Grading
Learning outcomes for this course are assessed continuously through homework assignments and a semester-long group project.
There is no final exam. Instead, evaluation reflects your ability to apply the course material in practice and to collaborate effectively.
Grading Breakdown
| Type | Weight |
|---|---|
| Homeworks (3 × 20%) | 60% |
| Group project | 40% |
| Participation & engagement | Bonus |
Homeworks (60%)
There will be three homework assignments (20% each), aligned with the major course blocks:
- HW1 (Weeks 3–5): Programming foundations in R and Python.
- HW2 (Weeks 5–7): SQL queries, web scraping, and API integration.
- HW3 (Weeks 7–9): Software engineering for data science (functions, packages, testing, documentation).
Each homework is:
- Released during a lecture (Weeks 3, 5, 7).
- Discussed the following week in the practical (Weeks 4, 6, 8).
- Due the week after (Weeks 5, 7, 9).
Assignments are individual and must be submitted via GitHub Classroom.
Warning
Late submissions are penalized 1 point per 24 hours after the deadline, unless an extension is granted for documented reasons.
Group Project (40%)
The semester project is the capstone assignment. Working in groups, you will design a complete data pipeline: from data collection and management (via SQL, APIs, web scraping) to analysis (R/Python), and finally to communication (dashboard, web app, or BI report).
Deliverables must be hosted on GitHub and be fully reproducible.
Evaluation criteria include:
- Data pipeline & reproducibility (SQL integration, scripts, documentation)
- Code quality (clarity, modularity, version control, testing, literate programming)
- Application/visualization (Shiny/Streamlit app, Power BI dashboard, or similar)
- Final presentation (clarity, storytelling, reflection on tools and methods)
Project timeline in the schedule:
- Week 11: Project supervision & integration check
- Week 12: Mid-term project review (practical session)
- Week 13: Refinement & preparation of deliverables
- Week 14: Final presentations & peer review
Warning
The project requires significant teamwork, coordination, and planning. Start early!
Participation & Engagement (Bonus)
Participation is not mandatory but can earn you a bonus on the final grade.
Students may volunteer to present exercise corrections during practical sessions.
- Bonus points are awarded for clarity, correctness, and effort.
- Multiple contributions are possible, but the bonus is capped.
- The bonus can make a difference in borderline cases (e.g., raising a 3.5 to a 4.0).
Summary
Your grade will be determined by:
- 60% three homeworks (Weeks 3–9)
- 40% semester-long group project (Weeks 11–14)
- Bonus for active engagement through exercise corrections
This structure rewards both individual mastery (homeworks) and teamwork on applied projects, while encouraging active participation.