Principles of Data Science
Ends soon! Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.
Principles of Data Science
Included with
Learn more
Ask Coursera
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Master the core steps of the data science process through practical examples
Apply advanced statistics and machine learning to solve real-world problems
Develop skills to evaluate and improve machine learning model performance
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
March 2026
15 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
There are 15 modules in this course
In this course, you'll gain essential skills to transform raw data into actionable insights, covering the full data science lifecycle, from preparation to advanced machine learning techniques. By focusing on modern models and ethical considerations, you'll be prepared to make informed data-driven decisions in real-world scenarios.
This course emphasizes hands-on learning with practical examples and real-world applications to enhance your understanding of data science. You'll learn how to apply machine learning techniques to real-life problems and refine your coding and statistical skills. What makes this course unique is its balance of theory and practice, combining foundational concepts with modern advancements in data science, including ethical issues related to AI. You'll work on actionable case studies that allow you to immediately apply what you learn. This course is perfect for aspiring data scientists who have basic programming or math skills. It is ideal for beginners looking to build a strong foundation in data science. Prior knowledge of Python will be helpful but not necessary.
In this section, we define core data science terminology, explain the three domains of data science, and introduce basic Python syntax for data tasks.
What's included
2 videos5 readings1 assignment
2 videosβ’Total 2 minutes
- Course Overviewβ’1 minute
- Data Science Terminology - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 100 minutes
- Introductionβ’10 minutes
- Predicting COVID-19 with Machine Learningβ’20 minutes
- Computer Programmingβ’30 minutes
- Some More Terminologyβ’20 minutes
- Case Study What's in a Job Descriptionβ’20 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Foundations of Data Scienceβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore structured versus unstructured data, quantitative versus qualitative data, and the four levels of data for effective analysis and modeling.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Types of Data - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 120 minutes
- Introductionβ’20 minutes
- Example Coffee Shop Dataβ’20 minutes
- Digging Deeperβ’20 minutes
- Mathematical Operations Allowed at the Ordinal Levelβ’30 minutes
- Measures of Variationβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Data Classification and Measurement Conceptsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore the five steps of data science, focusing on problem definition, data preprocessing with pandas, and effective data visualization and communication.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- The Five Steps of Data Science - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
6 readingsβ’Total 125 minutes
- Introductionβ’10 minutes
- Exploring the Dataβ’10 minutes
- Exploring the Dataβ’30 minutes
- DataFramesβ’15 minutes
- Filtering in pandasβ’30 minutes
- Titanicβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- The Data Science Process and Its Core Elementsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore fundamental mathematical concepts including symbols, logarithms, set theory, and matrix operations, essential for data science modeling and analysis.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Basic Mathematics - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
4 readingsβ’Total 110 minutes
- Introductionβ’30 minutes
- Summationβ’20 minutes
- Logarithms/Exponentsβ’30 minutes
- Linear Algebraβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Foundations of Mathematical Concepts in Data Scienceβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore probability's core principles, compare frequentist and Bayesian approaches, and apply probability rules to model uncertain real-world events.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Impossible or Improbable A Gentle Introduction to Probability - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 120 minutes
- Introductionβ’30 minutes
- Bayesian Versus Frequentistβ’30 minutes
- Compound Eventsβ’20 minutes
- How to Utilize the Rules of Probabilityβ’20 minutes
- Complementary Eventsβ’20 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Exploring Probability Fundamentalsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we examine advanced probability concepts like Bayes' theorem and random variables, focusing on their application in predictive modeling and decision-making processes.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Advanced Probability - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 150 minutes
- Introductionβ’30 minutes
- More Applications of Bayes' Theoremβ’30 minutes
- Random Variablesβ’30 minutes
- Types of Discrete Random Variablesβ’30 minutes
- Example Weatherβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Probability and Statistical Reasoningβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore unbiased data sampling, measures of center and variation, z-scores, and the empirical rule to analyze and interpret data effectively.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- What Are the Chances? An Introduction to Statistics - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
6 readingsβ’Total 140 minutes
- Introductionβ’10 minutes
- How Do We Obtain and Sample Data?β’30 minutes
- Random Samplingβ’10 minutes
- How Do We Measure Statistics?β’30 minutes
- The Coefficient of Variationβ’30 minutes
- Correlations in Dataβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Statistical Foundations and Data Interpretationβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and the central limit theorem to make population inferences from sample data. Key concepts include point estimates and sampling distributions for data-driven decision-making.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Advanced Statistics - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
6 readingsβ’Total 150 minutes
- Introductionβ’30 minutes
- Sampling Distributionsβ’30 minutes
- Hypothesis Testsβ’20 minutes
- Assumptions of the One-Sample T-Testβ’20 minutes
- Type I and Type II Errorsβ’20 minutes
- Example of a Chi-Square Test for Goodness of Fitβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Statistical Inference and Testing Conceptsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore methods for communicating data effectively, focusing on identifying misleading visualizations, understanding correlation versus causation, and creating clear, insightful visuals for diverse audiences.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Communicating Data - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 110 minutes
- Introductionβ’20 minutes
- Line Graphsβ’30 minutes
- Box Plotsβ’30 minutes
- Simpson's Paradoxβ’10 minutes
- Verbal Communicationβ’20 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Data Communication and Visualization Fundamentalsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore machine learning fundamentals, including regression, classification, and model evaluation.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- How to Tell if Your Toaster is Learning - Machine Learning Essentials - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
6 readingsβ’Total 145 minutes
- Introductionβ’20 minutes
- ML Isn't Perfectβ’20 minutes
- Heart Attack Predictionβ’15 minutes
- ULβ’30 minutes
- Predicting Continuous Variables with Linear Regressionβ’30 minutes
- Adding More Predictorsβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Machine Learning Fundamentalsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore naive Bayes, decision trees, and PCA for real data analysis and prediction.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Predictions Don't Grow on Trees or Do They - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
6 readingsβ’Total 160 minutes
- Introductionβ’30 minutes
- Understanding Decision Treesβ’20 minutes
- Dummy Variablesβ’20 minutes
- Diving Deep into ULβ’30 minutes
- An illustrative example beerβ’30 minutes
- Feature Extraction and PCAβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Text Analysis and Model Interpretationβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore transfer learning and pre-trained models, focusing on their application in ML tasks. Key concepts include BERT, GPT, and adapting models for computer vision and NLP.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Introduction to Transfer Learning and Pre-Trained Models - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
3 readingsβ’Total 80 minutes
- Introductionβ’30 minutes
- NSPβ’20 minutes
- TL with BERT and GPTβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Foundations of Transfer Learning and Pre-trained Modelsβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore algorithmic bias mitigation, model and data drift handling, and strategies for building fair and robust machine learning systems.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Mitigating Algorithmic Bias and Tackling Model and Data Drift - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
7 readingsβ’Total 75 minutes
- Introductionβ’10 minutes
- Types of Biasβ’10 minutes
- Measuring Biasβ’10 minutes
- Mitigating Algorithmic Biasβ’10 minutes
- Bias in LLMsβ’10 minutes
- Emerging Techniques in Bias and Fairness in MLβ’10 minutes
- Sources of Data Driftβ’15 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Ethical Considerations in Machine Learningβ’10 minutes
In this section, we explore structured approaches to data, ML, and architectural governance to drive digital transformation, ensure compliance, and unlock value through effective management and control.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- AI Governance - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 60 minutes
- Introductionβ’10 minutes
- Mastering Data Governanceβ’10 minutes
- Documentation and Cataloging the Unsung Heroes of Governanceβ’10 minutes
- Navigating the Intricacy and the Anatomy of ML Governanceβ’20 minutes
- Beyond Training Model Deployment and Monitoringβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Exploring AI Governance and Data Managementβ’10 minutes
In this section, we analyze the COMPAS dataset for bias detection and implement text embeddings using OpenAI models. We focus on feature standardization, encoding, and practical data science applications.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Navigating Real-World Data Science Case Studies in Action - Overview Videoβ’1 minute
3 readingsβ’Total 75 minutes
- Introductionβ’15 minutes
- Preliminary Data Explorationβ’30 minutes
- Text Embeddings Using Pretrainedmodels and OpenAIβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 10 minutes
- Ethical Challenges in Data Science Applicationsβ’10 minutes
Instructor
Offered by
Explore more from Machine Learning
Course
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offeredSpecialization
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offeredCourse
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offered- J
John Wiley & Sons
Course
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offered
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.
If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. Youβll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.
Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. Youβll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.
More questions
Financial aid available,
