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Looking for a way to process your scientific information more effectively? Then this R programming course is just for you!

In today's data-driven world, the ability to analyze and visualize data is essential for effectively processing scientific information. R is a programming language that has become a popular choice for statistical computation and visualization, particularly in the fields of bioinformatics and data science due to its broad applicability.

This comprehensive course is designed to provide you with a solid understanding of the different data types and structures used in R. You will learn how to apply these concepts to perform data analysis, as well as how to install and use additional packages that can enhance your analysis capabilities. The course covers topics such as descriptive analysis and reporting through RMarkdown, and also includes instruction on how to build an interactive application using a Shiny app. By the end of this course, you will have gained valuable skills that can be applied to a wide range of data analysis tasks.

This course is designed for those who have already basic digital skills and want to learn how to critically process and visualize scientific data. No prior programming knowledge is required.

R is an open-source language, meaning it is free to use and has a large community of developers constantly creating new tools and packages to improve its functionality. Other similar tools or software often require a commercial (expensive) license. R has powerful data analysis and visualization capabilities, including a wide range of statistical and graphical tools that can help you gain insights into your data. Learning R can enhance your job opportunities, particularly in fields where data analysis and visualization skills are in high demand. Overall, learning R can be a valuable skill for anyone looking to work with data, regardless of their field of study or work.

Microdegree R

How to participate in the course?

DISTANCE LEARNING – EVENING CLASSES & @HOME (October – December 2023)

  • Over a 6 week period, the subject matter is mainly processed via self-study, where the study material is provided with the necessary text and explanations to process independently. In addition, we make the recordings from the daytime training available as an additional tool for studying.
  • We foresee three contact moments that take place every two weeks on the campus from 6 PM to 8 PM. These contact moments can also be followed remotely via live streaming and are recorded.

DAYTIME CLASSES - ON CAMPUS or @HOME or COMBINATION - (February – April 2024)

  • 6 weeks - 8 hours of classes per week – each week 2 times 4 hours on 2 different days
  • On campus - You will join classes with our students in the Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics program.
  • @ home – You can join the lessons taught on campus online.
  • Combination on campus and @ home - Depending on your agenda you can choose to follow some classes on campus and join the other classes online.

Course organization – Daytime classes

The course organization in daytime

Course organization – Distance learning

The course organization in distance learning

Learning outcomes

  1. Knowledge of the different data types and structures in R.
  2. Apply different data types and structures in R.
  3. Select and apply the correct visualization technique for graphical representation of variables in a dataset.
  4. Search, install, test and apply R and Bioconductor packages.
  5. Conduct data manipulations on data sets and write R code to solve a problem.
  6. Apply the basic knowledge about statistics and execute a descriptive statistical analysis to evaluate biological and biomedical data sets.
  7. Apply the different statistical tests for analyzing one or more variables in a dataset and report the statistical results in a brief and scientifically approved manner.

Date and location

DISTANCE LEARNING

Starts in the week of October 23, 2023 and ends in the week of December 4, 2023. The three contact moments can be followed remotely or on our campus in Bruges.

DAYTIME CLASSES

Starts in the week of February 12, 2024 and ends in the week of April 19, 2024. The classes can be followed remotely or on our campus in Bruges.

Duration

The course takes 6 weeks followed by an exam.

Number of credits

5 ECTS

Cost

For academic year 2023-2024: € 349.6

Enrolment

Enrolment for the 2023-2024 academic year starts 1 July 2023. You can enrol at one of the Info Days on campus, by appointment at the student secretariat of the Howest campus where your programme takes place, or by using the online registration system.

Which documents will you need?

  • A copy of your ID (front and back) will be requested during online enrolment.
  • You will also need to upload a copy of your (higher education) diploma.

Online enrolment

After you've registered

  • After completing the online application, you will receive an e-mail with all the information needed to complete your enrolment.
  • Once your file has been checked and processed by Howest, you will receive your contract and the request for payment of tuition fees and extra study costs electronically.

FAQ

Can't find what you're looking for, or do you have a specific question about this course? Don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to help you further.

Jasper Decuyper

Jasper Decuyper

Contact person

Both variants cover the same course content but are organized differently. The day course takes place on campus in Bruges, Belgium, and occupies two half-days per week over a six-week period. Presence on campus is not mandatory, as the classes can also be attended online. In the @home course, the material is mainly processed through self-study. Over a six-week period, there are only a limited number of contact moments (three in total) that take place in the evening.

Yes, the course includes an assignment (25% of the final grade) and an exam (75% of the final grade). Those who pass the course (with a score of 10 or more out of 20) will receive a credit certificate.

After successfully completing the micro degree and passing the exam, you will receive a credit certificate for this course. With the credit certificate, you can apply for an exemption from the course unit “Data analysis, visualization and biostatistics using R” of the Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics and Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics at home programs.