University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Services Policy and Management

No office, no phone. Office hours: Look for me in the computer lab Mondays, 1pm-4pm. Other days and times can be arranged by appointment.

Class meets Mondays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Wardlaw 116. Classes are live-streamed and can be viewed later by registered students.

Goal of the course: To make you a confident user and consumer of quantitative methods, by showing you the mechanics and the ideas behind selected quantitative methods applicable to health administration.

Instructional method: Learning by doing. You will apply the methods presented in class in homework exercises due each week.

Required work: The weekly assignments are the only required work in the course. No examinations.

Prerequisite: BIOS 700 or its equivalent with permission of the instructor. This course builds on the statistics concepts and the computer experience in BIOS 700. If you can understand this introductory probability and statistics review, you should be OK.

Readings: Downloadable pdf files. A free pdf file reader can be downloaded from www.adobe.com. (If you download this, uncheck any checkboxes that offer software that you don't need.) There is no book to buy.

Downloading all of the readings at the start of the semester is not recommended. I may revise some readings as I notice errors or get ideas for improvements. Instead, download each week's materials when you are about to start that week's work or want to give yourself a lecture preview.

Required computer access: Every course assignment will require using a computer. You may do course assignments in our computer lab, Room 124 of the Arnold School of Public Health's old building (HESC). If you wish to work elsewhere, you must have access to a computer with a full-featured spreadsheet program and internet access with a browser that can do Java.

Internet access, with a web browser with Java, will enable you to download data for assignments, use course software, read about bugs and last-minute changes, and use the Answer Checkers. (Answer checkers let you know instantly whether you are on the right track as you do assignments.) If you do not have internet access or cannot get Java to work, plan to spend time in our lab.

Full-featured spreadsheets:

You'll get keystroke-by-keystroke instructions for doing the assignments with Excel, run under Microsoft Windows . All of the course assignments can be done with recent versions of Excel, Quattro Pro, and Lotus 1-2-3. Course data files will be provided in a format that all of these programs can read. Students using spreadsheets other than Excel will have to translate the instructions to fit their particular programs. The spreadsheet with Microsoft Works is not good enough, sorry.

Solver: Several of the course exercises use Excel's Solver. This is not installed by the default installation of Excel. If the Solver icon is not under the Data tab in Excel for the PC (under tools in old Excel versions), here is how to install it:

• Macintosh users: Solver for Microsoft Office Mac 2008 or 2011 can be downloaded free at http://solver.com/mac/. Microsoft Office Mac 2004 has Solver.
• PC users: If Solver... is not under the Data tab in Excel 2007 or 2010,
  here is how to install Solver in Excel 2010.
  Here is how to install Solver in Excel 2007 PDF.
  In Excel 2004, Solver is under Tools. Here is how to install Solver in older Excel versions HTML. You may need your Microsoft Office CD.

Homework: A write-up is mandatory. The write-up should answer the assignment's questions in sentences. It is good to also turn in your spreadsheet file. That can help a lot if I need to track down an error. Your spreadsheet can be in a separate file from your write-up, or you can include your write-up in the spreadsheet.

Most homework assignments have an online Answer Checker. It can tell you if you are on the right track, and give you hints.

Turning in homework: Use Blackboard's  Assignments  feature.

Blackboard's  Assignments  allows you to include a spreadsheet file as an attachment. Your write-up can go in the text box, in an attached word processor file, or it can be incorporated into a spreadsheet file that you attach. A few assignments require your doing something on paper. You may bring the paper to my office or to class on the due date. Alternatively, you may scan it and attach it to what you submit on Blackboard.

How to attach more than one file for a Blackboard assignment: Do not hit Submit until you have added all your files. Attach your first file by browsing for it. Then hit the "Add another file document" button. That should let you browse for your second file. Repeat until you have added all the files you want. Hitting Save along the way is useful if you do not have all your files ready to attach right now. When you can see on Blackboard's assignment submission form a complete list of the files you had wanted to attach, then and only then hit Submit. Once you hit Submit, Blackboard will not allow you to go back and attach or change anything.

Guidelines for helping other students and getting help from other students

Helping another student is a great way to learn, and a great way to make a friend. Be careful, however, to follow these guidelines.

The assignments in this course are intended to be individual work, not team efforts. The goal is for you to have confidence that you can do this.

By the way, I like explaining things. Feel free to ask me for help, by e-mail or when I'm around.

Grades in HSPM J716

Each week's assignment is worth 4 points, if done well.
There are 13 assignments, so a perfect score for the semester is 52.

For this grade	At least this many points
A	49
B+	42
B	36
C+	29
C	22

Some weeks have their assignment split into two parts. Each part is worth 2 points, so that the total for the week is 4 points. For example, assignments 8 and 8A are due the same day. They are worth 4 points together.

Fixing errors in homework

For Students Working in Our Lab

Specific Learning Objectives

1. Spreadsheet and Presentation Graphics Skills
   1. Students will demonstrate an ability to use a computer-based spreadsheet as a tool for organizing data and making calculations. (All assignments)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to create graphs that present data clearly. (Assignment 2)
2. Econometrics and Forecasting
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind regression-based forecasting methods. (Assignments 1-6)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to present a reasonable analysis of time series data, including a forecast with a statement of justification and limitations. (Assignment 6)
3. Queuing Theory
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind standard methods of analyzing the dynamics of queues (waiting lines), including the assumptions behind and limitations of that theory. (Assignments 7 and 8)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze specific queuing situations. (Assignments 7 and 8)
4. What-If Analysis
1. Students will demonstrate an ability to do What-If analysis, and an understanding of the limitations of What-If analysis. (Assignment 9)
5. Linear Programming
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory of optimization under constraint where the constraints and objective function are linear. (Assignments 10 and 11)
   2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope and limitations of the applicability of linear programming theory. (Assignments 10 and 11)
   3. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze specific linear programming problems. (Assignments 10 and 11)
6. Project Planning / Critical Path Analysis
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope of network analysis theory. (Assignment 12)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply the Critical Path Method to a specific problem. (Assignment 12)
7. Decision Theory
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic ideas and methods in decision theory. (Assignment 13)
2. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply these ideas to a specific problem. (Assignment 13)
8. Writing skills -- Students will demonstrate an ability to present clearly and accurately the results of mathematical analysis. (All sessions)

Student performance of these objectives will be evaluated by weekly assignments.