Abstract

The accumulation of technical knowledge is the central focus of graduate programs in statistics. However, student success does not depend solely on acquiring such knowledge. Rather, students must also understand the rigors of graduate study to complete their degree. And, they need to understand the statistics profession to prepare for a career after graduation. The purpose of the one-credit hour Alpha Seminar course at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is to educate graduate students in these nontechnical areas. Students are required to enroll in Alpha Seminar during their first semester of study. In addition to advisement on courses and graduation requirements, Alpha Seminar features topics on career paths, ethics, professional accreditation, internships, and professional societies. Alumni also meet with the class to discuss how to be successful in the program and in a future career. This article discusses course topics, examines assignments, and provides evaluations from student cohorts. The corresponding course website is available at www.chrisbilder.com/stat810.

摘要

技术知识的积累是统计学研究生课程的核心。然而，学生的成功并不仅仅取决于获得这些知识。相反，学生还必须了解研究生学习的严格要求才能完成学位。而且，他们需要了解统计专业，为毕业后的职业做准备。内布拉斯加大学林肯分校的一学分阿尔法研讨会课程的目的是教育这些非技术领域的研究生。学生必须在第一学期的学习期间参加 Alpha 研讨会。除了有关课程和毕业要求的建议外，Alpha 研讨会还提供有关职业道路、道德、专业认证、实习和专业社团的主题。校友们还与班级会面，讨论如何在该计划和未来的职业生涯中取得成功。本文讨论课程主题，检查作业，并提供来自学生群体的评估。相应的课程网站可在www.chrisbilder.com/stat810。