University of Maryland Global Campus

STAT 200: Introduction to Statistics

A study guide to UMGC's STAT 200, the introductory statistics course that runs from describing data to regression and ANOVA.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

STAT 200 at the University of Maryland Global Campus is a 3-credit introduction to statistics. UMGC describes the aim as assessing the validity of statistical conclusions, summarizing and presenting data, and applying inferential statistics.

The course is broad. It runs from sampling and graphs to probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, correlation, regression and ANOVA. Most students find the hard part is not the arithmetic but choosing the right test and explaining the result in plain words.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Course codeSTAT 200
Credits3
LevelUndergraduate
Subject areaStatistics and probability
Credit overlapUMGC lists several courses (including STAT 100, STAT 225 and STAT 230) of which you may receive credit for only one
Typical workProblem sets, data analysis with software, written interpretation (general)

What STAT 200 Covers

UMGC's description lists these topics:

TopicWhat you do with it
Sampling and percentilesJudge how data was collected and locate values in a distribution
Probability and distributionsUse probability rules, the normal, t and chi-square distributions
Confidence intervalsEstimate a population value with a stated level of confidence
Hypothesis testingTest one and two means and proportions, including binomial experiments
Sample sizePlan how much data is needed for a given precision
Correlation and regressionMeasure and model relationships between variables
ANOVACompare means across more than two groups

Key Concepts Explained

Confidence Intervals

An interval estimates a population mean from a sample. It is built from the sample mean, the standard error and a critical value, and it says how precisely the sample pins down the population value.

Invented illustration: A sample of 36 students has a mean study time of 52 minutes and a standard deviation of 9. The standard error is 9 / sqrt(36) = 1.5. With 35 degrees of freedom the 95% critical t value is about 2.03, so the margin of error is about 3.05 and the interval runs from about 48.9 to 55.0 minutes. Interpretation: we are 95% confident the true mean lies in that range.

Hypothesis Tests

A test starts with a null hypothesis, then asks how surprising the sample would be if that null were true. A small p-value means the sample is hard to explain by chance alone.

Same invented data: Test H0: the mean is 50. The test statistic is (52 - 50) / 1.5, about 1.33, giving a two-tailed p-value near 0.19. At a 5% significance level you do not reject H0. That is not proof that the mean is 50; the sample simply does not provide strong evidence against it.

Choosing a Test

Ask three questions: what type of variable is it, how many groups are being compared, and are the samples independent or paired? The answers narrow the choice among tests for means, proportions, association and ANOVA.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Descriptive analysisSummaries and graphsReport center, spread and shape, then choose a graph that suits the variable
Inference problemsIntervals and hypothesis testsWrite the hypotheses, check conditions, compute, then conclude in context
Regression and correlationRelationships between variablesDescribe direction and strength, interpret the slope, avoid claiming causation
Written interpretationCommunicating resultsLead with the finding, give the numbers, state limitations

A Practical Way to Work Through Each Topic

Because the course moves from description to inference in a fixed order, each block depends on the one before it. A simple routine keeps the pieces connected.

BlockQuestion to askOutput you should produce
Data and samplingHow was the data gathered, and who is missing?A sentence on bias and what the sample can represent
Describing dataWhat is typical, how spread out, what shape?Summary numbers and a suitable graph
ProbabilityWhat is the chance of this outcome under a model?A probability with the distribution named
EstimationHow precisely does the sample estimate the population?An interval and its meaning in context
TestingIs the sample consistent with the claim?Hypotheses, statistic, p-value, decision
RelationshipsDo variables move together, and how strongly?Correlation or regression, with limits stated

For sample size questions, remember that precision improves with the square root of the sample size, so halving the margin of error needs about four times as much data. That one idea explains many "how many people do we need" answers.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for STAT 200

How We Help with STAT 200

Send the problem set, dataset, software output and your instructor's feedback. We can explain a method, prepare a worked model, or review your own solution for errors in test choice, calculation and interpretation. For broader support, see our statistics assignment help guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is STAT 200 an introductory course?

Yes. UMGC describes it as an introduction to statistics, covering descriptive methods through inference, regression and ANOVA.

How many credits is STAT 200?

UMGC lists it at 3 credits.

Can I take STAT 200 and another statistics course for credit?

UMGC says you may receive credit for only one of a listed group that includes BEHS 202, BMGT 230, ECON 321, MATH 111, PSYC 200, SOCY 201, STAT 100, STAT 200, STAT 225 and STAT 230, among others.

Do I need calculus?

The catalog lists no prerequisite in the course description. Algebra skills are enough for most of the work.

What is the hardest part of STAT 200?

Most students say choosing the right procedure and interpreting results in words, rather than computing.

Can GradeEssays do my statistics assignment?

No. We tutor, explain and provide custom solutions; you do and submit your own work.