Dr. James R. Frederick,
Associate Professor in Economics and Decision Sciences, Associate Dean of the School of Business
"I want my students to know why an analytical method works—as well as how to do it. When students understand why a method works, they have a better appreciation for what it is really telling them."
Degrees Held:
- Ph.D. in Economics – Wayne State University, 1983
Career Highlights:
- Biostatistician for a cancer research institution, 1984-88
- Article "The elasticity of demand for medical tourism" published 2013 in AEFJ.
In which online programs do you teach?
Which classes do you teach online?
DSC 5010: Decision Sciences (foundation course); DSC 5050: Foundations of Business Statistics (foundation course); DSC 5100: Quantitative Methods (core course)
What do students learn in your classes? What is the expected outcome?
In my data analytics classes, I want my students to know why an analytical method works—as well as how to do it. When students understand why a method works, they have a better appreciation for what it is really telling them, and they can recognize situations in which the method should not be used.
Why did you start teaching?
The first course I taught was an introductory statistics class. As a graduate assistant in the class, I found that I was good at communicating quantitative concepts to students.
What advice would you give to those considering the UNCP online MBA program?
Be prepared and make sure that you can reserve large blocks of time each week for your studies.
