B8136-001: Introduction to Programming Using Python
R - A Term, 02:15PM to 05:30PM
Credit hours: 1.5
Location: URI 142
Instructor: Mattan Griffel
This course is an introduction to programming with Python for total beginners. Python is a really popular language used by companies like Google, Facebook, Dropbox, Instagram, and Reddit. Python is used for all sorts of things like building websites, web scraping, data analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing. The language is designed to be easy to read, while still being very powerful, which makes it a great language for beginners to learn.
This class is an online/offline hybrid-course, meaning that students will complete a 90-minute video modules before coming to each week’s 90-minute in-person session.
In this course, we’ll be learning the basics of programming – variables, strings, lists, functions, and all that stuff – but we’ll be doing it with a focus on business use cases. You’ll learn how to write scripts that automate tedious tasks, read other people’s code, parse and interpret data, interact with APIs, and build web scrapers. This might be one of the most useful classes you ever take.
Students will need to bring a laptop to class. Both Macs and PCs (or even Linux!) are fine, as long as your operating system is relatively up to date (at least Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.8).
Mattan Griffel
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Business
Mattan Griffel is a recipient of the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence. Mattan is a two-time Y Combinator-backed entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Ophelia, a company that helps people quit opioids without having to go to rehab.
Mattan teaches entrepreneurship, leadership, and technology. He has advised and worked with companies...