Prepare for Graduate-Level Data Science with Essential Programming Foundations
The Python Boot Camp is a self-paced, skills-focused online course designed to help students build the programming fluency needed for success in the M.S. in Data Science Residential, M.S. in Data Science Online, and B.S. in Data Science curriculum. Whether you are new to Python or returning to the language after time away, the boot camp provides structured practice, guided modules, and an applied assessment that aligns with faculty expectations for incoming students.
This offering is part of the School of Data Science’s prerequisite course suite and open to the public. It is especially recommended for students who are admitted to the MSDS Residential or Online program and need to complete the programming prerequisite as a condition of enrollment.
What You'll Learn
Prepare for graduate-level data science with essential programming foundations. The Python Boot Camp includes five units that introduce fundamental concepts and reinforce practical skills for data science:
Python syntax and data types
Control flow and iteration
Functions and modular programming
Working with data structures
Introductory data handling for analytics
The boot camp concludes with the Python Assessment, which must be completed to earn a certificate of completion. Students may choose to attempt the assessment first; if successful, they may bypass the boot camp.
Course Features
Five self-paced units with quizzes and guided exercises
Python Assessment included within the course shell
Certificate of completion
90-day enrollment window
Open to the public; UVA computing ID not required
$300 enrollment fee
Who Should Enroll
Admitted MSDS students completing prerequisite requirements
UVA undergraduates preparing for the BSDS major
Learners seeking a structured introduction to Python for applied analytics
Professionals exploring data science fundamentals
Assessment Option
The Python Assessment 2026 will also be available as a standalone enrollment, free of charge, with a 30-day access period. Only the first autograded submission will be counted.
During spring 2026, faculty and instructional staff will introduce refreshed videos, revised quizzes, and updated Gradescope assignments based on the first-cycle analysis and faculty feedback.
