Syllabus
Instructor Information
- Instructor: Dr. Grace Tompkins
- Email: grace<-at->stat.ubc.ca
- Office Hours: See Canvas
Acknowledgement
UBC’s Point Grey Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The land it is situated on has always been a place of learning for the Musqueam people, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.
Course Information
STAT 302 covers basic notions of probability, random variables, expectation and conditional expectation, discrete and continuous probability distributions, limit theorems. STAT 302 is equivalent to MATH 302. Proofs and formal mathematical reasoning and argumentation are an important component of the course.
Prerequisites: One of MATH 200, 217, 226, 253 or 254.
Schedule of Topics
See here
Grade Breakdown
Scheme A:
| Component | Weight | Due Dates |
|---|---|---|
| In-class Checkpoints (7) | 10% | Select Friday Classes (see below or schedule) |
| Midterm 1 | 20% | Friday October 16th |
| Midterm 2 | 20% | Friday November 20th |
| Final Exam | 50% | TBA |
Scheme B:
| Component | Weight | Due Dates |
|---|---|---|
| In-class Checkpoints (7) | 10% | Select Friday Classes (see below or schedule) |
| Midterm 1 | 12.5% | Friday October 16th |
| Midterm 2 | 12.5% | Friday November 20th |
| Final Exam | 65% | TBA |
Grades will be calculated using both schemes, and the higher grade will be used for the final grade.
Assessments
In-class Checkpoints
More frequent, smaller assessments allow students to keep on track with the course. They also allow for more practice in a low-stakes testing environment.
There are 7 in-class checkpoints throughout the term, based on weekly problems assigned for homework. Each checkpoint will be approximately 15 minutes at the end of the following classes:
- Friday Sept 25
- Friday October 02
- Friday October 09
- Friday October 30
- Friday November 06
- Friday November 27
- Friday December 04
Each checkpoint is worth 10 points, and there are 70 points available to gain. Your score will be calculated as max(CP1 + CP2 + CP3 + CP4 + CP5 + CP6 + CP7, 50).
You can bring a cheat sheet (see Cheat Sheet Policy) and a non-graphing, non-programmable calculator.
NO CONCESSIONS or adjustment for checkpoints. The grading scheme allows you to completely miss two checkpoints and still get full marks, though this is NOT recommended. Plan to write all checkpoints - save the “drops” for if you get sick.
Midterms
Midterms 1 and 2 are equally weighted. All midterms are closed book, but you can have one double-sided, handwritten cheat sheet (see Cheat Sheet Policy) and a non-graphing, non-programmable calculator.
Important information:
There are no makeup exams. If a midterm is missed with a granted concession, the weight shifts to the final.
Concession forms must be emailed to the instructor within 48 hours of the exam.
Self-declared concessions can only be used for once throughout the course. For example, if a student already submitted a self-declared concession form for Midterm 1 and then requests a concession for Midterm 2, additional documentation will need to be provided (i.e., doctor’s note) or the case may be escalated to Science Advising.
No concessions are given if you have already sat the exam.
Final Exam
The final exam is scheduled by the University. DO NOT BOOK TRAVEL UNTIL THE EXAM SCHEDULE IS RELEASED.
The exam is closed book, but you can have one cheat sheet and a non-graphing, non-programmable calculator (see Cheat Sheet Policy)
If you need to apply for a Standing Deferral for the final exam, contact your Faculty.
Course Communications
We will be using Canvas as our primary platform of all course-related communications.
Piazza will also be enabled for peer discussion. This will be lightly monitored by the teaching team. Inappropriate posts will be removed.
Please attend lecture/office hours to get help from the teaching team!
Policies
Regrades
- Requests must be submitted on Gradescope within three days of the assessment being returned.
- The instructor reserves the right to regrade the entire assessment.
Cheat Sheets
- You may bring in one (1) “cheat sheet” to any quiz, midterm, or the final exam:
- Must be HAND WRITTEN with pen/pencil on said sheet of paper (not typed, not photo copied, not printed, not written on an iPad)
- Must be on 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper or smaller d
- You may write on both sides
- No magnifying glasses or anything else silly
- I will confiscate cheatsheets that do not follow these rules
- I do not care what is written on it
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism includes submitting the same response as another student, copying without citation, or copying from generative AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.). Students are responsible for ensuring that any work submitted does not constitute plagiarism. Students who are in any doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism should consult their instructor before handing in any assignments.
For more information see the UBC Academic Misconduct policies.
Health and Support
- If you are sick: Stay home. Access annotated slides on Canvas and use Piazza for discussion.
- Instructor health: If the instructor is ill but well enough to teach, lectures will move to Zoom. If not well enough, a TA may take over or accommodations will be made.