# Data Analytics Foundations Course Online (Self-Paced) Canonical URL: ## Overview **Build a Strong Foundation in Data Analytics** This beginner-level course introduces the key stages of the data analytics process, covering essential topics such as descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as data distribution concepts. **Discover How Data Drives Decisions** Explore how organizations leverage predictive and prescriptive analytics to guide strategic decisions. Learn about the tools commonly used in industry and the growing role of Big Data in business operations. **Dive Into Statistical Analysis and Modeling** Examine core statistical methods, including foundational algorithms, theorems, and models used for data analysis and forecasting. ## What you'll learn - Understand core statistical concepts including measures of central tendency, data dispersion, and the normal curve - Explore descriptive and inferential statistics, including probability distributions like binomial and Poisson - Learn to analyze and forecast data using correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression techniques - Apply predictive analytics with tools like trendlines, moving averages, and scenario modeling - Create clear data visualizations using charts, histograms, icon sets, color scales, sparklines, and pivot tables - Discover prescriptive analytics techniques such as Solver and linear programming to optimize decision-making ## Prerequisites Students should feel comfortable using Excel at a basic level. Experience equal to our [Excel Level II: Intermediate](https://www.nobledesktop.com/classes/intermediate-excel-classes) class is strongly recommended, but not required. ## Curriculum ### Basic Data Analysis - Measures of Central Tendency - Measures of Position - Measures of Dispersion - The Normal Curve - Descriptive Statistics ### Predictive Analytics I - Forecasting - Series Forecast ### Data Visualization I - Charts - Icon Sets - Histograms - Moving Average ### Predictive Analytics - Correlation - Regression - overview - Regression - analysis - Linear regression - Multiple regression ### Probability - Probability I - Probability II - Binomial Probability - Poisson Probability ### Prescriptive Analytics I - What If Analysis - Data Table (3 variables) - Scenario Manager - Scenario Manager - Pivot ### Data Visualization II - Sparklines - Color Scales - Drawing Shapes - Pivot Tables - Pivot Charts ### Prescriptive Analytics II - Solver - overview - Linear Programming - The Solver model - Non-Linear Programming - Evolutionary Solver ## Instructors ### Brian McClain — Program Director & Senior Instructor Brian McClain is an experienced instructor, curriculum developer, and web developer. Brian served as Director for a coding bootcamp before joining Noble Desktop in 2022, where he is now a lead instructor and course developer for both JavaScript and Python. He teaches Web Development, JavaScript, Python for Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI. Prior to Noble, he taught Python Data Science and Machine Learning as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Westchester County College. Brian is also an active industry professional in the field of generative AI app development. His website and iOS app, Artmink, provides appraisals of art and antiques from user-uploaded images. ### Art Yudin — Program Director & Senior Instructor Art Yudin is a FinTech enthusiast who has a great passion for coding and teaching. Art is the founder and CEO of Practical Programming (a Noble Desktop partner company), a leading training company for aspiring developers and data scientists. Currently, Art develops financial services software and leads classes and workshops at Practical Programming in New York and Chicago. He is the author of several coding publications including "Building Versatile Mobile Apps with Python and REST with React and Django." ### Mourad Kattan — Program Director & Instructor Mourad Kattan is an instructor and Program Director of Business, Finance, & Excel at Noble Desktop, teaching classes and designing courses in Excel, finance, accounting, and financial modeling. Before Noble Desktop, Mourad worked as a financial analyst at Credit Suisse and H/2 Capital Partners. In those positions, he used advanced analytical and financial skills to evaluate a variety of investments. Mourad graduated from the University of Pennsylvania summa cum laude and is part of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Learn more about [Mourad Kattan's](/mourad-kattan) background and expertise. ### Garfield Stinvil — Senior Instructor Garfield is an experienced software trainer with over 16 years of real-world professional experience. He started as a data analyst with a Wall Street real estate investment company & continued working in the professional development department at New York Road Runners Organization before working at Noble. He enjoys bringing humor to whatever he teaches and loves conveying ideas in novel ways that help others learn more efficiently. Since starting his professional training career in 2016, he has worked with several corporate clients including Adobe, HBO, Amazon, Yelp, Mitsubishi, WeWork, Michael Kors, Christian Dior, and Hermès. Outside of work, his hobbies include rescuing & archiving at-risk artistic online media using his database management skills. ### Colin Jaffe — Instructor Colin Jaffe is a programmer, writer, and teacher with a passion for creative code, customizable computing environments, and simple puns. He loves teaching code, from the fundamentals of algorithmic thinking to the business logic and user flow of application building—he particularly enjoys teaching JavaScript, Python, API design, and front-end frameworks. Colin has taught code to a diverse group of students since learning to code himself, including young men of color at All-Star Code, elementary school kids at The Coding Space, and marginalized groups at Pursuit. Colin lives in Brooklyn with his wife, two kids, and many intricate board games. ### Kash Sudhakar — Instructor Kash specializes in full-stack web development, data analysis & visualization, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and applied computer science. With over 6 years of teaching, curriculum, and leadership experience across coding boot camps and other educational institutions, combined with over 3 years of professional software engineering and data science expertise, he's driven to help shape the next generation of technologists and creative coders. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $595