Artificial Intelligence Essentials

Artificial Intelligence Essentials

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Explore the essentials of data and AI techniques, methodologies, and best practices.

$2,700.00 USD

$3,000.00 USD
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Financing and flexible payment options available. Learn more

Next Cohort Date

January 6, 2025
December 2, 2024

Program Features

Qualification

Certificate

Duration

9 weeks

Commitment

20 hrs weekly

Skill Level

Beginner

Delivery

Weekly mentorship, feedback, and support

Start Date

First Monday of each month

Led By

Experienced industry mentors

Features

Flexible schedules and small class sizes (5 max)

Value

Affordable high-quality education

Learn the essentials of artificial intelligence

Take the first step towards your career as an artificial intelligence specialist.

This hands-on program is for aspiring artificial intelligence specialists who want to learn how to work with data and AI in the technology industry. Under the guidance of your industry mentor, you'll learn Python programming for data analysis and visualizations, cloud computing for generative AI and dashboards, the basics of machine learning, and gain hands-on experience to tackle real-world data challenges. By the end, you'll be prepared to excel in your artificial intelligence studies.

The SMU x Flatiron School difference: 

  • Mentorship by an artificial intelligence specialist
  • Small group classes (max 5 students)
  • 100% online programs

Over the course of 9 weeks you'll go from complete beginner to understanding the basics of one of the most popular coding languages in the world and the intricacies of machine learning AI. Throughout the program you’ll be personally mentored by an industry expert - expect highly personalized mentorship with small class sizes. Classes are 100% online, so you can learn from the comfort of your own home, in your own time.

On completion of this program, you may choose to continue on to Artificial Intelligence Foundations I.

Curriculum

Industry-approved curriculum to support your journey into the world of AI

Introduction to Python - 3 weeks

This introduction to Python course covers essential programming concepts for data science. You'll learn scripting basics, algorithms, and data structures like tuples and dictionaries, and explore Python libraries and functions. The course ends with a project where you'll develop a Python script to analyze data, preparing you to tackle real-world data science challenges.

What you'll learn:

  • Apply the basics of programming language methodologies to real world scenarios
  • Demonstrate foundational skills for scripting with a programming language, python

Cloud Computing, Generative AI, and Dashboards - 3 weeks

This course focuses on cloud computing for cost-effective, scalable data processing. You'll master technical components like PySpark to integrate Python, SQL, and Spark for handling structured and semi-structured data. Using libraries such as Numpy, Pandas, and PySpark, you'll work with big data and create stunning visualizations with Python libraries like Seaborn. The course also explores advanced data analysis using generative AI and interactive dashboards, culminating in a project that brings big data to life through visualizations.

What you'll learn: 

  • Create a dashboard using data science methodologies with industry standard tool(s)
  • Model exploratory data analysis with tools for multiple data sets. (SQL and SQL table relations)
  • Utilize programming techniques to process large data samples with (PySpark and Big Data)

Introduction to Machine Learning - 3 weeks

This course introduces the fundamentals of AI and machine learning, covering core concepts like statistical learning theory and supervised learning. You'll explore models such as logistic regression, decision trees, and support vector machines, and learn to evaluate them using metrics like ROC AUCs. The course concludes with a project where you'll select and deploy the ideal model for a specific task, demonstrating your mastery of the data science pipeline.

What you'll learn: 

  • Utilize foundational machine learning modeling like decision trees and supervised learning
  • Prepare data for machine learning modeling with preprocessing (feature extraction) and normalization
  • Utilize mathematics, statistics, and probability for data science methodologies to derive insights

Tuition

Flexible small group classes are the best way to learn from top industry mentors in a fun, collaborative environment, while still getting plenty of personalized feedback.

Upfront

$2,700

Pay as You Go

$3,000

3 monthly payments of $1,000

Course Mentors

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Artificial Intelligence Essentials FAQs

Learn more

Can I use my military benefits to apply to your programs?

Our programs are not currently set up to accept military benefits, such as the GI Bill, as a form of payment directly from the student at this time. However, if your military benefits can be arranged to pay the school directly, this may be an option in rare cases.

Do I need a college degree to enroll in your programs?

No, you do not need a college degree to enroll in our programs. A high school diploma or GED is the only educational requirement. Our programs are designed to be accessible to a wide range of students with diverse backgrounds.

Can I use FAFSA or financial aid to pay for your programs?

No, we do not accept FAFSA or traditional financial aid for our programs. However, we do offer loans for full-time students, as well as interest-free installment plans and upfront payment options for everyone else. Please contact us for more details about these flexible payment options.

Will I earn a certificate or some other credential when I complete the Essentials program?

Yes! Upon the completion of each program in the pathway, you will receive a Credly digital badge from SMU and a certificate from Flatiron School. Digital badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and certificates can be displayed on portfolio websites and social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thousands of our community members use their program certificates and badges to demonstrate skills to potential employers — including our hiring partners — along with their LinkedIn networks. Our curriculum is powered by Flatiron School, whose programs are well-regarded by many top employers, who contribute to our curriculum, hire our community, and partner with us to train their own teams.

Do I need prior experience to enroll in the Essentials program?

Nope! This program is designed for complete beginners - no experience required.

Can I skip the intro program and go directly to the Foundations program?

It is VERY occasionally possible to skip the essentials program and go directly to Foundations I. However, we highly recommend that most students do not skip Essentials as it covers a tremendous amount of information and skills that will be used throughout the entire career pathway program and will require some catching up if skipped.

The essentials program is still difficult and covers a ton of material that is necessary for proceeding in the following programs and won't be reviewed in  Foundations. All of the future program material will build upon the essentials.

If you would like to be considered to enter directly into the Foundations-level programs, you'll be required to submit materials demonstrating your proficiency in the materials covered in the Essentials program.

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Whether you want to build games, design products, prevent the next cyber attack, or create the next internet-breaking AI, we provide the training to bring your ideas to life.

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