Business Data Analysis and Interpretation

Fall 2022 BUS 320 Syllabus

Subject to revision (last updated: Aug 23, 2022)

Contact information

Class meetings in person

Course description

This is an applied course that builds upon knowledge acquired from lower-division statistics coursework. It exposes students to the research and data analysis practices executed in the business world. A focus of this course is on generating reproducible analyses using the R programming language.

Prerequisites

Learning objectives

Course materials

Schedule

Date Topic
Aug 22 0: Introduction
Aug 29 1: Introduction/R/RStudio due at 5 PM
Sep 12 2: R/RStudio and create a blog due at 5 PM
Sep 19 3: Data manipulation / descriptive analysis I due at 5 PM
Sep 26 4: Reading and writing data due at 5 PM
Oct 3 5: Data manipulation / descriptive analysis II due at 5 PM
Oct 10 6: Data manipulation / joining data due at 5 PM
Oct 17 7: Exploratory analysis / data visualization I due at 5 PM
Oct 24 8: Exploratory analysis / data visualization II due at 5 PM
Oct 31 9: Data visualization / storytelling due at 5 PM
Nov 7 10: Machine learning due at 5 PM
Nov 14 11: Inference / sampling due at 5 PM
Nov 21 12: Inference / bootstrapping due at 5 PM
Nov 28 13: Inference / hypothesis testing due at 5 PM
Dec 5 14: Project due at 5 PM
Dec 12 15: Project due at 5 PM

Grading

There are 1070 possible points in the course (70 are extra credit points). Your grade will be determined by your total points:

Grade Points
A 950
A- 900
B+ 870
B 830
B- 800
C+ 770
C 730
C- 700
D+ 670
D 600
Activity Total Points
Quizzes 390
Assignments 330
Attendance 150
Final Project 200

In general late submissions will not be accepted. If you need an extension because of hardships related to COVID-19 and other illnesses, mental health challenges and family concerns, please let me know as soon as possible and provide documentation if possible. The most important thing that you can do is communicate with me so I can work with you to determine what options there are for you to succeed.

University Policies

There are important University policies that you should be aware of, such as the add/drop policy; cheating and plagiarism policy, grade appeal procedures; accommodations for students with disabilities and the diversity vision statement.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. How to Register has step-by-step instructions and important deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.

Campus Policy on Disability Access for Students

If you are a student with a disability, and think you may need academic accommodations, please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS), located in Salazar Hall, Room 1049, Voice: (707) 664-2677, TTY/TDD: (707) 664-2958, as early as possible in order to avoid a delay in receiving accommodation services. Use of DSS services, including testing accommodations, requires prior authorization by DSS in compliance with university policies and procedures. See SSU’s policy on Disability Access for Students.

Academic Integrity

Students should be familiar with the University’s Cheating and Plagiarism Policy. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at Sonoma State University and the University’s policy, require you to be honest in all your academic coursework. Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified.

Recording

Students may not record (audio or video) in this class except in accordance with ADA accommodations. Any recordings made in connection with a disability accommodation are for the student’s personal academic use only and may not be distributed in any manner to any other individual.

University services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS is a unit of the division of Student Affairs of Sonoma State University. CAPS offers confidential counseling to students experiencing personal problems that interfere with their academic progress, career or well-being. The CAPS website provides information only. If you would like to talk with someone or make an appointment, please call (707) 664-2153 between 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday during the academic year.

Basic Needs

We learn as whole people. To learn effectively, you must have basic security: a roof over your head, a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat. If you are having trouble with any of those things, please visit Student Affairs’ Basic Needs webpage for resources to support your well-being both inside and outside the classroom.

Religious Observances

The observance of religious holidays (activities observed by a religious group of which a student is a member) and cultural practices are an important reflection of diversity. As your instructor, I am committed to providing equivalent educational opportunities to students of all belief systems. At the beginning of the semester, you should review the course requirements to identify foreseeable conflicts with assignments, exams, or other required attendance. If at all possible, please contact me (your course coordinator/s) within the first two weeks of the first class meeting to allow time for us to discuss and make fair and reasonable adjustments to the schedule and/or tasks.

Fires and/or power-outages

Sonoma County has seen an increase in fire activity and public safety power outages that have had an impact on campus operations intermittently since 2017. In the event that we experience a similar disruption to our course this semester, I will communicate with class via email within 24 hours of the disruption around potential changes to assignments, due dates, or readings. If the disruption continues for more than one week of our regular class meetings, I will subsequently follow up on a weekly basis. Please sign up to receive university emergency alerts by texting SSUALERTS to 67283.

COVID-19

In accordance with state and county guidelines, masking in SSU instructional spaces is strongly recommended in the Fall 2022 semester. Any changes regarding campus COVID-19 requirements or policies will be communicated to the campus community via email.