Prerequisites

All students entering the program are expected to already have mathematical, statistical and computing competencies as demonstrated by having successfully completed courses equivalent to those listed below.

As part of the application, all applicants must submit documentation indicating the course name and official description of the course or courses that have been completed which cover the topics discussed below.

Math	Statistics	Computer Science
Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Functions; limits; analytic geometry; derivatives, differentials, applications; integrals, applications. AND Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Derivatives, integrals, applications: sequences and series; analytic geometry; polar coordinates.	Elementary Statistics Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation.	Programming for Engineers with C++ Development and implementation of algorithms in a procedure-oriented language, with emphasis on numerical methods for engineering problems.
Techniques of Calculus I Functions, graphs, derivatives, integrals, techniques of differentiation and integration, exponentials, improper integrals, applications.	Introduction to Statistics for Business Introduction to business statistics including topics in probability theory, sampling, inference, quality assurance, regression, forecasting, and simulation.	Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases Design, use, and programming of spreadsheets and data bases with applications from a range of disciplines.

The prerequisites listed above are equivalent to the material and level in Penn State's Math 140; Math 141; Math 110; STAT 200; SCM 200; CMPSC 201; and CMPSC 203. For additional Penn State courses that meet the prerequisite requirements, view this document.

Statistical Background

In order for MMM students to succeed in several of the MMM courses, it is necessary for them to have some background in elementary probability and statistics prior to enrollment.  Specifically, students should be familiar with the following topics:

• Probability Distributions:  normal
  
• Properties of Expected Value and Variance
  
• Estimation Theory:  desirable properties of an estimator, point estimation, interval estimation
  
• Testing of Hypothesis:  probabilities of type I and II errors, testing of mean and variance

Typically, these topics are covered in an undergraduate course in statistics such as those listed above.  Students who have studied statistics but feel they need a refresher should use the resources listed below.  A student who has not completed a course in statistics will be required to complete one prior to enrollment.

Websites

StatSoft - http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stathome.html

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_basic_statistics_topics

Textbooks

"Statistics in Plain English", Timothy C. Urdan, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, ISBN: 0-8058-5241-7

"Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists", Ronald E. Walpole, et al, Prenctice Hall, ISBN: 9780131877115