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MITx: Learning Time Series with Interventions

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An in-depth introduction to time series analysis, from learning structured models to predictions and reinforcement learning, with hands-on projects - Part of the MITx MicroMasters program in Statistics and Data Science.

Learning Time Series with Interventions
14 weeks
10–14 hours per week
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule
Free
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Started Sep 17
Ends Dec 30
Starts May 12, 2025
Ends Sep 1, 2025

About this course

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If you have specific questions about this course, please contact us atsds-mm@mit.edu.

A time series is a time-stamped set of noisy observations from an underlying process that evolves over time. These observations are dependent on each other in a particular, unknown, fashion. Examples of such series include stock values, value of a currency with respect to the dollar, mean housing prices, the number of Covid-19 infections, or the pitch angle of an airplane during flights. Modeling such processes for the purpose of prediction or intervention is a fundamental problem in statistical learning.

This graduate-level course that will address three lines of development:

Learning Structured Models: In this module, we focus on learning the underlying stochastic dynamic model that generates the data. We discuss how algorithms depend on the underlying class of models adopted for this learning. We address the accuracy and reliability of our learned models.

Prediction: In this module, we make no assumptions on how the data is generated and focus on predicting the next outcome of the process based on past observations. In this context, we analyze Matrix and Tensor Completion Methods in providing such predictions and we analyze the accuracy of these prediction in the presence of noise, missing data.

Optimal Intervention and Reinforcement Learning (RL): A key ingredient of RL is a simulator that can estimate the value of a reward for a given intervention. In this module course, we build on techniques from RL as well as the first two parts to show how new intervention/control can be derived with better outcomes.

This course will consist of three hands-on projects, in which learners will apply knowledge gained in lectures, build models and implement algorithms to solve problems posed on real time series data sets.

This course is part of theMITx MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science. Master the skills needed to be an informed and effective practitioner of data science. You will complete this course and three others from MITx, at a similar pace and level of rigor as an on-campus course at MIT, and then take a virtually-proctored exam to earn your MicroMasters, an academic credential that will demonstrate your proficiency in data science or accelerate your path towards an MIT PhD or a Master's at other universities. To learn more about this program, please visithttps://micromasters.mit.edu/ds/.

At a glance

  • Institution: MITx
  • Subject: Data Analysis & Statistics
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites:
    • Undergraduate Python programming
    • Undergraduate multi-variable calculus, and linear algebra,.
    • Undergraduate probability theory and statistics
    • basic knowledge of complex numbers

What you'll learn

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  • Analyze time series through the perspective of Linear Time-invariant (LTI) systems and use methods and tools such as spectral analysis.
  • Model time series using autoregressive moving average (ARMA) and integrated processes.
  • Perform prediction, imputation on general time series data using matrix completion methods.
  • Use various dynamical programming and reinforcement learning algorithms to optimize control and interventions for time series.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Statistics and Data Science (Time Series and Social Sciences Track) MicroMasters Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
5 graduate-level courses
Instructor-led
Assignments and exams have specific due dates
1 year 1 month
10 - 14 hours per week

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