In Fall 2022, the course is being taught by Andrew Wood (aewood@bu.edu).
Databases and other collections of data are everywhere. Retailers use data about customers and purchases to increase profits. Researchers analyze genomic data to find treatments for diseases. Policymakers analyze socioeconomic data to gain insights that guide their decisions. Online music and video services use data mining to deliver customized recommendations. How does all this work? CS 105 examines how data is organized, processed and displayed. Topics include relational databases and the SQL query language, the writing of simple programs to process data, the principles of data visualization, and data-mining techniques for discovering patterns in data. At the end of the course, students apply the topics they have learned to a collection of data that interests them. This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, and Critical Thinking.
Last updated on September 6, 2022.