Data Science
Foundations course
Learn the foundational coding and statistics skills needed to start your career in data science.
About the course
Need more prep for our Data Science Career Track? You've come to the right place. In this mentor-led course, you'll spend 4-6 weeks learning foundational skills in Python programming and statistics, as well as introductory data science concepts—all via a curriculum specifically designed to help you pass the Data Science Career Track admissions technical skills survey.
Use Python to complete real-world coding exercises and begin your data science journey
Your own mentor, focused on your success
What you'll learn
Confidently tackle our Data Science Career Track technical skills survey
Determine whether the Data Science Career Track is right for you by trialing our unique Springboard learning experience
Each week, you'll have 30 minutes of 1-on-1 time with your personal mentor, a data science expert. You can expect:
Get assistance on any problem, big or small, from your personal mentor, an industry expert
Personalized learning support
Control over your agenda
Decide what you want to talk about, from weekly deliverables to career advice and more
Inspiration and motivation from the best
As an experienced data scientist, your mentor is your window into the world of data science
This course is for go-getters who want to enroll in our Data Science Career Track, but who need an introduction to, or a refresher in, Python programming or core data science concepts. No prior coding experience is required, but to be successful, we recommend that students are already proficient in high-school level mathematics and are eager to learn more advanced concepts where necessary.
By the end of the course, you'll be able to:
Meet some of the mentors
Alex Chao
Data Scientist
Mitul Tiwari
Lead Data Scientist
Ike Okonkwo
Senior Data Scientist
Sameera Poduri
Head of Data Science
Our world-class mentors are hand-picked for their experience and love of teaching.
Who this course is for
Pricing
Time to complete depends on your weekly commitment. On average, it takes 4-6 weeks to complete on a 10 to 15-hour-per-week schedule.
$490
What's included in the course fee:
Curriculum created by educators and experts in Python and data science—specifically designed for future Data Science Career Track students
6 weekly sessions (30 minutes each) with your expert mentor
Lifetime access to the curriculum and practice exercises
Proprietary learning content, practice exercises, quizzes, and projects
Dedicated student advisor and student operations support
Weekly office hours with the broader Springboard data science community
Mentor support, including review of exercises and your final project
Preferential Data Science Career Track application review and admissions fast-tracking upon course completion
Introduction to Data Science & Python
- Introduction to Python
- Statistics refresher
- Data visualization
UNIT 1
10-15 hours
Intermediate Python for Data Science
- Dictionaries and their applications
- Advanced control flow techniques
- Input and output
UNIT 2
4-5 hours
What you'll learn
Foundations of Probability
- Counting and probability
- Conditional probability and independence
- Bayes Theorem
UNIT 3
4-5 hours
- Assemble your Python toolkit
- Data wrangling with Pandas
- Data visualization with matplotlib
UNIT 5
Exploring Data
10-15 hours
Python Case Study
- Acquire, clean, and transform data
- Explore data, identify patterns
- Solve a realistic business problem for Yelp
UNIT 6
5-10 hours
Computer Science Primer
- Basics of data structures
- Fundamentals of algorithm analysis
- Basic algorithms: sort and search
UNIT 4
5-10 hours
Download a detailed syllabus
Have any questions?
Cohorts begin every Monday
Duration of the program
4-6 weeks
$490
Price
1:1 calls once a week
Mentorship
Data Science Career Track
Apply tuition to the Career Track
How long is the course?
The total estimated workload is 40-60 hours, expected to be completed in 4-6 weeks.
Are there any prerequisites for this course? Do I need to know Python?
No prior coding experience is required, but to be successful, we recommend that students are already proficient in high-school level mathematics with an openness to learning more advanced concepts where necessary.
Does this prep course guarantee I get accepted into the Data Science Career Track?
This course will prepare you with the skills needed in Python and statistics to pass our admissions technical skills survey, but enrolling in this course does not guarantee admission into the Data Science Career Track.
How do I transition from this course to the Data Science Career Track?
You may apply to the Data Science Career Track at any time, even after enrolling in the prep course. As soon as you feel comfortable in Python and statistics, we encourage you to fill out an application and take the admissions technical skills survey. However, students who complete the entire prep course and submit the final project will be fast-tracked through the Career Track application process.
What additional support will I have?
You will be invited to join our broader weekly data science office hours with all current data science students. You will also have access to the community, where you can ask technical questions or seek assistance from fellow classmates or the course community manager, an expert data scientist. Furthermore, you will have the support of a dedicated student advisor, there to assist you throughout the course. Finally, your classmates! You aren’t going through this alone; you'll have the support of others starting out on their own unique data science journeys.
What happens if I need more than six weeks to finish the material?
You will have 6 weekly mentor calls once the course starts and you will be paired with your mentor before the official start date. If you need additional time to complete, you are able to continue through the curriculum without a mentor beyond 6 weeks for as long as needed as you will have lifetime access.
What does lifetime access to my Springboard account mean?
Once you complete the course, you'll have lifetime access to your Springboard account, including the online community and office hours. We'll even provide you with an additional six months of access to external resources, upon request. Whenever our course development team updates the curriculum, you'll see it too. Lifelong learning guaranteed!
Is this course conducted online or in person?
All our courses take place entirely online. All you need is an internet connection.
Can my employer pay for this course on my behalf?
Absolutely! Many of our students have been sponsored by their employers. Most companies are very happy to invest in their employees' learning and development. Check with your employer to find out whether they can support your tuition.
Can I receive a refund if I cancel without completing the course?
Due to the short duration of the course and fast paced nature of the curriculum we do not offer refunds for our prep course. If you have a unique situation we encourage you to reach out to your student adviser to discuss potential options.
Apply tuition to the Career Track