University of Michigan · on Coursera
Charles Severance's beloved introduction to programming in Python, databases, web data, and a capstone, assuming zero prior experience. The right first step for anyone who needs to learn to code before they can learn ML.
Beginners building toward ML. This is a beginner-level course in Data Science & Math for AI, running about 2 months at 10 hrs/week (5 courses, ~79 hours).
Free to audit · $49/mo Coursera subscription for certificate (all materials also free at py4e.com). Included with Coursera Plus; financial aid available. Seen 2026-11-01.
Rafael Irizarry's nine-course sequence teaches R, probability, inference, regression, machine learning, and productivity tools, ending in a capstone. For learners who prefer a statistics-first, university-branded path into data science.
Google's entry-level analytics program covers the data lifecycle, spreadsheets, SQL, R, Tableau, and a case-study capstone. The best-known on-ramp for people with no technical background who want data skills before tackling ML.
Twelve courses from Python and SQL basics through data visualization, machine learning, and a capstone, with no prerequisites. Suited to career changers who want an employer-recognized, end-to-end data science credential.