Using R

This certificate program is aimed at those who need to use the R statistical programming environment for statistical analysis, visualization and modeling, and offers the equivalent of 18 credits, in the US academic system.

This program provides an appropriate balance between conceptual understanding and application. As a successful PASS candidate, you will acquire the statistical skills and software facility you need for projects, reports, and research. While open to all, the flexible format and scheduling is particularly suitable for working professionals.

The program courses are taught by leading experts with whom you share a private discussion forum for the entire course period. Students participate from all over the world - lessons and assignments are opened and closed on a weekly basis. You organize your time however you like within each week - there are no set times when you must be online.

Courses in the Program are typically 4 weeks long, and require about 15 hours per week. Courses operate throughout the year, and there is no "semester" system. You can enter and start taking courses whenever you like, after reviewing the Program requirements and guidance on course sequencing. Most students take one course at a time, and complete their Program over a period of 3-5 years.

There are four main components to each course:

1. Course materials (course text, course files, video and other materials)
2. Discussion with the instructor and other students via daily web forum (asynchronous - you need not be online at any particular time of day)
3. Homework (submitted online weekly, with individualized feedback the following week)
4. Final project/exam

For more details on how these online courses work, click here.  Students successfully completing the Program receive a certificate and transcript.

Placement Services

As a PASS candidate, once you successfully complete half your program courses, you are eligible for our personalized placement services. We will review your background, your interests, and your work at the Institute, and try to find a match with appropriate recruiters. Our specialty is early-to-mid-career placement (not entry level).

When To Apply

Applications are accepted and students are enrolled year round on a rolling basis.  You pay an application fee and submit it with your application form.  You may pay the fee online here, or enclose a check (USD drawn on a US bank) with your application. NOTE: The application is your opportunity to specifically outline your past education and experience, and provide any other information you want us to consider during our review.  The value of this background and experience is the ability to place the statistical methods covered in the Program in an appropriate application context.  Once we have accepted your application, we will be happy to assist you with more specific questions about PASS.

Admission Criteria

1. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university,
2. Successful completion of an introductory statistics course equivalent to the Institute's Intro courses series ("Statistics 1 - Probability and Study Design" through "Statistics 3 - ANOVA and Regression") that prepares the applicant for a passing score in the required entrance exam which covers basic statistics.
3. Passing score on the online entrance exam.

Note:  While it is not an admission requirement, applicants will also benefit from employment experience (or plans for employment) in an organization that works in the selected field of the Program you select.

Enrollment In PASS

Enroll in the Program of your choice here,  after your application is approved AND you have passed the entrance examination.  Once enrolled, register for each specific course within your PASS using the academic tuition rate as you are now a matriculated student at the Institute for Statistics Education at Statistics.com.

Application Fee: $75
Program Registration Fee:$495
Estimated Electives Course Tuition: $0
Estimated Material Cost: $0
Estimated Total Cost: $570

Using R

Program Objectives

R is a powerful open-source environment for statistical analysis, visualization and modeling, and is growing rapidly.  The R community contributes new statistical routines to R on a continual basis (there are several thousand), so R is both a statistical programming environment and a repository for high-level analysis tools.   Students completing the Program successfully will gain mastery of statistical topics, plus specific skills and use of software tools important to statistical analysis of epidemiological data.

The Program consists of courses offered completely online at statistics.com.  Required courses for all students include those aimed at fundamental programming skills, as well as courses covering the use of R functions and routines for statistical analysis and modeling.   Electives allow for further study of graphics (ggplot2), domain specific applications (data mining, clinical trials), and statistical methods (linear modeling, spatial analysis, resampling). Some electives are devoted exclusively to R, others feature R among other software options.

The courses are taught by recognized authorities with whom you share a private discussion forum for the entire course period.  Among the faculty are some of the leading members of the R development community. Most students take one course at a time; courses are scheduled throughout the year on a continuous basis, providing for maximum flexibility in meeting program requirements.

Students successfully completing this program will acquire skills in two areas:

• Data manipulation and programming
• Application of R routines to statistical analysis and modeling

Sequencing your Program

Most courses are four weeks long, and are scheduled either once or twice a year. Courses start on specific dates, but do not require you to be online at any particular time of the day. Since various courses are available throughout the year, the Program provides flexibility in scheduling.

Listed below in alphabetical order, are the required and elective courses with available dates. Additionally, use these tools to help you map out your program:

• Prerequisites – each course lists its prerequisite. These prerequisite courses should be taken prior to the course you are considering.
• Suggested sequencing document - this lists the courses in groups, based upon their approximate level of difficulty. It is a guide, not a set of requirements.
• Calendar - You can easily search course start dates here.

After your successful acceptance into PASS, you can begin your program with any course, based on your own background, the level of difficulty and if you meet the prerequisites.  You will work out a tentative schedule (or at least the first few courses), then register and pay tuition.

As a PASS candidate, you are eligible to register for any course using the academic tuition link, indicating “PASS” when prompted for your academic affiliation during online registration.  As an added benefit, if you register online for three courses simultaneously, an automatic $200 reduction is applied. Please note that payment of tuition and fees does not include the purchase of any required texts or software.

Calendar

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