Numeric Foundations of Critical Inquiry

May fulfill either Science (non-lab) or Math requirement (SCI, MATH)
How do we as good citizens of this planet make sense of the statistical and numerical claims we hear daily as others attempt to influence our thinking and our actions? There are many thought-provoking and controversial issues in our world today and many people and institutions use statistics, numbers, and graphs to try to influence our thinking. What tools do we need to develop in order to make sense of data? What type of stat-spotting skills do we need in order to assure that we are making informed decisions? Students in this one-semester course will develop numerical and statistical fluency skills that will allow them to recognize suspicious or dubious claims. Analytical and critical thinking skills will be developed in this project-based, discussion-oriented course.