The World of Data

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Many aspects of our lives have been converted to data. Once our lives and the world around us are datafied, the data can be converted into new forms of information and insight. In this class, we will learn about the basics of data science from data collection and cleaning to descriptive and predictive data analysis to visualization and storytelling. We will contemplate the insights we can learn about data and discuss principles for identifying and creating useful data that can be assessed to give insight into the world we live in. We will also discuss the limitations and biases associated with data and the ethical challenges that arise when using certain types of data. Through a data-centric lens, we will also learn the basics of python programming. No programming experience is required.