City University of Hong Kong

Course Syllabus

offered by College/School/Department of _Mathematics______

with effect from Semester __A____ 20_20_ / _21_

Part I Course Overview

Probability and Statistics

Course Title:

MA2510
Course Code:

One Semester
Course Duration:

3
Credit Units:

B2
Level:
Arts and Humanities
Study of Societies, Social and Business Organisations
Proposed Area:
(for GE courses only) Science and Technology

Medium of English
Instruction:

Medium of English
Assessment:
Grade B or above in MA1201 Calculus & Basic Linear Algebra II and
subject to approval from MA must be obtained; or
Grade C- or above in MA1301 Enhanced Calculus & Linear Algebra II; or
Prerequisites: Grade C- or above in both MA1508 Calculus and MA1503 Linear Algebra
(Course Code and Title) with Applications

Precursors: Nil
(Course Code and Title)

Equivalent Courses: Nil

(Course Code and Title)
MA2172 Applied Statistics for Sciences & Engineering
Exclusive Courses: MA2177 Engineering Mathematics and Statistics
(Course Code and Title) MA2506 Probability and Statistics

Course Syllabus
1
Jun 2017
 Part II Course Details

1. Abstract
(A 150-word description about the course)

This course introduces probability theory and statistical inference. It will help students learn the
theoretical basis and practical applications of probability distributions, and understand the theory of
statistical inference as developed from the basis of probability. It trains students in thinking and
analyzing problems from a probabilistic and statistical point of view.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

(CILOs state what the student is expected to be able to do at the end of the course according to a given standard of
performance.)

No. CILOs# Weighting* Discovery-enriched

(if curriculum related
applicable) learning outcomes
(please tick where
appropriate)
A1 A2 A3
1. explain concepts at high levels and implement basic 15%  
operations in probability and statistics.
2. apply the methods of hypothesis testing and parametric 25% 
estimation for some statistical problems.
3. create and formulate mathematical models using 40% 
probability and statistics.
4. apply statistical and computational methods to a range of 20%   
problems in science and engineering involving probability
and statistics.
* If weighting is assigned to CILOs, they should add up to 100%. 100%
#
Please specify the alignment of CILOs to the Gateway Education Programme Intended Learning outcomes
(PILOs) in Section A of Annex.

A1: Attitude
Develop an attitude of discovery/innovation/creativity, as demonstrated by students possessing a strong
sense of curiosity, asking questions actively, challenging assumptions or engaging in inquiry together with
teachers.
A2: Ability
Develop the ability/skill needed to discover/innovate/create, as demonstrated by students possessing
critical thinking skills to assess ideas, acquiring research skills, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines
or applying academic knowledge to self-life problems.
A3: Accomplishments
Demonstrate accomplishment of discovery/innovation/creativity through producing /constructing creative
works/new artefacts, effective solutions to real-life problems or new processes.

3. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)

(TLAs designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs.)

TLA Brief Description CILO No. Hours/week

1 2 3 4 (if applicable)
Lectures Learning through teaching is     40 hours Lectures
primarily based on lectures. in total
Tutorials Learning through tutorials is  4 hours Tutorials
 4 hours
primarily based on interactive  2
problem solving allowing instant hours
feedback.  2 hours

Course Syllabus
2
Jun 2017
 Assignments Learning through take-home     after-class Assignments
assignments helps students
understand the theoretical basis
and identify practical
applications of probability and
statistics, and develop the ability
of analyzing problems from a
probabilistic and statistical point
of view.
Online Learning through online   after-class Online
applications applications
examples for applications helps
students design and construct
probabilistic and statistical
models, and apply to some
problems in science and
engineering.
Math Help Learning activities in Math Help   after-class Math Help
Centre Centre
Centre provides students extra
help.

4. Assessment Tasks/Activities (ATs)

(ATs are designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs.)

30% Coursework
70% Examination (Duration: 3 hours, at the end of the semester)

For a student to pass the course, at least 30% of the maximum mark for the examination must be
obtained.

Assessment Tasks/Activities CILO No. Weighting* Remarks

1 2 3 4
Continuous Assessment: _30___%
Quiz   5% Questions are designed
for the first part of the
course to see how well
the students have
learned the basic
concepts.
Test    15% Questions are designed
for the part of
probability theory to
see how well the
students have learned
the fundamental theory
and recognized the
applications of
probability.

Course Syllabus
3
Jun 2017
 Hand-in assignments     5% These are skills based
assessment to enable
students to demonstrate
the basic concepts and
fundamental theory of
probability and
statistics, and identify
the applications.

Formative take-home     5% The assignments

assignments provide students
chances to demonstrate
their achievements on
probability and
statistics learned in this
course.
Examination:     70% Examination questions
(duration: 3 hrs) are designed to see how
far students have
achieved their intended
learning outcomes.
Questions will
primarily be skills and
understanding based to
assess the student’s
versatility in
probability theory and
statistical inference.
* The weightings should add up to 100%. 100%

Course Syllabus
4
Jun 2017
5. Assessment Rubrics
(Grading of student achievements is based on student performance in assessment tasks/activities with the following rubrics.)

Assessment Task Criterion Excellent Good Fair Marginal Failure

(A+, A, A-) (B+, B, B-) (C+, C, C-) (D) (F)
1. Test ABILITY to APPLY and High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reaching
EXPLAIN the basic marginal levels
concepts and methodology
of probability and statistics
2. Hand-in CAPACITY for High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reaching
assignments
LEARNING to understand marginal levels
the principles of probability
and statistics
3. Formative CAPACITY for High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reaching
take-home
assignments SELF-DIRECTED marginal levels
LEARNING to understand
and apply different
probability and statistics
methods
4. Examination ABILITY to DEVELOP High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reaching
models through probability marginal levels
and statistics and SOLVE
problems with different
methods

Course Syllabus
5
Jun 2017
Part III Other Information (more details can be provided separately in the teaching plan)

1. Keyword Syllabus
(An indication of the key topics of the course.)

Probability. Sample Space. Discrete and Continuous Random Variables. Discrete and Continuous
Probability Distributions. Central Limit Theorem. Chebyshev’s Theorem. Mathematical Expectation
and Variances. Moment Generating Functions. Estimation of Parameters. Hypothesis Testing for one
and two samples.

2. Reading List
2.1 Compulsory Readings
(Compulsory readings can include books, book chapters, or journal/magazine articles. There are also collections of
e-books, e-journals available from the CityU Library.)

1. Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, by Walpole, Myers, Myers and Ye,
8th Ed., Pearson International Edition, 2007.
2.
3.
…

2.2 Additional Readings

(Additional references for students to learn to expand their knowledge about the subject.)

1. Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, by Devore, 8th Ed., Cengage
International Edition, 2012.
2.
3.
…

Course Syllabus 6
Jun 2017