ST2195 Programming for Data Science

Course Outline

1
Introduction

Name: Leong Chee Ming

Email: [email protected]

2
Introduction

This course will cover the main principles of computer

programming with a focus on data science applications by
following the entire pathway from raw data to databases, data
wrangling and visualisation, machine learning frameworks up to
software development.

3
Aims and Objectives

• Gain knowledge on the main principles of programming in the data science

context
• Develop ability to handle and visualise data
• Apply computational thinking in various applications domains
• Provide training in state-of-the-art tools, e.g. SQL, Python, R and Git
• Communicate the data analysis results to stakeholders and share work
with people in the Data Science industry

4
Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course and having completed the essential reading and
activities students should be able to:

• Convert raw data to relational databases such as SQL

• Import data to Python and R, apply data manipulation and visualization
• Program in Python and R
• Develop software using version control via Git

5
Assessment

1. Individual case study piece of coursework (50%)

2. Two-hour unseen written examination (50%)

6
Course Materials
The following materials, available through the UOL Virtual Learning Environment (VLE),
will be your main resources
1. ST2195 Subject Guides
2. ST2195 Practice Assignments

Readings/References:
• McKinney W. Python for Data Analysis, 2nd edition O’Reilly (2017)
• Gutagg J.V. Introduction to Computation and Programming using Python, MIT
Press, 2nd edition (2017)
• Wickham H. and Grolemund G. R for Data Science, 1st edition O’Reilly (2017)
• Wickham H. Advanced R., 1st edition Chapman & Hall (2015)
• Rammakrishnan R. and Gehrke J. Database Management Systems, 3rd edition,
McGraw Hill (2002)

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Course Structure – Lectures and Practical Sessions

Course materials divided into 10 Blocks

• Each Block will be covered in ~2 Lectures and 1 Practical Session
• Total of 19 Lectures and 10 Practical Sessions

Lectures will go through the content in the ST2195 Subject Guides (19 sessions)
• Coverage of key concepts/highlights
• Illustrations through demos and trying out the code

Practical Sessions will go through the ST2195 Practice Assignments (10 sessions)
• Do the assignment in groups of 4-5 students each
• For each assignment, a few groups will be randomly selected to present their solution

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Course Structure – Details
Block Objective
1 • Introduce yourself to Data Science and review real-world data examples
Programming Tools

• Gain experience using basic tools and technology for programming, such as notebooks, IDEs and
Data Science
Ecosystem &

version control using Git.

Each Block will have ~2

Lectures and 1 Practical
Session

• Gain familiarity with various data types and structures as well as popular data-exchange formats
Interacting with Data

(e.g. JSON, XML, CSV).

2
Structures

• Be able to work with various data types and structures and data-exchange formats in R and
Python.

• Use relational database models and structured query languages (SQL)

3
• Gain experience with interfacing SQL from R and Python

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Course Structure – Details (cont’d)

Block Description
Core Programming Concepts

• Understand and use basic programming concepts such as control flow, variable and function
scoping in R.
4
• Understand and use basic programming concepts such as exceptions, error handling, testing
and debugging in R.

• Understand and use basic programming paradigms in R.

5
• Understand and use basic programming concepts and paradigms in Python.
Wrangling

• Understand and use data types and structures in R.

Data

6 • Demonstrate how to clean and manipulate data in R.

• Manage data types and structures in Python.

10
Course Structure – Details (cont’d)
Block Description
Graphics and Data

• Gain familiarity with graphics and data visualizations in R.

7
Visualisation

• Understand the grammar of graphics paradigm and its implementation in R.

• Use graphics frameworks in Python.

8
• Produce network visualisations
Frameworks

• Introduce yourself to Machine Learning frameworks.

Learning
Machine

• Gain experience with the formation of data analytic pipelines and principles of parallel computing.
9
• Interact with Machine Learning frameworks in R.
• Interact with Machine Learning frameworks in Python.
Development
Software

• Gain experience with documenting code

10 • Understand software testing frameworks and test-driven development.
• Developing R and Python packages

11
Course Structure – Additional Activities

Revision Class (1 session)

• Scheduled for March 2022

Individual Project Reviews (2x)

• 1st Submission – Plan and Commencement (early Jan 2022)
• 2nd Submission – Near Completion (mid-end Feb 2022)

Class Test/Assignment (2x)

• Take-home mode, self-timed, closed-book

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Course Structure – Summary

Course Divided into 10 Blocks

• Lectures (19 sessions)
• Practical Sessions (10 sessions)

Additional Activities
• Revision Class (1 session)
• Individual Project Reviews (2x)
• Class Test/Assignment (2x)

13
Key Takeaways

• R and Python (also SQL, Git)

• Know how to find help
• Practice is important
• Individual project worth 50%

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