BUSI 2305: Business Statistics – Course Guide
1. What Is BUSI 2305 About?
BUSI 2305: Business Statistics introduces students to the quantitative skills needed to analyze business data using statistical methods and Microsoft Excel.
The course focuses on understanding statistical concepts, performing calculations, and interpreting statistical results in a business context.
2. What Do Students Learn?
Students learn how to:
- Calculate and interpret descriptive statistics
- Work with probability and probability distributions
- Calculate expected values and variance
- Apply the binomial and normal distributions
- Understand sampling distributions
- Construct confidence intervals
- Perform hypothesis tests
- Analyze relationships between variables using simple linear regression
- Interpret statistical results and their significance
- Use Microsoft Excel as an aid for statistical analysis
3. BUSI 2305 Course Topics
The course covers seven major areas:
| Topic | What Students Learn |
|---|---|
| Descriptive Statistics | Measures of location, variability, distribution shape, and association |
| Probability | Addition, multiplication, conditional probability, mutually exclusive events, and independent events |
| Discrete Random Variables | Expected value, variance, and binomial distributions |
| Continuous Random Variables | Normal distribution probabilities and values |
| Sampling Distributions | Sampling distributions of the sample mean and sample proportion |
| Confidence Intervals & Hypothesis Testing | Statistical inference for means and proportions using one- and two-sample scenarios |
| Simple Linear Regression | Regression equations, ANOVA, correlation, coefficient of determination, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, and prediction intervals |
4. How Is the Course Structured?
BUSI 2305 is organized around textbook chapters, lectures, homework, in-class review sessions, and three exams.
Students work through statistical concepts progressively, beginning with descriptive statistics and probability before moving into probability distributions, statistical inference, and regression. Homework is assigned throughout the semester through MindTap. The syllabus lists seven homework assignments corresponding to the major course units.
The course includes an in-class review before each exam, followed by an online exam administered through Canvas.
5. What Assignments Are in BUSI 2305?
MindTap Homework
Students complete homework assignments through MindTap. The syllabus identifies seven homework assignments:
- Homework 1 — Chapter 3
- Homework 2 — Chapter 4
- Homework 3 — Chapter 5
- Homework 4 — Chapters 6–7
- Homework 5 — Chapters 8–9
- Homework 6 — Chapter 10
- Homework 7 — Chapter 14
The specific due dates are provided through Canvas.
Exams
There are three exams, each worth 30% of the final grade.
The exams are administered through Canvas during specified time windows.
6. BUSI 2305 Grading Breakdown
| Assessment | Weight |
|---|---|
| Exam 1 | 30% |
| Exam 2 | 30% |
| Exam 3 | 30% |
| MindTap Homework | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
The course is therefore heavily weighted toward the three exams, which together account for 90% of the final grade.
7. What Is Covered on the Exams?
Exam 1
The first exam follows the material on:
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability
- Discrete random variables
- Expected value and variance
- Binomial distributions
Exam 1: September
Exam 2
The second exam covers:
- Normal distributions
- Sampling distributions
- Single-sample confidence intervals
- Single-sample hypothesis testing
Exam 2: October
Exam 3
The third exam covers:
- Two-sample confidence intervals
- Two-sample hypothesis testing
- Simple linear regression
Exam 3: December 4
The syllabus states that the dates and course information may be subject to change, so students should check Canvas for updates.
8. What Readings and Materials Are Used?
The required textbook and online learning platform are:
Essentials of Modern Business Statistics (with Microsoft Excel), 9th ed.
Authors: Camm, Cochran, Fry, Ohlmann, Anderson, Sweeney, and Williams.
Students are also required to have:
- MindTap access
- A desktop or laptop computer
- A working webcam and microphone
- Stable internet
- The class notes packet
- An approved calculator
The textbook and MindTap access, along with the class notes packet, are included through the Cougar Textbook Access Program (CTAP) unless a student opts out.
9. BUSI 2305 Weekly Topics
| Period | Main Focus |
|---|---|
| August 25–27 | Descriptive Statistics |
| September 1–10 | Probability |
| September 15–17 | Discrete Random Variables |
| September 24 | Exam 1 Review |
| September 25 | Exam 1 |
| September 22–29 | Continuous Random Variables / Normal Distribution |
| October 1 | Sampling Distributions |
| October 6–8 | Single-Sample Confidence Intervals |
| October 13–20 | Single-Sample Hypothesis Testing |
| October 22 | Exam 2 Review |
| October 23 | Exam 2 |
| October 27–November 10 | Two-Sample Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing |
| November 12–December 1 | Simple Linear Regression |
| December 3 | Exam 3 Review |
| December 4 | Exam 3 |
10. What Skills Can Students Develop?
Students can develop skills in:
- Statistical calculation
- Business data analysis
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability analysis
- Probability distributions
- Statistical inference
- Confidence interval construction
- Hypothesis testing
- Regression analysis
- Correlation analysis
- Interpretation of statistical results
- Using Microsoft Excel to support statistical analysis
11. What Should Students Expect?
BUSI 2305 is a quantitative and calculation-focused course that builds statistical knowledge progressively.
Students should expect to practice statistical calculations regularly and apply formulas and concepts to business data.
The course is particularly exam-heavy, with three exams accounting for 90% of the final grade. Homework provides the remaining 10%.
Students should also expect to use MindTap, Microsoft Excel, an approved calculator, Canvas, and the class notes throughout the course.
The syllabus specifically states that AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot, as well as unsanctioned resources such as Chegg, are not permitted for this course. Their use is identified in the syllabus as an academic-honesty violation.
12. BUSI 2305 at a Glance
| Course Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Course | BUSI 2305 |
| Title | Business Statistics |
| Semester | Fall 2026 |
| Main Focus | Statistical analysis of business data |
| Software | Microsoft Excel |
| Online Platform | MindTap |
| Main Textbook | Essentials of Modern Business Statistics, 9th ed. |
| Homework | 7 MindTap assignments |
| Exams | 3 |
| Exam Weight | 90% |
| Homework Weight | 10% |
| Exam 1 | September |
| Exam 2 | October |
| Exam 3 | December |
| Major Topics | Descriptive statistics, probability, distributions, inference, regression |
Final Takeaway
BUSI 2305: Business Statistics develops the statistical skills students need to analyze and interpret business data. The course progresses from descriptive statistics and probability into probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and simple linear regression. With three exams accounting for most of the final grade, students should expect to practice calculations consistently and build their understanding of each statistical method as the semester progresses.
