• data types, data manipulation and analysis, including ranges of data sets from a variety of application fields __ see the Data link
• statistical computing, data analysis and graphics using elements of the programming environment S-Plus, and a brief introduction to C programming
• methods of exploratory data analysis and statistical graphics
• examples of problems of binary and count/categorical data, regression problems and data, and others
• elements of statistical inference using probability models, including basic issues of sampling-theory and Bayesian inference, especially in the context of inference in problems of proportions
• modeling "related" phenomena through the notion of hierarchical models
• statistical and mathematical techniques including elements of simulation and linear/matrix algebra useful in statistics
• use of unix tools, including emacs editors, S-Plus software, TeX and LaTeX
• readings from various texts, research and teaching literature

Though the course does not include rigourous development of statistical theory and methods, we will use and review various concepts and methods of inference, so that some familiarity with basic statistics desirable. Co-registration in STA 213 or recent experience with similar courses will be most useful.