The Justice

Dear Eleanor,

I'm thinking about majoring in psychology and I would like to take Research Methods next semester. Statistics is a prerequisite for the class, but I can pass out of it with my high school AP credit. I am a little bit unsure of my grasp of the material, however, since I took that class two years ago and I am not sure if I still remember enough to apply what I learned to a college-level course. Should I take statistics again here before I take upper-level classes, or should I pass out of it?

Thanks, Eleanor!

Sincerely,

Usually Needs Some Urgent Roosevelt Encouragement



Dear UNSURE,

This is a great question, and I know that it applies to many first- and second-year students with a variety of different majors. While some departments, such as math and most languages, give placement tests, many others leave it up to students to decide at what level to start. Don't worry-there are a number of things you can do to find the right class.

First, log onto Latte and search for course syllabi. Does the syllabus for "Research Methods" give you an idea of what prior knowledge you will need? Next, look at the "Statistics" syllabus. Scan the list of topics that will be covered. Do you remember these concepts, or do you not even understand the lecture titles? If the syllabi don't give you much help, take a look at the textbooks assigned for each class and head over to the library.

Look up the class texts and scan through them. If you don't understand the "Statistics" book, you should probably retake the class at Brandeis. If you can do the problems from the later chapters, you should be fine skipping it. If the "Research Methods" text looks heavy in statistics concepts that you don't quite remember, again, you should probably retake the class.

Another great way to get your question answered is to ask. E-mail the professor of the "Research Methods" class and meet with him or her. He or she will probably ask you a few questions about statistics and be able to tell you whether or not you are ready for the class. If you don't want to talk to the professor, you can also ask your academic advisor or an Undergraduate Departmental Representative. Check out http://www.brandeis.edu/das/udr/07reps.html to find the UDR for your department. They are there to help you with specific questions about your department. Any Psychology UDR will have taken "Research Methods" and will know exactly how much statistics you need for the class.

You have many options for figuring out what class you belong in. If you need to, you can always sit in on both classes during the shopping period next semester and see if you can get an idea of the difficulty of each class from the first couple of weeks. I really recommend taking some time to do some research and figure out where you belong before then, though.

Take care,

Eleanor Roosevelt





Ask Eleanor is a service provided by the Roosevelt Fellows, a group of peer academic advisors named after the former first lady to honor her contributions to Brandeis during its foundation. To have your question answered, e-mail askeleanor@brandeis.edu or visit the Roosevelt Fellows office hours in the office of Academic Services in Usdan, Monday through Friday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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