STAT310: Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II, Fall 2026

This course introduces the principles and mathematical foundations of statistical reasoning. Topics include samples and populations, estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, regression, nonparametric procedures, Bayesian methods, and the delta method.

  Instructor: Keith Levin, kdlevin | at | wisc | dot | edu
TA:       AJ Fagan, ajfagan | at | wisc | dot | edu
Lectures:
      MW, 4:00pm-5:15pm in Morgridge Hall B2550
Office Hours:
      Keith Levin: MW 2:30pm-3:30pm in 6567 Morgridge Hall, or by appointment
      AJ Fagan: Tuesdays 10am-11am in 6567 Morgridge Hall and Thursdays 2:15-3:15pm in 6567 Morgridge Hall
Textbook: Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis, 3rd Edition by John A. Rice
Syllabus: available here
Prerequisites: at least one one of STAT/MATH 309, STAT 311, STAT/MATH 431, or MATH 531 and at least one of STAT 240, STAT 301, STAT 302, STAT 324, STAT 371, or ECON 310.

Date Topics Readings Notes
Wednesday, Sep 2 Course introduction; Administrivia; Probability Review Rice Chapters 1 through 4 (recommended); Probability review notes from Prof. Moulinath Bannerjee (recommended)
Wednesday, Sep 9 Probability review, cont'd Rice Chapters 1 through 4 (recommended)
Monday, Sep 14 Limit Theorems: law of large numbers Rice 5.1-5.2 (recquired)
Wednesday, Sep 16 Limit Theorems: central limit theorem Rice 5.3 (required)
Monday, Sep 21 Estimation Rice Chapter 8, sections 8.1 through 8.5 (required)
Wednesday, Sep 23 Estimation (cont'd) Rice Chapter 8, sections 8.1 through 8.5 (required)
Monday, Sep 28 Estimation (cont'd) Rice Chapter 8, section 8.7 and 8.8 (required)
Wednesday, Sep 30 Exam 1 (in class)
Monday, Oct 5 Estimation (cont'd) Rice Chapter 8, section 8.1 through 8.5, 8.7-8.8 (required)
Wednesday, Oct 7 Estimation (cont'd) Rice Chapter 8, section 8.1 through 8.5, 8.7-8.8 (required)
Monday, Oct 12 Distributions derived from the normal Rice Chapter 6 (required)
Wednesday, Oct 14 Distributions derived from the normal Rice Chapter 6 (required)
Monday, Oct 19 Hypothesis testing Rice Chapter 9, sections 9.1 through 9.4 (required)
Wedneday, Oct 21 Hypothesis testing Rice Chapter 9, sections 9.1 through 9.4 (required)
Monday, Oct 26 Hypothesis testing (cont'd) Rice Chapter 9, sections 9.1 through 9.4 (required)
Wednesday, Oct 28 Exam 2 (in class)
Monday, Nov 2 Hypothesis testing (cont'd) Rice Chapter 9, sections 9.1 through 9.4 (required)
Wednesday, Nov 4 Hypothesis testing (cont'd) Rice Chapter 11, sections 11.1 and 11.2 (required)
Monday, Nov 9 Hypothesis testing (cont'd) Rice Chapter 11, sections 11.3 and 11.4 (required)
Wednesday, Nov 11 ANOVA: one-way layout Rice Chapter 12, sections 12.1 and 12.2 (required)
Monday, Nov 16 ANOVA: one-way layout, cont'd Rice Chapter 12, sections 12.1 through 12.3 (required)
Wednesday, Nov 18 ANOVA: two-way layout Rice Chapter 12, sections 12.1 through 12.3 (required)
Monday, Nov 23 ANOVA: two-way layout, cont'd Rice Chapter 12, sections 12.1 through 12.3 (required)
Wednesday, Nov 25 Special topic (TBA) Alice's Restaurant (recommended) This lecture is intended as an introduction to an important area of modern statistics. You will not be responsible for material presented in this lecture or its readings.
Monday, Nov 30 Regression Rice Chapter 14, sections 14.1 and 14.2
Wednesday, Dec 2 Regression (cont'd) Rice Chapter 14, sections 14.1 and 14.2
Monday, Dec 7 Recap and review for Exam 3
Wednesday, Dec 9 Exam 3 (in class)