Who is eligible? If you have ever taken a college-level beginning statistics class, you should think about whether or not to waive PA 5031. Most of PA 5031 covers the same content as do hundreds of beginning statistics classes at other universities and colleges. If you earned an A or a solid B in statistics and felt comfortable with the material at the time you took the class, you may be bored if you take PA 5031. In this case, you should use your graduate credits for classes that will make better use of your time.

How is PA 5031 different from other beginning statistics classes?

• First, PA 5031 includes less probability theory than most courses.
• Second, PA 5031 requires students to learn to use statistical software (SPSS) to work with real data, produce statistics, and interpret them. Some classes do not require students to use statistical software.
• •  If your class did use a statistical software package but not SPSS, then you may still waive PA 5031, but you should probably learn some SPSS, for use in other Humphrey classes. One way to do that is to sit in on one of the lab sections for PA 5031.
  •  If you did well in statistics but did not learn any statistical software, we will require that you take steps to learn SPSS before the waiver can be final. There are various ways to do that..
• Third, PA 5031 introduces multiple regression (OLS), which is not covered in most beginning statistics classes.
  • If you have had a more advanced course that included regression analysis, you shouldn't even be thinking about taking PA 5031.
  • If you took statistics and did well in it but do not know any regression, it is possible to waive PA 5031 but we strongly advise you to either
    • (1) sit in on the regression unit of one of the sections of PA 5031 and/or
    • (2) take PA 5032, “Intermediate Regression Analysis” in the spring.

How do you obtain your waiver? Gather together the following three documents:

1. Get a Course Waiver Form from Room 225 Humphrey Center or from the Student Handbook web page. (Look for the Course Waiver form.)
2. Make a copy of your undergraduate transcript(s) and highlight or circle the relevant statistics courses. An unofficial copy is acceptable.
3. Find or obtain a copy of the syllabus for the statistics course(s) you took. This is the most useful information for the professor considering your waiver request. A current syllabus for the same course (often available online) is generally acceptable if you no longer have yours. If there is a problem getting a copy of the syllabus (e.g., the course no longer exists), wait for Orientation or immediately after to sort it out.

Humphrey faculty will be meeting with students from 11am-1:15pm in room 131 and room 175 on Tuesday August 26th and Wednesday August 27th to sign waivers for PA 5031. You must bring your transcript and a copy of the syllabus to this meeting.

Questions? E-mail Student Services at (hhhss@umn.edu).

Phone: 612-624-3800
E-mail: hhhss@umn.edu

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