Data Science Student Gateway

8.5 week summer data science intensive, fully online

Course Information – Updates for 2021 Coming Soon:

• Syllabus: Summer 2021 Data Science Syllabus
• Short Description: LACOL Summer Data Science
• Staff: Course Personnel
• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions for Students
• Online Office Hours: DS Office Hour Schedule  (sample subject to change)
• Weekly Schedule: Course Schedule by Topic
• Policies: Course Policies

Course Site:

• Course website and Discussion Forum:  (registration required)
• RStudio Server: (registration required)
• DataCamp: DataCamp Dashboard (registration required)
• Slack Chat: (registration required)

This class is generously supported by DataCamp for the Classroom. Enrolled students will have full access to DataCamp videos and exercises for 6 months during and after the summer term.

Meet the Summer Course Instructors (Bios):

Course Description:

In summer 2021, an 8.5 week intensive course, Introduction to Data Science, is offered to students through an innovative liberal arts (LACOL) partnership.  This team-taught class is designed to introduce students to the concepts, theory, and practice of modern data science. Students will learn a range of skills for working with real-world data that apply to many fields of study, research, citizenship, and life.  No prior data acumen or coding experience is required, but a foundation in algebra and calculus is strongly recommended.

This course is open to students in the Liberal Arts Collaborative for Digital Innovation (LACOL), a partnership of Amherst College, Bryn Mawr College, Carleton College, Davidson College, Hamilton College, Haverford College, Swarthmore College, Vassar College, Washington and Lee University, and Williams College.

Flexible Learning in a Fully Online Class:

Summer students do not need to be resident on their campus during the term, but every student must have daily access to a computer and reliable, high speed internet. Lectures, assignments, data labs, and projects will be conducted in a fully supported, virtual classroom environment with a mix of synchronous (scheduled) and asynchronous class sessions, breakouts, supported work-time, and online office hours.  See FAQ and course policies above for more information.

Registration Opens March 1st, 2021!  

If you are a student at a LACOL campus, contact your Liaison or Registrar for more information about enrollment and eligibility. You may be able to receive full college credit through your home institution.