MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Big Data and Social Analytics

Online certificate course

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is exploring the development

of this online certificate course in Big Data and Social Analytics for delivery in
mid-2016. This online, part-time course for working professionals is designed
in collaboration with online education company, GetSmarter.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | School of Architecture + Planning

About the course

This online certificate course from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will

Inside the course

MODULE 1: Introduction to social physics,
basics of statistics, data,

cover both the existing fundamental theory and

practice of data analysis, as well as novel applications
relating to a new computational social science

machine learning

MODULE 2: S ources of data: wearables,

communications streams,

(social physics) that has proven to be able to

financial, honest signals, intro

deliver behavior change at scale.

to funf, privacy-protecting

LEAD INSTRUCTORS: Alex Sandy Pentland, David L.

Shrier and Yves-Alexandre de Motjoye
DURATION: 8 weeks, part-time

methods

MODULE 3: F irst-order analysis: data

exploration, stats revisited;

DELIVERY MODE: Entirely online

What does this course

cover?
This course will provide you with comprehensive
understanding of the principles of statistics; obtain
hands-on experience in working with novel data sets;

introduction to Bandicoot

MODULE 4: C
 orrelation vs causation,
second-order analysis, data
deserts, data mirages and the
data deluge

MODULE 5:  U
 sing funf, Bandicoot and
other tools

MODULE 6: Interventions, peer networks

and peer influence, data ethics

and dive into the unique open-source toolkits that

MIT Connection Science has fostered. Along the way,

MODULE 7: A
 pplications in health, finance,

concepts around the ethics of data, personal privacy,

corporate innovation, cities,

and current trends in the field will also be explored.

identity, security and privacy

On completion of this course, you will be able to:

MODULE 8: B
 uilding to Living Labs, data

1. Understand exactly what kind of data you are

dealing with in your role,
2. Conduct preliminary analysis and draw
hypotheses about that data, and
3. Design interventions using that analysis that are
intended to change behavior.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | School of Architecture + Planning

policy, data in context

Who should take this course?

This course is designed for graduates and working professionals in any role, across any
industry, who would like to gain hands-on capabilities in working with big data & social
analytics, in the context of both foundations and latest developments in data science
and analytics.
While a background in statistics will be beneficial, it is not required, as this is an
introductory course. Python programming experience is recommended. Introductory
Python courses would be suitable, such as Code Academy*

Why study with MIT and GetSmarter?

MIT has partnered with online education company, GetSmarter, to deliver this certificate
course online and part-time, taking the academic excellence and innovative thinking that
is a hallmark of MIT, to a global scale.

Learn from expert instructors who

Gain a certificate from the

Participate in a highly

are leading research in the space

worlds leading University**,

collaborative, leading online

of Big Data Analytics

online and part-time

education experience

*MIT does not explicitly endorse a specific course provider but lists this only as an example.
**source: 2015 QS World University Ranking

THANK YOU FOR DOWNLOADING THE COURSE PROSPECTUS

MIT is currently conducting market research into the public demand for skills
development in this subject area. You will be the first to know should this course go live.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | School of Architecture + Planning