Question 1

What is data science?

Accepted Answer

The tech we use every day creates huge amounts of data, and data science allows us to put it to good use. By combining software engineering, statistics, and probability, we can analyze and visualize data to find valuable insights, better understand trends and relationships, and predict future events and outcomes.

Question 2

What is an IDE?

Accepted Answer

IDEs (integrated development environments) are programs that make it easier to write code in your preferred programming languages. They provide features that help you save time and effort while building programs, including syntax highlighting that makes your code more readable and debugging tools that help you catch and prevent errors in your code.

Question 3

What can you do with data science?

Accepted Answer

Data science has a *ton* of applications. You probably interact with it every day without realizing it. It's in the recommendation engines that power platforms like Netflix and Amazon, virtual assistants like Siri and Alex, and rideshare apps like Uber. Data science is used in almost every industry, and new uses are still being discovered.

Question 4

What kind of jobs use data science?

Accepted Answer

Data Scientists are in high demand, but the job can look very different at different companies. Some Data Scientists help inform strategy and operations with data-driven insights — like which web page layout users like the most — while others figure out how various factors affect specific outcomes. There are also Machine Learning Engineers and Specialists who build machine learning models and applications, NLP Specialists who clean and process text and unstructured data, and more.

Question 5

What else should I study if I am learning data science?

Accepted Answer

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for working with databases, and R is popular among Data Scientists because it was designed specifically for data analysis and visualization. If you're entirely new to programming, Python might be a better choice. Its syntax is more beginner-friendly, and it has a wide selection of third-party data science libraries.

Question 6

What is PostgreSQL?

Accepted Answer

PostgreSQL (or Postgres) is an open-source database and database server known for its performance and stability. It's used by companies like Apple and Meta, and in this course, we'll take a closer look at Postgres and show you how to set it up on your computer.

Getting Started Off-Platform for Data Science

About this course

Syllabus

Command Line

Using Jupyter Notebook

Setting Up IDEs and Text Editors

Setting Up PostgreSQL

Using Github

Certificate of completion available with Plus or Pro

Hands-on learning

Projects in this course

SnapFit Robots, Inc.

Manhattan Zoo

Earn a certificate of completion