DS 208 · Syllabus
Programming for Data Science
Programming foundations for data science with Python, NumPy, pandas, visualization, and reproducible workflows
This syllabus is not final. It is a working outline and will change
before the term settles — the topic sequence below is indicative, and grading,
deadlines and course policies are still being finalised. Anything here may be revised
and announced in class. Do not treat it as the official course document.
Topics by week
| Week | Topic | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Python & the Data Science Toolkit | slides |
| 2 | Python Fundamentals I: Types, Control Flow & Functions | slides |
| 3 | Python Fundamentals II: Data Structures & Files | slides |
| 4 | Modular Programming: OOP, Errors & Code Organization | slides |
| 5 | Scientific Computing with NumPy | slides |
| 6 | Data Manipulation with pandas I | slides |
| 7 | Data Manipulation with pandas II: Grouping, Merging & Reshaping | slides |
| 8 | Data Visualization with matplotlib & seaborn | slides |
| 9 | Working with Data Sources: Files, SQL & APIs | slides |
| 10 | Text Processing & Regular Expressions | slides |
| 11 | Reproducible Workflows: Git, Environments & Debugging | slides |
| 12 | Integrative Project & Presentations | slides |
Labs
| Week | Lab | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome Lab: Where You're Starting From | Open lab |
| 2 | Types, Control Flow & Functions | Open lab |
| 3 | Data Structures & Files | Open lab |
| 4 | Classes, Errors & Project Layout | Open lab |
| 5 | Arrays with NumPy | Open lab |
| 6 | pandas I: Loading, Filtering, Selecting | Open lab |
| 7 | pandas II: Grouping, Merging & Reshaping | Open lab |
| 8 | Plotting with matplotlib & seaborn | Open lab |
| 9 | Reading Files, SQL & APIs | Open lab |
| 10 | Regular Expressions in Practice | Open lab |
| 11 | Git, Environments & Debugging | Open lab |
| 12 | Integrative Project Workbench | Open lab |
Assessment
Not finalised. The weighting of labs, project and any exams will be confirmed and announced before it affects any submitted work.
Course policies
Attendance, late work, academic integrity and use of AI tools are still being finalised for this term.
Where things live
| Slides & materials | This portal — they stay up all term |
| Course introduction | Welcome deck |
| Lab notebooks | njpinton/ds208-labs |
| Submitting labs | Sign in with your student number, then upload from the lab page |