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HarvardX: Data Science: R Basics

4.5 stars
93 ratings

Build a foundation in R and learn how to wrangle, analyze, and visualize data.

Data Science: R Basics
8 weeks
1–2 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

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Starts Mar 19
Ends Jun 19
Starts Apr 17
Ends Dec 18

About this course

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The first in our Professional Certificate Program in Data Science, this course will introduce you to the basics of R programming. You can better retain R when you learn it to solve a specific problem, so you'll use a real-world dataset about crime in the United States. You will learn the R skills needed to answer essential questions about differences in crime across the different states.

We'll cover R's functions and data types, then tackle how to operate on vectors and when to use advanced functions like sorting. You'll learn how to apply general programming features like "if-else," and "for loop" commands, and how to wrangle, analyze and visualize data.

Rather than covering every R skill you might need, you'll build a strong foundation to prepare you for the more in-depth courses later in the series, where we cover concepts like probability, inference, regression, and machine learning. We help you develop a skill set that includes R programming, data wrangling with dplyr, data visualization with ggplot2, file organization with UNIX/Linux, version control with git and GitHub, and reproducible document preparation with RStudio.

The demand for skilled data science practitioners is rapidly growing, and this series prepares you to tackle real-world data analysis challenges.

At a glance

  • Institution: HarvardX
  • Subject: Data Analysis & Statistics
  • Level: Introductory
  • Prerequisites:

    An up-to-date browser is recommended to enable programming directly in a browser-based interface.

  • Associated programs:
  • Language: English
  • Video Transcripts: اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ, Deutsch, English, Español, Français, हिन्दी, Bahasa Indonesia, Português, Kiswahili, తెలుగు, Türkçe, 中文
  • Associated skills:Data Science, Data Analysis, Document Preparations, Linux, RStudio, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Version Control, Probability, Dplyr, Sorting, Ggplot2, R (Programming Language), Github, File Organization, Machine Learning, Unix, Git (Version Control System)

What you'll learn

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  • Basic R syntax
  • Foundational R programming concepts such as data types, vectors arithmetic, and indexing
  • How to perform operations in R including sorting, data wrangling using dplyr, and making plots

Frequently Asked Questions

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Honor code statement
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Research statement
By registering as an online learner in our open online courses, you are also participating in research intended to enhance HarvardX's instructional offerings as well as the quality of learning and related sciences worldwide. In the interest of research, you may be exposed to some variations in the course materials. HarvardX does not use learner data for any purpose beyond the University's stated missions of education and research. For purposes of research, we may share information we collect from online learning activities, including Personally Identifiable Information, with researchers beyond Harvard. However, your Personally Identifiable Information will only be shared as permitted by applicable law, will be limited to what is necessary to perform the research, and will be subject to an agreement to protect the data. We may also share with the public or third parties aggregated information that does not personally identify you. Similarly, any research findings will be reported at the aggregate level and will not expose your personal identity.

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Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact harvardx@harvard.edu and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

This course is part of Data Science Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
9 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
1 year 5 months
2 - 3 hours per week

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