Coursera

What is Data Science? (Coursera)

Offered by IBM,

The art of uncovering the insights and trends in data has been around since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians used census data to increase efficiency in tax collection and they accurately predicted the flooding of the Nile river every year. Since then, people working in data science have carved out a unique and distinct field for the work they do. This field is data science. In this course, we will meet some data science practitioners and we will get an overview of what data science is today.

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This course is part of multiple programs
This course can be applied to multiple Specializations or Professional Certificates programs. Completing this course will count towards your learning in any of the following programs:

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Defining Data Science and What Data Scientists Do
In this module, you will view the course syllabus to learn what will be taught in this course. You will hear from data science professionals to discover what data science is, what data scientists do, and what tools and algorithms data scientists use on a daily basis. Finally, you will complete a reading assignment to find out why data science is considered the sexiest job in the 21st century.

WEEK 2
Data Science Topics
In this module, you will hear from Norman White, the Faculty Director of the Stern Centre for Research Computing at New York University, as he talks about data science and the skills required for anyone interested in pursuing a career in this field. He also advises those looking to start a career in data science. Finally, you will complete reading assignments to learn about the process of mining a given dataset and about regression analysis.

WEEK 3
Data Science in Business
In this module, you will learn about the approaches companies can take to start working with data science. You will learn about some of the qualities that differentiate data scientists from other professionals. You will also learn about analytics, story-telling, and the pivotal role data scientists play in creating an effective final deliverable. Finally, you will apply what you learned about data science by answering open-ended questions.

Go to Class

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