Introduction to Statistical Computing - STA 511

Course Objectives:

Completion of the course will give a student the ability to use a computer to effectively manage and manipulate data, conduct basic statistical analyses, and generate reports and graphics. This course will also introduce the student to the basic tenets of computer programming language and syntax.

Course Topics:

  • Overview of Data Management, Definitions of Basic Terms, Introduction to Computers and Operating Systems, Features of Various Types of Data Files
  • Introduction to SAS, Structure of SAS, SAS data sets, SAS statement syntax, SAS Output, Running a SAS program.
  • Using SAS Procedures: Printing Data Sets, Charts and Plots
  • Frequency Tables and Cross-tabulations, Descriptive Statistics
  • Sorting Data, Subgroup Processing
  • Creating Data Sets, Creating and Transforming Variables
  • Statistical programming: Declarative Statements, Conditional Execution, Missing Values
  • Statistical programming (continued), Reading/Importing Data Sets
  • Multiple Input Data Sets, Special Variables, Multiple Output Data Sets
  • Report Writing Procedures (PROC TABULATE)
  • Introduction to SAS/IML
  • Statistical Graphics using SAS/Graph
  • Introduction to Selected SAS Statistical Procedures (GLM, REG)
  • Writing MACROS
  • Managing SAS Libraries

Example Syllabus: