Natural Science 0104 - Introduction to Data Science

Due to the growing availability of "big data" and the high computational speeds and storage capacity of modern computers, data science has become a highly influential field that impacts every aspect of our lives. Endeavors as disparate as facial recognition, climate modeling, and training computers to write poetry are linked by the fact that in each case researchers are using computers to find and exploit patterns in data. These patterns can be used to make predictions, test hypotheses, and to simulate real-world phenomena to an eerily accurate degree. In this course, you will learn the fundamental concepts of data science both as an exposure to this important field and also as a starting point for further study and research. In particular, you will learn and practice writing computer code to access data, explore data, and analyze data.

Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time