Kennesaw State offers nation’s first certificate for SPSS software
Kennesaw State University students are gaining an edge on their resumes or graduate school…
Georgia (Feb 5, 2008) — Kennesaw State offers nation’s first certificate for SPSS software
Jeremy Craig
Abstract
Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770−423−6203
fharris4@kennesaw.edu
Contact/Writer: Jeremy Craig‚ 770−499−3448 or jcraig19@kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State offers nation’s first certificate for SPSS software
Program certifies knowledge of powerful statistical analysis package
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (Feb. 5‚ 2008) — Kennesaw State University students are gaining an edge
on their resumes or graduate school applications with the nation’s first certificate
program in data analysis using SPSS software.
SPSS Base 15.0 is a powerful statistical software package that provides a broad range
of functions to help provide important decision−making information used in marketing‚
psychology and political science‚ among other fields.
Kennesaw State’s certificate program‚ in partnership with Chicago−based SPSS Inc.‚
started this semester‚ which began Jan. 7.
“We are pleased to offer this certificate — the first in the nation — to our students
at Kennesaw State‚ because it will help give our students a competitive edge in the
marketplace‚” said Jennifer Lewis Priestley‚ assistant professor of statistics. “We
are very grateful for our partnership with SPSS in helping to lay a foundation for
student success.”
SPSS‚ a leading worldwide provider of predictive analytics software‚ leads the charge
in education as universities worldwide incorporate it in their applied statistics
training programs.
“Students prefer SPSS because of its ease−of−use for beginners‚ as well as its advanced
user programmability and ability to handle massive data sets‚” said Venkat Muthukrishnan‚
SPSS vice president of educational services. “It also gives students an advantage
in today’s competitive business world‚ as the SPSS statistical suite of products is
what students−turned−business leaders use in daily analysis of understanding and meeting
customer expectations.”
The certificate program is a cross−collaboration with multiple disciplines at KSU‚
including business‚ political science and psychology‚ among other fields.
“The SPSS certificate is a great resource for psychology majors‚” said Amy M. Buddie‚
assistant professor of psychology. “The certificate definitely will aid students in
graduate school admission‚ as programs — especially doctorate programs — are interested
in students who have statistical expertise.
“In addition‚ students who have the SPSS certificate likely will be better prepared
for graduate coursework‚ compared to their peers without such training‚” Buddie added.
The certificate is offered through KSU’s minor in applied statistics and data analysis.
Students will be required to complete five courses to obtain the SPSS certificate:
• Computer Applications of Statistics (STAT 3010);
• Statistical Methods I (STAT 3120);
• Statistical Methods II (STAT 3130);
• Applied Experimental Design (STAT 4120); and
• An elective from the following: Applied Regression Analysis (STAT 4210)‚ Statistical
Data Mining (STAT 4310)‚ Modern Information Retrieval (CSIS 4491) or a directed study
(STAT 4490).
Additionally‚ students must complete a minimum of eight assignments in SPSS‚ Priestley
said.
KSU also offers another statistics−package certificate‚ specializing in the SAS program
in partnership with the SAS Institute — the first such certificate program in the
University System of Georgia.
Media wishing to interview Priestley or other KSU officials should contact Jeremy
Craig at 770−499−3448 or jcraig19@kennesaw.edu. Media wishing to interview SPSS officials are asked to contact Tim Powers at 312−261−6553
or tpowers@spss.com.
For more information about KSU’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics‚ visit http://math.kennesaw.edu. Full descriptions of courses required by the certificate program are available through
the KSU Undergraduate Catalog‚ located online at http://www.kennesaw.edu/registrar/crsdesc_main.shtml.
For more information about SPSS‚ visit www.spss.com.
A member of the 35−unit University System of Georgia‚ Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population of more than 20‚000 from 132 countries. The third−largest university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new doctorate in education.
MORE NEWS…
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
