College of Business Coding Bootcamp
For Newly Admitted College of Business Graduate Students
Saturday, August 23, 2025 | Wang Center, Lecture Halls 1 & 2 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
This workshop is designed for beginners or those with basic coding experience looking to apply R, Python, and Excel for data analysis and modeling. Graduate students in the Master of Science in Decision Analytics, Master of Science in Finance, and MBA in Finance programs are strongly encouraged to attend, though all graduate students interested in coding and modeling are welcome. Students are encouraged to attend sessions in both rooms in any order.
Please remember to bring a laptop that can connect to WiFi, along with either a power cord or portable charger.
Intro to R + Excel - Lecture Hall 1
Session 1 (2:00 PM-3:15 PM) - Prof. Aaron Kim
Part 1: R Introduction (40 mins)
- Setting Up R : CRAN, R-Studio, Posit Cloud
- Basic Syntax: Data Types & Structure, Operations, If/Loop, Functions.
- Useful Packages - quantmod, nloptr
- Hands-on Exercise: Loading and exploring a dataset, Descriptive Statistics, Regression analysis
Part 2: Excel Foundations (35 mins)
- Setting up Excel (Excel 365)
- Useful functions/formulas
- Excel 1: Solver, Analysis Toolpak, Get & Transform Data (From CSV, Web)
Intro to Python + Excel - Lecture Hall 2
Session 2 (2:00 PM-3:15 PM) - Prof. Andrew Xiao
Part 1: Python Introduction (40 mins)
- Google Colab Setup and Access
- First line of code: print()
- Writing Conditional Logic: if-else statement
- Loop function
- Import and Exporting Data
Part 2: Excel Foundations (35 mins)
- Setting up Excel: Excel 365
- Useful functions/formulas
- Essential Functions: Sum, Average, IF, VLookup, XLookup
Session 3 & 4 (3:45 PM - 5:00 PM)
Following the break, students will attend the session they did not participate in before.
- If you attended Session 1 - Intro to R + Excel, you will attend Session 4 - Intro to Python + Excel after the break.
- If you attended Session 2 - Intro to Python + Excel you will attend Session 3 - Intro to R+ Excel after the break.
This allows you to experience both topics covered during the event.
Coding Bootcamp Instructors
Meet Our Expert Instructors
Our Coding Bootcamp instructors bring a wealth of expertise, providing hands-on learning experiences for students with basic coding knowledge. They will guide you through essential tools like R, Python, and Excel, helping you build a strong foundation in data analysis and modeling. With engaging exercises and practical examples, our instructors focus on developing your skills in areas like regression analysis, data manipulation, and problem-solving. You'll gain the confidence to apply your coding knowledge in real-world scenarios, preparing you for success in data-driven fields.
- Professor Aaron KimView Profile
Associate ProfessorFinance Management: Operations and Decision AnalyticsExpertiseFinancial Risk Management, Derivative Pricing & Hedging, Machine Learning & AI in Finance, Mathematical & Statistical Modeling, Computational Tools & Programming - Professor Andrew XiaoView Profile
Associate ProfessorFinance Management: Operations and Decision AnalyticsExpertiseBusiness Analytics, Data Mining & Knowledge Discovery, Urban Computing, Career & Labor Market Modeling, Asset Pricing & Economic Crises
Enhance Your Coding and Excel Skillset
Apply What You Learn Beyond the Workshop
Whether you're new to coding or building on basic experience, this workshop is designed to strengthen your ability to apply R, Python, and Excel for data analysis and modeling. You'll gain practical skills that can support your academic work and career goals. We encourage you to attend sessions in both rooms at random order, connect with faculty for guidance, and engage with peers who share your interest in coding and modeling.
