Intro to R

In this 6 week course, you will learn the fundamentals of R, a statistical programming language, and use it to wrangle data for analysis and visualization. The programming skills you will learn are transferable to learn more about R independently and other high-level languages such as Python. At the end of the class, you will be reproducing analysis from a scientific publication!

Class information

  • Quarters Offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2026

  • Dates: Fall 2025: Tuesdays on Sept. 23, 30, Oct. 7, 14, 28, Nov. 4

  • Time: Tuesdays Noon - 1:30pm PT

  • Time commitment: 6 weeks of 1.5 hour classes and 1-2 hours of practice outside class.

  • Audience: Researchers who want to do more with their data analyses and visualizations. This course is appropriate for those who want to learn coding for the first time, or have explored programming and want to focus on fundamentals in R.

  • Prerequisites: None

  • Followed by: Intermediate R

Learning Objectives (LOs)

  • Analyze Tidy datasets in the R programming language via data wrangling, summary statistics, and visualization

  • Describe how the R programming environment interprets complex expressions made out of functions, operations, and data structures in a step-by-step way.

  • Apply problem solving strategies to debug broken code.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How often is this class taught?

    This class is offered twice a year (currently fall and spring quarters). Check the schedule to see when it will next be offered.

  • Can I work through the materials without taking the class?

    Yes, you can access the course materials on your own any time.

  • Can I get a badge without taking the class?

    You need to complete the live class to get a badge.

  • Can I take the class if I’m not an employee at Fred Hutch?

    The class is open to members of the Cancer Consortium including Fred Hutch, the University of Washington, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

  • Can I take more than one class at once?

    You can, but we recommend you don’t mix R and Python at the same time, because it can be confusing to switch between the two.

  • Can I take this class more than once?

    You can sign up more than once, but be aware that there is tyspically a waitlist. We will prioritize students who have not taken the class. If there is room you are welcome to take it again.