DTBS 0009 - Python for Data Analysis
Course Description
Knowledge of Python has become a highly sought-after skill by employers in a wide variety of fields. This general-purpose programming language is now so common that it’s taught from high school through graduate school.
In this hands-on course, you’ll learn the basics of Python and take home code that you can reuse in your workplace. The course involves lecture, demonstration, hands-on practice and instructor coaching, giving you all the tools you need to gain this vital skill.
Python can be used for a wide variety of applications, especially in data analytics. The simplicity of this tool lets newcomers learn to use it quickly, allowing for more time solving problems and less time thinking about how the language actually works. Yet Python is still powerful enough to be the programming language of choice for many experts.
Course Outline/Topics
- Overview of Python
- Uses of Python in business and academics
- How to configure your development environment
- Saving current work and accessing previous work
- Basic commands and capabilities
- Workspace navigation
- Data types, operations, logic and control flow commands
- Running programs in the IDE and command prompt
- Explaining how Python uses various data types
- Creating your own Python functions for financial calculations
- Interpreting and fixing errors through debugging
- Using and installing packages
- Exploring the built-in standard packages that come with Python
- Extending functionality by installing new packages with pip
- Explaining the most commonly used packages
- Importing and manipulating data
- Getting user input into your programs
- Reading and writing to text files
- Data cleaning and preparation tips
- Merging together multiple data sources
- Reading and writing to Excel files
- Intro to Pandas DataFrames
- Making decisions with data
- How to translate business needs into small useful programs
- Incorporating business logic into data processing rules
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
- Understand the capabilities of the Python ecosystem
- Memorize the basic syntax and program flow operators
- Install packages to extend the features of the core language
- Solve practical business problems with Python automation
- Build a portfolio of simple programs that help you save time and avoid errors in your daily work
Prerequisites
No previous computer science or programming skills are necessary.
Who Should Attend
Analysts and other professionals who interpret data, identify trends and provide insights.
Testimonials
"Jacob was amazing! This was my very first programming course and not only was Jacob very knowledgeable, but he also was able to convey complex programming concepts to all of us. Jacob was also very positive and provided excellent guidance and encouragement!"
-Rod Brushwood, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, June 2022
"This has been my favorite course on the data analysis certification yet! I am excited to use the things that I have learned from this class in my job. Jacob was super helpful with problems, along with questions on real-world issues. The PowerPoint and project questions were very well thought out and thorough on the concepts. I really enjoyed the virtual class. Living an hour away from campus, it allowed me to focus more on the material and not have to worry about making the drive in time. The remote desktop was great for an easy start to the classes without having to worry about downloading a bunch of programs. Very well put together class."
-Morgan Bauer Millipore, Sigma, Participant, March 2021
"It was definitely a good class to learn an overview of the variety of things Python can be used for in the workplace. [The instructor was] very patient and helpful to everyone’s questions – makes a huge difference when learning new complex (or even simple) concepts and especially via virtual learning."
-Participant, March 2021
Instructors
Applies Towards the Following Credentials
- AI Python Certificate : Required
- Data Analysis Certificate : Elective
- Python Microcredential : Core