A special course in analysis of numerical and statistical data for advanced undergraduates

The US Naval Academy has a special program for some of their best students. Typically this involves a yearlong research project in some area of science or engineering counting for up to 24 credit hours in senior year. In recent years, it became apparent that these students had a gap in their education in regard to analysis (and presentation) of experimental data-sometimes statistical, sometimes numerical. Consequently, they created a special one-credit course, which went from concept to approval in four hours! This paper describes experiences teaching the course in the Fall 2001 semester.