Fall 2014- EE 351K

Probability, Statistics, and Random Processes


Instructors

Description

This course is an introduction to probability, statistics and random processes for engineers. Topics to be covered include: Throughout the course we will describe various applications of these concepts that electrical engineers might encounter, such as process control, system reliability, noise models and communications. Emphasis will be placed on developing your intuition in dealing with uncertainty in engineering and our daily lives based on probabilistic models and reasoning.

Prerequisite

EE313 with a grade of C or better.

Required text

Other helpful texts: And for fun, some popular texts about uncertainty in our lives:

Course web pages

Class Attendance, Participation and Timeliness

If you are taking this class, you should be attending and participating in class and occasionally visiting me in office hours. I will try to get to know each one of you but you need to help me, introduce yourself and keep doing so. I will not explicitly take attendance. I just keep track of students who do not pick up their homeworks. I know the class is early, but I do not appreciate students arriving late to class particularly as this classroom has no back entrance-- it is disruptive to your classmates and myself. I've not had problems with this in the past, but I will keep track of such disruptions. If you think this will be a problem I will work with you to get into the other EE 351K section. If you are finding lectures are not useful, then come and see me lets work on making them valuable to your classmates and you.

Homework

Homework will be assigned on the course web pages.  The homeworks will be due in class, BEFORE the class starts. You are expected to make an independent attempt to solve and turn in your answers to each homework question.  

Late howeworks will be awarded a grade of zero unless permission is sought in advance based on a valid reason such as a medical emergency.

Midterms and Final

There will be two midterms and a final. The midterms will be in class. The final will be given at the time scheduled by the university registrar. Please make sure you can take the final at the appointed time otherwise you should take a different section.

Dates and locations for midterms and final:

No make-up exams will be given. An excused absence from a midterm exam must be obtained in advance. In this case the student's final exam grade will be substituted for the missed exam. In the case of an excused absence from the final exam, the course grade will be based on the homework and midterm exams.  Unexcused absences from a midterm or final will result in a grade of zero for that exam. Note that excused absences from exams will be made only in extreme circumstances (serious illness, death in the immediate family, etc.). Requests for excused absences should be made in writing and must be supported by appropriate documentation.

Grading policy

The final grade will be a weighted average of your homework, mid-term, and final scores.  The weightings are:

Academic dishonesty and policies on cheating

Faculty in the ECE Department are committed to detecting and punishing all instances of academic dishonesty and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty in accordance with university policy.  Academic dishonesty, in all its forms, is blight on our entire academic community.  All parties in our community – professors, staff, and students – are responsible for creating an environment that educates outstanding engineers, and this goal entails excellence in technical skills, self-giving citizenry, and ethical integrity.  Industry wants engineers who are competent and fully trustworthy, and both qualities must be developed day by day throughout an entire lifetime.  

Details about what constitutes academic dishonesty can be found at the following URL: UT Dean of Students Office (http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/sjs/academicintegrity.html).

All cheating will be reported directly to the college/university. Unless explicitly indicated in an assignment, you must do your homeworks, projects and exams individually.  You are welcome and encouraged to discuss material with your colleagues, when and where it is appropriate,  but copying, stealing papers, etc. are considered dishonest and will be prosecuted.


Notes:  

Allegations of Scholastic Dishonesty will be dealt with according to the procedures outlined in Appendix C, Chapter 11, of the General Information Bulletin, http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/.

The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4241 TDD or the College of Engineering Director of Students with Disabilities at 471-4321.