SYBB 402

Introduction to Scientific Computing

Course Overview

SYBB 402: Introduction to Scientific Computing is a 1-credit, fully online course designed to introduce students to the basics of data analysis, scripting, and computational skills. This course is perfect for those with little or no prior programming experience, though advanced programmers can also benefit from learning the tools and resources available for conducting scientific research. This course was developed by Dr. Gürkan Bebek to provide a foundational understanding of scientific computing.

Instructor Information

  • Instructor: Gürkan Bebek, Ph.D., M.S.
  • Office: 10900 Euclid Ave. BRB 921, Cleveland, OH 44106-4988
  • Phone: (216) 368-4541
  • Email: gurkan.bebek@case.edu

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Summarize and represent datasets.
  • Complete preliminary data analysis.
  • Build pipelines for data analysis using tools like R and shell scripts.
  • Manipulate data files for bioinformatics analysis.
  • Use open-source software and platforms.

Course Format

This course is delivered entirely online through Canvas and is asynchronous. Students will engage with video lectures, readings, and tutorials assigned for each module. The course is divided into 9 modules, with an expected total workload of approximately 45 hours.

Assignments and Final Project

Assignments will include hands-on work and problem-solving exercises, submitted via Canvas. The final project involves analyzing a dataset using R and producing a reproducible report in HTML format.

Grading

  • Assignments: 65%
  • Final Project: 35%

Additional Information

  • Course Website: Canvas
  • Textbooks: No required textbooks, but recommended online resources include “R for Data Science” by Grolemund and Wickham, and “R Programming for Data Science” by Peng.

For more information, please request the full syllabus via email (available to CWRU students only).