Schedule at a glance
STAT 45203 · Fall 2026 — a pacing plan
This is a pacing plan. Blackboard is the authoritative source for due dates, assignment links, project checkpoints, and any changes announced during the semester.
Fifteen weeks
| Wk | Dates | Theme | What we build |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 24–28 | Why assumption-light methods? | Models, assumptions, robustness, and “what is fragile here?” |
| 2 | Aug 31–Sep 4 | Order statistics, ranks, ECDFs | Quantiles, medians, ranks, empirical distributions, distribution-free summaries |
| 3 | Sep 7–11 | Permutation logic | Sep 7 Labor Day; compressed W/F. What changes under the null, what stays fixed |
| 4 | Sep 14–18 | Randomization tests | Design-based inference, reassignment, test statistics, p-values by simulation |
| 5 | Sep 21–25 | Bootstrap distributions | Resampling with replacement, bootstrap statistics, sampling variability |
| 6 | Sep 28–Oct 2 | Bootstrap confidence intervals | Percentile intervals, standard-error ideas, interpretation, failure cases |
| 7 | Oct 5–9 | Rank-based one-sample & paired | Sign tests, signed ranks, paired comparisons. Midterm Fri Oct 9 |
| 8 | Oct 12–16 | Two-sample rank methods | Rank-sum logic, distributional comparisons, location shifts, interpretation |
| 9 | Oct 19–23 | Categorical & ordinal outcomes | Ordinal responses, contingency tables, exact logic, scale-aware conclusions |
| 10 | Oct 26–30 | Robust summaries & outliers | Medians, trimmed means, MAD, resistant summaries, sensitivity checks |
| 11 | Nov 2–6 | Robust regression ideas | Least-squares sensitivity, influential points, resistant fits, diagnostics |
| 12 | Nov 9–13 | Comparing conclusions | When methods agree, when they diverge, and how to report the difference |
| 13 | Nov 16–20 | Simulation study of method behavior | Type I error, power, bias, coverage, robustness, practical performance |
| — | Nov 22–28 | Fall break | No classes |
| 14 | Nov 30–Dec 4 | Applied robust-methods report | Project workshop: method choice, sensitivity, assumptions, communication |
| 15 | Dec 7 | Final review | Last class meeting; synthesis and final support |
| — | Dec 9–15 | Final-exam window | Exact registrar block announced in Blackboard |
Milestones
- Midterm exam — Friday, October 9, 2026 (in class). Covers the first-half material: empirical distributions, ranks, order statistics, permutation logic, randomization tests, bootstrap distributions and confidence intervals, and early rank-based methods.
- Applied robust-methods project — a final-third project: identify a data setting where assumptions matter, apply at least two reasonable methods, compare the conclusions, investigate sensitivity, and write a clear report on the tradeoffs. See project guidance.
- Final exam — cumulative; university-scheduled window December 9–15, 2026 (exact block posted in Blackboard).
Important calendar dates
- Classes begin: Mon, Aug 24, 2026
- Labor Day (no class): Mon, Sep 7, 2026
- Midterm: Fri, Oct 9, 2026
- Last day to drop an individual full-term class: Tue, Oct 20, 2026, 5 p.m.
- Fall break (no classes): Sun Nov 22 – Sat Nov 28, 2026
- Last day of class: Mon, Dec 7, 2026
- Consultation day: Tue, Dec 8, 2026
- Final-exam window: Wed Dec 9 – Tue Dec 15, 2026