Option one: Do nothing.
As my web-page for BIOS 543 says, the Prerequisites are:
"Graduate standing, or one course in statistics and permission of instructor."
Although mathematics will be minimized, at least one course in college level
algebra is assumed. All the course notes, homework etc. are available from these
set of web-pages. So, look thru it. I really do assume minimal familiarity with
the material. If you think you can handle it without a refresher course, do
nothing. If you have taken a stats course ever, you probably should choose this
option.
On the other hand, students with a more recent exposure to the ideas behind
probability and statistics do seem to have an easier time in my class. So:
Option two: Take a "baby stats"
course.
I'm not being disparaging, it's just that this type of course goes by many
names. Basically any applied statistics course
would do. What I mean by "applied" is this: If the course has "theory of ..." in
the title then the course will be of less use. What you are looking for is a
course that actually analyzes data (as versus a probability theory course).
At VCU this course is: Basic Practice of Statistics (STAT 210)
Option three: Take a "literacy"
course.
This kind of stat course is more thinking about the issues involved with data.
It covers material concerning polls and getting data and is less involved in the
nitty-gritty. This is the least scary option of the truly math phobic.
At VCU this course is: Statistical Thinking (STAT 208)
Option four: Take any stats
course or pick up a book and read it yourself.
Doing something may be better than doing nothing.
IMHO, if you are computer phobic this is a much more pressing
issue than worrying about statistics. I'd suggest that you do whatever it takes
to be comfortable with:
Microsoft Windows
A word processor (such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect).
An eMail program (such as Netscape Messenger or Microsoft Outlook)
A hypertext browser (such as Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Explorer)