further study in business, economics, and finance. The course covers descriptive statistics, probability, discrete and continuous random variables, hypothesis testing, and analysis of variance. The course emphasizes statistics to solve management problems. Case studies, spreadsheets, and computer software are used.
Prerequisite(s)
None
Course OverviewQuantitative tools and methods are a necessary skill for a modern manager. The current business environment requires the ability to analyze and summarize data, and use statistical analysis for decision-making and problem solving. The course presents basic quantitative methods; the main goal is to provide a basic foundation of statistical methods to students with different education backgrounds and work experiences. The sequence of the topics is slightly different than the one presented in standard textbooks; we put more emphasis on inference and regression. The pace of the class is very fast, and the material is “cumulative.” For example, you need to master the topics covered in lecture 3 if you want to understand the topics of lecture 5. I strongly encourage you to study and solve exercises, homework, and practice problems. In this class you learn by “getting your hands dirty.” Practice, practice, practice.
The course starts with a brief refresher of college-level calculus and the graphical and quantitative analysis of sample data. Basic probability theory and several models for random variables (discrete uniform, Bernoulli, binomial, and normal) are covered in depth. The sequence concludes with estimation and hypothesis testing, before introducing regression.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Plot and analyze functions to model business decision problems.
2. Describe data with graphical, tabular, and quantitative summaries.
3. Use probability models for business applications and analyze environments with uncertainty.
4. Estimate and infer some characteristics of a population by analyzing a sample.
5. Think critically about quantitative information.
To view the complete list of Carey Business School’s general learning goals and objectives, visit the Carey website.
Attendance
I encourage you to attend the class regularly. I will not excuse you for material that was presented in class and you missed because you did not attend. If you miss a class, ask one of your colleagues for notes and review the slides and lecture notes posted on blackboard. You can discuss with me and the teaching assistant about the class you missed and ask questions about the material during office hours.
Assignments
Assignment / Learning Objectives / Weight /Homework / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / 50%
Final Exam / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / 50%
Total / 100%
Homework
We will have 6 homework assignments. Only your best 5 homework assignments will be included in your final grade, each counting for 10% of the total score. As a consequence, if you do not hand in one of the homework assignments, you will still be able to get full grade. If you return the homework late, I will take 20% off your score for each day of delay.
You can work in groups, but each student has to return his/her own homework. Groups should include a maximum of 3 students. When you return the homework, make sure you write the list of people that belong to your group on the top of the first page. I will provide detailed solutions of each homework question in Blackboard. It is your responsibility to make sure you understand the solutions.
Final Exam
The final will be on [date] in class. The final is a 3-hour exam; it is cumulative and covers all topics. The exam is closed-book, closed-notes, and you will be provided with a formula sheet and a calculator. The final exam counts for 50% of the grade.
Grading
Effective Fall 2017: The grade of A is reserved for those who demonstrate extraordinarily excellent performance as determined by the instructor. The grade of A- is awarded only for excellent performance. The grades of B+, B, and B- are awarded for good performance. The grades of C+, C, and C- are awarded for adequate but substandard performance.The grades of D+, D, and D- are not awarded at the graduate level (undergraduate only). The grade of F indicates the student’s failure to satisfactorily complete the course work.
Please note that for Core and Foundation courses, a maximum of 25% of students may be awarded an A or A-; the grade point average of the class should not exceed 3.3. For Elective courses, a maximum of 35% of students may be awarded an A or A-; the grade point average of the class should not exceed 3.4. (For classes with 15 students or fewer, the class GPA cap is waived.)
Tentative Course CalendarThe instructors reserve the right to alter course content and/or adjust the pace to accommodate class progress. Students are responsible for keeping up with all adjustments to the course calendar.
Week / Topic / Reading / Due /1 / Introductions, Derivatives,
Optimization / Slides
Notes, Chapters 1 and 2
2 / Graphical Analysis,
Descriptive Statistics / Slides
Notes, Chapters 3 and 4 / Homework 1 is due
3 / Intro to Probability, Discrete Random Variables / Slides
Notes, Chapter 5 / Homework 2 is due
4 / Continuous Random Variables / Slides
Notes, Chapter 6 / Homework 3 is due
5 / Estimation / Slides
Notes, Chapter 7 / Homework 4 is due
6 / Hypothesis testing / Slides
Notes, Chapter 8 / Homework 5 is due
7 / Regression / Slides
Notes, Chapter 9 / Homework 6 is due
8 / FINAL EXAM
BU.914.610.XX – Quantitative Methods – Instructor – Page 1 of 5
Carey Business School
Policies and General Information
Blackboard Site
A Blackboard course site is set up for this course. Each student is expected to check the site throughout the semester as Blackboard will be the primary venue for outside classroom communications between the instructors and the students. Students can access the course site at https://blackboard.jhu.edu. Support for Blackboard is available at 1-866-669-6138.
Course Evaluation
As a research and learning community, the Carey Business School is committed to continuous improvement. The faculty strongly encourages students to provide complete and honest feedback for this course. Please take this activity seriously; we depend on your feedback to help us improve. Information on how to complete the evaluation will be provided toward the end of the course.
Disability Support Services
All students with disabilities who require accommodations for this course should contact Disability Support Services at their earliest convenience to discuss their specific needs. If you have a documented disability, you must be registered with Disability Support Services ( or 410-234-9243) to receive accommodations. For more information, please visit the Disability Support Services webpage.
Academic Ethics Policy
Carey expects graduates to be innovative business leaders and exemplary global citizens. The Carey community believes that honesty, integrity, and community responsibility are qualities inherent in an exemplary citizen. The objective of the Academic Ethics Policy (AEP) is to create an environment of trust and respect among all members of the Carey academic community and hold Carey students accountable to the highest standards of academic integrity and excellence.
It is the responsibility of every Carey student, faculty member, and staff member to familiarize themselves with the AEP and its procedures. Failure to become acquainted with this information will not excuse any student, faculty, or staff from the responsibility to abide by the AEP. Please contact the Student Services office if you have any questions. For the full policy, please visit the Academic Ethics Policy webpage.
Students are not allowed to use any electronic devices during in-class tests. Calculators will be provided if the instructor requires them for test taking. Students must seek permission from the instructor to leave the classroom during an in-class test. Test scripts must not be removed from the classroom during the test.
Student Conduct Code
The fundamental purpose of the Johns Hopkins University’s regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. Please contact the Student Services office if you have any questions. For the full policy, please visit the Student Conduct Code webpage.
Student Success Center
The Student Success Center offers free online and in-person one-on-one and group coaching in writing, presenting, and quantitative courses. The center also offers a variety of workshops, exam study sessions, and instructor-led primer seminars to help prepare students for challenging course content, including statistics and accounting. For more information or to book an appointment, please visit the Student Success Center website.
Other Important Academic Policies and Services
Students are strongly encouraged to consult the Carey Business School’s Student Handbook and Academic Catalog and Student Resources for information regarding the following items:
· Statement of Diversity and Inclusion
· Inclement Weather Policy
Copyright Statement
Unless explicitly allowed by the instructor, course materials, class discussions, and examinations are created for and expected to be used by class participants only.The recording and rebroadcasting of such material, by any means, is forbidden. Violations are subject to sanctions under the Honor Code.