Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
STAT1603 Introductory statistics (6 credits) Academic Year 2026
Offering Department SCDS (Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science) Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Prof Y Zhu, SCDS (Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science) < yczhu@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof Y Zhu,Statistics & Actuarial Science)
Course Objectives The discipline of statistics is concerned with situations involving uncertainty and variability.  The interpretation of data needs special techniques when variability plays a role, as it usually does.  Thus statistics forms an important descriptive and analytical tool of many scientific disciplines.  Candidates with a mathematical background will find this course suitable, because the language of mathematics allows the subject of statistics to be presented with economy and clarity.
Course Contents & Topics Presentation of data, Variability and Uncertainty, Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Dispersion, Basic Probability Theory and Techniques, Random Variables and Probability Distributions, Random Samples, Point Estimation, Normal Sampling Theorem, Confidence Intervals, Hypotheses Testing, Simple Linear Regression and Correlation.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 compute different measures of central tendency and dispersion
CLO 2 make use of the basic probability theory and techniques to solve practical problem
CLO 3 know how to construct confidence intervals and use hypotheses testing to carry out inference on the population
CLO 4 use linear regression and correlation methods to solve problems in science and in social and business environment
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 (Level 2 or above in HKDSE Mathematics Extended Module 1 or 2 or equivalent) or
(Pass or already enrolled in any of these courses: MATH1009, MATH1011, MATH1013, MATH1851, MATH1853); and
Not for students who have passed or already enrolled in any of these courses: STAT1602, STAT2601, STAT2901
Only for students admitted in 2024-25 or before.
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2U000C00 Course not offered under any Major/Minor/Professional core
2024 Minor in Risk Management ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Risk Management ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Risk Management ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 4,5 >
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 2,3,4 >
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y        1st sem    2nd sem    Examination Dec    May     
Offer in 2027 - 2028 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 12.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Coursework (assignments, tutorials, and class test(s)) 40.0 1,2,3,4
Examination One 2-hour written examination 60.0 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Miller, I. and Miller, M. (2014). John E. Freund's Mathematical Statistics with Applications (8th Edition). Pearson.
Hogg, R. V., Tanis, E. A., and Zimmerman, D. L. (2015). Probability and Statistical Inference (9th Edition). Pearson.
Freund, J. E. and Perles B. M. (2003). Statistics: A First Course (8th Edition). Prentice Hall.
Fernandes, M. (2009). Statistics for Business and Economics. Bookboon.
Hooke, R. (1983). How to Tell the Liars from the Statisticians. Marcel Dekker.
Levine, D. M., Stephan, D. F., and Szabat, K. A. (2016). Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft Excel (8th Edition). Pearson.
Larson, R. and Farber, B. (2015). Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (6th Edition). Pearson.
Bluman, A. G. (2014). Elementary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach (9th Edition). McGraw-Hill.
Triola, M. F. (2018). Elementary Statistics (13th Edition). Pearson.
Newbold, P., Carlson, W. L., and Thorne, B. M. (2013). Statistics for Business and Economics (8th Edition). Pearson.
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information Students who intend to major in "Decision Analytics" or "Risk Management" or "Statistics" should take STAT2601 instead of this course.
Other references:
Wonnacott, T. H. and Wonnacott, R. J.: Introductory Statistics (Wiley, New York, 1972, 2nd edition)
Dixon, W. J. and Massey, Jr, F. J.: Introduction to Statistical Analysis (McGraw Hill, 1983, 4th edition)


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