CSCI1090 · Computer Science

Data Science Principles

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course will provide students with an overview of the field of data science and its responsible uses, along with an introduction to programming in Python from a data science perspective. An emphasis will be placed on solving problems and applying data science principles to real-world datasets. For example, students will learn sorting algorithms that would be taught in a traditional introduction to programming class, but then will apply the algorithms to a data science problem (for example assessing the fairness of a loan scoring algorithm with respect to protected classes of individuals). Python programming topics will include data structures, functions, recursion, algorithms, exploratory data analysis, data processing and visualization. Students will engage through readings and in class discussions on topics such as applications of data science for the common good, privacy in a digitally connected world, issues of representation and omission in data collection, biases inherent in constructing information infrastructures and classification schemes, and the impacts of algorithmic decision-making.