Academic Learning Compact for a Major in Statistics

What are Academic Learning Compacts?
Academic Learning Compacts are agreements that describe the communication skills, critical thinking skills and content knowledge in the major (known as learning outcomes) that students should acquire if they follow the prescribed course of study. UF is required to assess student achievement in these learning outcomes through Individual Student Assessments before graduation. Satisfactory completion of the ISAs constitutes successful completion of the Academic Learning Compact.

Each baccalaureate degree program has formulated a set of ISAs for every major. Each set of ISAs will include satisfactory completion of the baccalaureate degree and FLORIDA STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLAST TEST. Each major will require one or more additional ISAs to satisfactorily complete the learning compact.

Definitions::

Student Learning Outcomes: what students are expected to learn by completing a particular major.

Academic Learning Compact: UF’s definition for each major of communication skills, critical thinking skills and content knowledge appropriate for that major.

Individual Students Assessments: the different ways in which UF will measure whether students have successfully completed the Learning Outcomes for a particular major. These may include a passing score on a particular test, a final project, term paper, portfolio and so on. Faculty in each major have decided what the most effective means to do this is for their particular major.

The Major in Statistics

The major in Statistics enables students to achieve proficiency in the fundamentals of statistical reasoning. Through study of both theoretical and applied statistics, and through data analysis projects, students gain knowledge in problem solving, statistical applications, and data-based inference. Emphasis is on developing the ability to approach real world problems and, through the use of statistical methods, to be able to analyze and draw valid scientific inferences. These Student Learning Outcomes are measured by Individual Student Assessments in the department prior to graduation.

Student Learning Outcomes
STA
4210
 STA
4211
STA
4321
STA
4322		 STA
4504
STA
4222
STA
4502
STA
4702
STA
4712
STA
4821
STA
4853
Content Knowledge/Skills











Fundamental knowledge of concepts
and issues in statistics including
those involved in designing a
statistical study, in statistical
estimation and in tests of hypotheses

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x
Citical Thinking Skills
                     
Identify sources of variability in a
given problem setting and to
formulate an appropriate statistical
analysis

x

x

 

 

x

x

x

x

x

 

x
Communication Skills
                     
Clearly and effectively present ideas
concerning statistical issues and
analyses of data

x

x

 

 

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

Individual Student Assessments

1. Completion of requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.
2. Satisfy Florida statutory requirements for the CLAST test.
3. Completion of a multiple choice exam on the fundamentals of statistics given as part of the class STA 4211. The exam will be written by a faculty committee. It will comprise 5% of the student's grade.
4. Completion of a data analysis project in the course STA 4211. This will entail both a written report and an oral presentation. Projects will be graded using an instrument developed by a faculty committee. It will comprise 10% of the student's grade.
The first two ISAs are administered as a part of the student's program. ISAs 3 and 4 will be administered in STA 4211. All records will be kept in the departmental office.