Mine Cetinkaya: Collegium of University Teaching Fellow

In this class we will discuss complex issues in public health through the lens of statistical reasoning. We will critically read and discuss scientific articles on smoking, obesity, nutrition and physical activity, and use these discussions as a platform for introducing statistical concepts.  We will consider multiple hypotheses about the causes and prevention of health problems related to these issues.  We will show that the path between data and inference is not as clear-cut as it often appears in popular media.

The goals of this course are twofold: (1) to understand how the public opinion and public policy have changed over the years with regard to these topics, and (2) to develop a critical understanding of statistical concepts that can be applied to better understand controversies around these and other issues.

We will also consider Statistics as a tool that can influence health policy development. We will look at cases where improper use of statistics has led to poor policies, and where sound use of statistics has contributed to the development of policies to improve health and well-being.

The Collegium of University Teaching Fellows (CUTF) is an innovative program that creates unique learning opportunities for both graduate teaching fellows and undergraduate students on campus. Through the program, some of UCLA's very best advanced graduate students have the opportunity to develop and teach a lower division seminar in their field of specialization on a one-time only basis. This experience serves as a “capstone” to the teaching apprenticeship, preparing them for the academic job market and their role as future faculty. At the same time, undergraduates enrolled in CUTF seminars have the chance to take courses that are at the cutting edge of a discipline, and to experience the benefits of participating in a small-seminar environment.