Professors Sharon Solis and Ziad Matni will each teach an introductory data science course during Summer Session B, which runs from August 2 through September 10.
April 5, 2021
Sharon Solis's course is a technical introduction to Data Science offered through the Computer Science Department. Her course, CMPSC 90DA, teaches critical concepts and skills in computer programming and statistical inference in conjunction with hands-on analysis of real-world datasets. These datasets include economic data, document collections, geographical data, and social networks. CMPSC 90DA also delves into social issues surrounding data analysis, such as privacy and study design. This course is designed specifically for students who have not previously taken statistics or computer science courses. Professor Solis makes sure students leave CMPSC 90DA with a basic understanding of programming in Python.
Lectures for CMPSC 90DA will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9:30 - 10:20 am, with a lab on Thursdays at 11 am. More information about the class and the instructor can be found at https://datascience.ucsb.edu/course/1.
Dr. Ziad Matni will instruct a special topics course in the Department of Communication. COMM 160DS focuses on the basics of Data Science within the context of the application of Data Science to the Social Sciences (e.g. Communication, Political Science, Sociology, etc...). The lectures begin by defining what DS is and introducing the technical requirements and some of the techniques that are used. The first part of the class and readings delve into the social impact of Data Science, the myriad ethical issues surrounding it (with case studies). The subsequent parts give an overview on the basics of the scientific method of research, and the fundamentals of statistical analysis and Python programming involved. The target students are of two kinds: (a) primarily, those who have little-to-no knowledge of data science but want to get a comprehensive "big" picture w/ some technical details, and (b) secondarily, those with a technical background who want to better understand the social/ethical impacts of data science and its use in the Social Sciences.
Lectures for COMM 160DS are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 12:30 - 1:50 pm. Interested students can find a sample syllabus online.
Both CMPSC 90DA and COMM 160DS will provide exciting introductions to the field of data science. Registration for COMM 160DS is currently open via GOLD. Students can obtain an enrollment code CMPSC 90DA by completing the form at https://datascience.ucsb.edu/course/1.
