Programming and Data Analysis 5 credits

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to manage and analyse large and complex datasets is an essential skill for economists and business professionals. Traditional tools are often insufficient to handle the growing volume, speed, and complexity of data. This course gives you the foundational programming and data management skills needed to work effectively in modern analytical environments. It will help you build a practical toolkit that supports both your academic work and future professional development. During the course, you will be introduced to two key software environments: Python and SQL. You will learn fundamental programming concepts and how to use these tools for data collection, processing, and manipulation, as well as feature engineering, descriptive analysis, and visualisation. The course covers the core principles of database management and big data, emphasising Python for programming and visualisation and SQL for database querying and management. Practical applications and hands-on exercises are central to your learning experience. The course will also introduce how to use Generative AI tools to assist in programming and data analysis tasks, reflecting current professional practices. After completing the course, you will be able to write basic programs in Python, use SQL to retrieve and manage data, and apply descriptive and graphical methods to analyse large datasets. You will also understand how to structure data for predictive modeling and be prepared to build upon these skills in more advanced data analytical courses. You will have a versatile skill set that prepares you for further studies and applied data analysis in economics and business.