Elementary Statistics

Course Description

STA2023 / STA2023C – Elementary Statistics is a 3-credit lecture course in the Mathematics: Statistics and Probability taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics for students across a wide range of academic disciplines. Students learn to summarize and visualize data, calculate and interpret probabilities, work with discrete and continuous probability distributions (especially the binomial and normal distributions), construct and interpret confidence intervals, and conduct hypothesis tests. The course emphasizes both the conceptual understanding of statistical reasoning and the practical application of statistical methods using calculators and software.

STA2023 is part of Florida's state-mandated General Education Core in Mathematics, satisfying the Gen-Ed math requirement at every Florida public college and university. The course is offered at 51 Florida public institutions and transfers as equivalent across the state. The "C" suffix variant denotes integrated lecture and supplemental instruction or co-requisite support; both forms count for the same Gen-Ed core credit. STA2023 is the most widely required statistics course for non-engineering majors and is a common prerequisite for upper-division courses in psychology, sociology, education, business, healthcare, biology, and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Distinguish between populations and samples, parameters and statistics; classify variables as quantitative or qualitative, discrete or continuous; identify levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio).
• Construct and interpret graphical displays of data, including frequency distributions, histograms, stem-and-leaf plots, box plots, scatter plots, and pie charts.
• Calculate and interpret measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of variation (range, variance, standard deviation, interquartile range).
• Apply basic probability rules, including addition rule, multiplication rule, and conditional probability; identify independent and mutually exclusive events.
• Distinguish and apply discrete probability distributions, with emphasis on the binomial distribution; calculate probabilities, expected values, and standard deviations.
• Apply the normal distribution to calculate probabilities and percentiles; use the standard normal (z) distribution and z-tables.
• Apply the Central Limit Theorem and the concept of the sampling distribution of the sample mean and the sample proportion.
• Construct and interpret confidence intervals for population means and population proportions, including selecting the appropriate distribution (z or t) and sample-size determination.
• Conduct and interpret hypothesis tests for population means (one-sample and two-sample) and population proportions, including selecting the appropriate test, computing test statistics, and interpreting p-values.
• Calculate and interpret the linear correlation coefficient (r) and construct simple linear regression equations to model the relationship between two variables.
• Use statistical technology (graphing calculator and/or statistical software) to perform calculations and verify analytical results.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis, students may also:

• Apply the chi-square distribution to test for goodness of fit and independence in contingency tables.
• Apply analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare means across multiple groups.
• Apply nonparametric methods, including sign tests and rank-based tests, when normality assumptions are not met.
• Use statistical software packages (StatCrunch, Minitab, SPSS, R, or Excel) for advanced data analysis.
• Apply sampling techniques, including simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and systematic sampling, and discuss the implications of each for inferential statistics.
• Critique statistical claims in news media and scientific reporting, identifying common misuses of statistics.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Introduction to Statistics: Population vs. sample; parameter vs. statistic; types of variables; levels of measurement; data collection and study design (experimental vs. observational).
• Descriptive Statistics — Graphical Methods: Frequency distributions; histograms; stem-and-leaf plots; box plots and the five-number summary; scatter plots; pie and bar charts; identifying skewness and outliers.
• Descriptive Statistics — Numerical Methods: Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode); measures of variation (range, variance, standard deviation, IQR); empirical rule; coefficient of variation; z-scores.
• Probability: Sample spaces and events; counting principles (multiplication rule, permutations, combinations); probability rules; conditional probability and independence; Bayes' Theorem (introductory).
• Discrete Probability Distributions: Random variables; probability distributions; expected value and variance; the binomial distribution (formula and tables); applications.
• The Normal Distribution: Properties of the normal curve; the standard normal (z) distribution; calculating probabilities and percentiles; applications including the normal approximation to the binomial.
• Sampling Distributions: Sampling distribution of the sample mean and the sample proportion; the Central Limit Theorem; applications.
• Confidence Intervals: Confidence intervals for a population mean (sigma known and unknown — z and t intervals); confidence intervals for a population proportion; sample size determination; margin of error.
• Hypothesis Testing: Null and alternative hypotheses; test statistics; p-values; Type I and Type II errors; significance levels; one-sample tests for mean (z and t) and proportion; two-sample tests for difference of means and difference of proportions; matched-pairs t-test.
• Correlation and Linear Regression: Scatter plots; correlation coefficient r; coefficient of determination r²; least-squares regression line; predictions and residuals; cautions about correlation vs. causation.

Optional Topics

• Chi-Square Tests: Goodness-of-fit test; test of independence (contingency tables); interpretation of results.
• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA): One-way ANOVA; F-distribution; comparing multiple group means.
• Nonparametric Methods: Sign test; Wilcoxon signed-rank test; Mann-Whitney U test; introduction to robust statistics.
• Multiple Regression (Introductory): Extension of simple linear regression to multiple predictors.
• Statistical Software: Hands-on practice with StatCrunch (Pearson), Minitab, SPSS, R, or Excel data-analysis tools.
• Statistical Literacy: Critically evaluating statistical claims in media; identifying common misuses; understanding margin of error in polls.

Resources & Tools

• Standard Textbooks: Elementary Statistics by Triola (Pearson, most widely adopted in Florida); The Practice of Statistics in the Life Sciences by Baldi and Moore; Introductory Statistics (OpenStax, free, openstax.org); Stats: Modeling the World by Bock, Velleman, De Veaux
• Online Homework Platforms: Pearson MyLab Statistics (most common); StatCrunch (web-based statistical software bundled with Triola); McGraw-Hill Connect; WebAssign at some institutions
• Required Calculator: Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, or TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator (most institutions). Statistical functions (1-Var Stats, normalcdf, invNorm, binompdf, tcdf, LinReg) are essential.
• Statistical Software (when used): StatCrunch (Pearson web-based); Minitab; SPSS; R (free, r-project.org); Microsoft Excel with Data Analysis ToolPak
• Free Online Resources: Khan Academy Statistics and Probability; OpenStax Introductory Statistics (free textbook with online resources); StatTrek (stattrek.com); Statistics by Jim (statisticsbyjim.com)
• Florida State Resources: Florida General Education Core Mathematics outcomes; Florida SCNS course descriptions

Career Pathways

STA2023 is the most broadly applicable college math course in Florida, supporting pathways across virtually every academic and professional field:

• Associate in Arts (A.A.) Transfer Pathway – Required Gen-Ed mathematics course satisfying the math core for transfer to all Florida public universities; commonly accepted in lieu of MAC1105 for non-STEM majors.
• Social Sciences and Education – Required for psychology (PSY), sociology (SYG), education (EDF), criminal justice (CCJ), and political science (POS) majors at most Florida public universities; foundation for research methods courses.
• Healthcare and Allied Health – Required for nursing (BSN), pre-medical, public health, dental hygiene, and many allied-health pathways; foundation for evidence-based practice and biostatistics.
• Business and Management – Required or recommended for business majors; foundation for business analytics, market research, quality control, and decision sciences.
• Biological Sciences – Foundation for biology, ecology, and laboratory research courses requiring statistical analysis.
• Workforce Application – Statistical literacy is increasingly valued across Florida's economy: data analytics, healthcare, financial services, marketing research, government and policy, education research, sports analytics, and quality assurance roles in manufacturing.

Special Information

Gen-Ed Core Designation

STA2023 is part of Florida's General Education Core Course Options in Mathematics, established by the Florida Department of Education and codified in Florida Statute 1007.25. All Florida public colleges and universities accept STA2023 as fulfilling the Gen-Ed Mathematics core requirement. Students must earn a grade of C or better for the course to satisfy degree requirements.

Math Pathway Choice

Florida's general education math requirement can be satisfied by several courses, and STA2023 is the recommended choice for many non-STEM majors. Students should consult their academic advisor — particularly business and STEM majors who may also need MAC1105 (College Algebra) or higher.

Course Variants

STA2023 is offered as both STA2023 (lecture-only, 3 credits) and STA2023C (with integrated supplemental instruction or co-requisite support, often 4 credits). The two forms are equivalent for transfer and Gen-Ed credit. The "C" form is increasingly used as a co-requisite model for students placed below traditional cutoffs, replacing the older sequence of MAT 1033 then STA2023.

Prerequisite and Placement

Students must demonstrate readiness for college-level mathematics through one of the following: SAT/ACT/PERT scores meeting institutional cutoffs, successful completion of MAT 1033 (Intermediate Algebra) with grade C or better, qualifying ALEKS PPL placement scores, or co-requisite enrollment (the "C" form). Florida's Senate Bill 1720 (2014) made developmental math optional for many students.

Workload and Time Expectations

Most institutions expect 6-9 hours of weekly out-of-class work, including online homework completion (MyLab Statistics, StatCrunch), reading, and practice problems. Online homework completion is typically required for course credit. Most courses include 3-5 mid-term examinations, often proctored online via Honorlock or in college testing centers, plus a comprehensive final examination.