Forge
Node Pro - Advanced Data Science Course
Take your data science skills to the next level & engage with the local community.
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1) Course Overview
Discover what you'll learn in Node Pro. Learn more ↓
2) Meet Your Instructor
Get to know your new data guide. Learn more ↓
3) Extra Perks
Explore Forge student perks. Learn more ↓
4) All the Details
Learn about dates, deadlines, & tuition. Learn more ↓
Course Overview
Hone your data skills by working on real-world problems
In Node Pro, you'll review the art and science of understanding, manipulating, and effectively using data. You'll then go on to create projects using real word data, all while diving deep into machine learning and trying real world applications such as image recognition and natural language processing.
This course is designed for students who have some experience with code or data science. (CS 2XXX or Stat 2XXX, Node/Node Lite, Source, or similar) — if you have minimal background, we recommend taking Node Lite or Node instead.
Through the use of real-world data, including data from the Treasury, non-profits, and the City of Charlottesville, students will learn what it takes to take a data science project from start to finish..Students will then use these skills to help address problems in their communities.
This course is designed for students who have some experience with code or data science. (CS 2XXX or Stat 2XXX, Node/Node Lite, Source, or similar) — if you have minimal background, we recommend taking Node Lite or Node instead.
Through the use of real-world data, including data from the Treasury, non-profits, and the City of Charlottesville, students will learn what it takes to take a data science project from start to finish..Students will then use these skills to help address problems in their communities.
I learned a lot from taking Source lite. I learned different languages like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and how to work with them together. I would recommend this intro course to my friends.
Cece Hohman
NODE PRO COURSE GRADUATE
Source Lite taught me valuable information that could be helpful to someone who wants to be a CS major, or anybody who just wants to have those skills.
Stephen Klem
NODE PRO COURSE GRADUATE
Engage with the data science community
We'll introduce you to current research in the data science community and show you how you can contribute. Near the end of the program, you'll develop a final project of your own that shares your work with this community.
Skills You'll Learn
Data Discovery, Manipulation, and Analysis
APIs will be introduced as a way of gathering data.
Machine Learning
Understanding a broad overview about ML and when it is used.
Natural Language Processing
Introduction to the world of NLP and image classification.
Projects You'll Complete
Project 1: Data Deep Dive
The goal of this project is to have you and your team answer real life data science questions and share your findings. These projects are intentionally vague, we want you to dive deep into the data and figure out the important questions yourself. Each team will be randomly assigned a project topic.
Project 2: ML Research Mini Project
Students will evaluate state of the art ML models and learn how the models work internally to determine if they are applicable to help solve a problem.
Project 3: Presentation of Data Analysis
As a final project, your findings from the first two projects will be combined to create an impactful project idea that is presented to the class. Presentations will reflect how your models work and what impacts they may hold.
The goal of this project is to have you and your team answer real life data science questions and share your findings. These projects are intentionally vague, we want you to dive deep into the data and figure out the important questions yourself. Each team will be randomly assigned a project topic.
Project 2: ML Research Mini Project
Students will evaluate state of the art ML models and learn how the models work internally to determine if they are applicable to help solve a problem.
Project 3: Presentation of Data Analysis
As a final project, your findings from the first two projects will be combined to create an impactful project idea that is presented to the class. Presentations will reflect how your models work and what impacts they may hold.
Meet Your Instructor
Christian Jung
Christian will be your guide in learning advanced data science this spring. Christian is a Forge member and took Node himself two years ago. Christian is one of our most experienced and highly-recommended instructors who's taught 100+ students over the last year.
Our student teaching model means our courses are constantly changing and improving, enabling you to learn skills that are more up-to-date than what you might learn in a typical classroom.
It also means we can be better mentors and guides for you. We know where you might get stuck and how to guide you through those challenges because we've been in your shoes before. And we know what makes a lesson fun (or extremely boring), so we always design programs that we'd want to participate in ourselves.
Our student teaching model means our courses are constantly changing and improving, enabling you to learn skills that are more up-to-date than what you might learn in a typical classroom.
It also means we can be better mentors and guides for you. We know where you might get stuck and how to guide you through those challenges because we've been in your shoes before. And we know what makes a lesson fun (or extremely boring), so we always design programs that we'd want to participate in ourselves.
Joining the Forge Community
At Forge, we give our people the skills they need to realize their big ideas and a community they can call home. Our courses are a great place to get to know our community, make new friends, and prepare for your future. All of our students get access to exclusive perks and opportunities beyond whatever course they're taking:
Free access to all of our Crash Courses
Exclusive community events and jobs
Opportunities for (sometimes paid!) projects to practice your new skills
Priority applications for Launch summer internship program
Dates, Deadlines, and Tuition
Workshop Schedule
Node Pro has one section that meets online Sundays from 5-7pm.
This course starts the week of February 14 and continue for 10 weeks.
This course starts the week of February 14 and continue for 10 weeks.
Time Commitment
Courses expect a 4-6 hour/week commitment. Outside of the 2 hours in your workshop meeting time, you can expect to meet with your instructor weekly for labs (at flexible times) and to spend some time working with your classmates on projects.
Application Process and Deadlines
Applications for Spring 2021 are currently closed. Applications for Fall 2021 will reopen sometime in August.
$200 Course Fee
$125 for college students
Only $95 for UVA students
$125 for college students
Only $95 for UVA students
For UVA students, each of our courses is just $200 $95 — that's less than a weekly lunch out for the semester. We're proud to partner with these two UVA schools to make this reduced cost possible.
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Do you offer financial aid?
We are committed to making our courses accessible to all. We reduce or eliminate the program fee to all students who need it, no questions asked. Our aim is to enable everyone who wants to learn and join the Forge community. This is made possible by $20,000 in generous donations from our alumni network each year.
15% of students receive financial aid from Forge. 54% of aid goes to first-generation college students, and 80% of aid goes to people of color.
15% of students receive financial aid from Forge. 54% of aid goes to first-generation college students, and 80% of aid goes to people of color.
What's your refund policy?
We think you'll love Forge, but if you decide you need to drop, you may request a refund within 10 days of your course's first workshop meeting time. You'll receive a full refund, less a $20 operations fee. Beyond this date, no refunds will be given.
What are your online courses like?
We know how to do online teaching right. Our Skills Courses will be all-online for the foreseeable future to protect the health of our students and instructors. Teaching online is not new for us - we know how to make online courses fun, engaging, and interactive. We know you can't just film a traditional lecture and hope for the best!
Since we've moved our courses online, our student satisfaction ratings haven't changed -- 95% of students would still recommend their course to a friend.
Since we've moved our courses online, our student satisfaction ratings haven't changed -- 95% of students would still recommend their course to a friend.
Do I need to have any background experience to apply?
No, you don't! This course is designed for people with little-to-no background experience.
What's your climate impact?
We donate 1% of all course tuition to carbon removal initiatives around the world. We also power our clubhouse with 100% clean wind and solar power. Learn more.
I have a question that wasn't answered here.
No problem! Reach out to hello@joinforge.co, and/or come to our online Open House to talk to our team and learn more.
"It's electric being at Forge. Surrounded by my people and given all the tools I need for success, I feel like I can do absolutely anything. The relentless creative energy of our students is what makes Forge unlike anything I've ever been a part of.
There is something so fundamentally special about our members that just working and learning beside them has helped me grow enormously as a leader and a learner."
- Rachel, Forge alumna
There is something so fundamentally special about our members that just working and learning beside them has helped me grow enormously as a leader and a learner."
- Rachel, Forge alumna
Explore Other Forge Programs
⛰ 1% of our membership dues and courses tuition goes toward carbon removal. ⛰ Learn more →
About Forge (formerly HackCville)
Forge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that prepares students with the modern skills they need to make an impact in the world. Each year, over 1,000 students learn things like design, marketing, and data science through our fun, engaging, community-driven projects and programs. We strive to empower students to realize their own potential while creating opportunities for them to make an impact for good.
In turn, we provide talent to 200+ tech companies, startups, and nonprofits across the country. Our home is our clubhouse near the University of Virginia, but our broader network of 2,000+ spans the globe. More about us →
In turn, we provide talent to 200+ tech companies, startups, and nonprofits across the country. Our home is our clubhouse near the University of Virginia, but our broader network of 2,000+ spans the globe. More about us →
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© 2021 Forge Academy
A 501(c)(3) non-profit
EIN: 46-1626349
A 501(c)(3) non-profit
EIN: 46-1626349