Data Science Principles
Overview
This unit aims to introduce students to the key concepts and techniques in data science and Big Data analytics. Students will be introduced to different stages in data analytics and given the opportunity to plan and design data science projects that address business and organisational needs.
Requisites
04-October-2026
30-May-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Appreciate the roles of data science and Big Data analytics in organisational contexts
- Compare and analyse the key concepts, techniques and tools for discovering, analysing, visualising and presenting data
- Describe the processes within the Data Analytics Lifecycle
- Analyse organisational problems and formulate them into data science tasks
- Evaluate suitable techniques and tools for specific data science tasks
- Develop and execute an analytics plan for a given case study
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-Campus Lecture |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| On-campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULOs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Individual/Group | 10 - 30% | 4,5,6 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual/Group | 10 - 30% | 1,2,3 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 10 - 30% | 4,5,6 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 10 - 30% | 2,3,4,5,6 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 10 - 30% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Content
- Introduction to Data Science and Big Data Analytics
- Roles of Data Science for business
- Contemporary data structures and management
- Data Science tools, techniques and technologies
- The Data Analytics Lifecycle
- Analytical techniques and methods
- Analytics plan development
Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.