Fall 2025 - RISK 231 D100
Tools for Data-Driven Decision Making (3)
Class Number: 7040
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
BurnabySep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Fri, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Cherie Ng
cherien@sfu.ca
1 778 782-8004
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Prerequisites:
BC Mathematics 12 (or equivalent) or any 100-level MATH course with a minimum grade of C.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Introduction to key analytical tools used to organize and process data to support decision making. Students with credit for ACMA 231 may not take this course for further credit.
COURSE DETAILS:
Actuaries frequently work with data to perform meaningful analyses that generate insights to aid in decision making. This course will familiarize students with gathering, processing, and analyzing data to solve actuarial problems using some key tools: Excel, VBA, R and SQL.
Grading
- Assignments 40%
- Exam 1 20%
- Exam 2 20%
- Exam 3 20%
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
- Lecture notes are provided by the instructor.
- You should have Microsoft Office, which is free for SFU students (https://www.sfu.ca/information-systems/services/software/microsoft-365.html.html).
- R and RStudio will need to be downloaded onto your computer:
R: https://mirror.las.iastate.edu/CRAN/
RStudio: https://rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.