Data Science Essentials
by Microsoft Team · edX
Our Verdict
Consider alternativesSkip Microsoft's Data Science Essentials (edX course code DAT203.1x) in 2026: it is a retired Azure Machine Learning Studio (classic) course whose central tool and parent certificate no longer exist, so it is now of historical interest only rather than a recommendation. It was a beginner data-science course on edX that introduced data-science theory, probability and statistics (including simulation and hypothesis testing), data cleansing and manipulation, data exploration and visualization, and an introduction to machine learning, all delivered hands-on through Azure ML Studio's drag-and-drop designer rather than by writing code. Important context: it was the second course in the now-retired Microsoft Professional Program for Data Science, which closed new track enrollments on September 15, 2019, retired the program on December 31, 2019, and kept select edX runs (including Data Science) accessible only through June 30, 2020. The core tool, classic Azure ML Studio, has since been deprecated by Microsoft, so the practical workflow no longer reflects current Azure ML. Learner sentiment was genuinely mixed: some Professional Program students found it a fruitful, enjoyable on-ramp into the ML course that followed, while others called it boring and badly edited with instructors who didn't make the topic engaging, and reviewers note you do not write a single line of code and so will not actually learn to program in R or Python from it.
The course belongs to the retired Microsoft Professional Program for Data Science (track enrollments closed Sep 15 2019, program retired Dec 31 2019, select edX runs available only through Jun 30 2020), and its central tool — classic Azure Machine Learning Studio — has since been deprecated by Microsoft. Even where archived copies still play, the labs teach an obsolete drag-and-drop workflow and the course never has you write code, so it does not teach R or Python. New learners in 2026 should choose a maintained alternative.
Best for: Realistically, almost no one starting today. The only defensible audiences are: someone already holding partial Microsoft Professional Program credits who wants to revisit archived material for continuity, or a curious learner who wants a free, low-effort historical look at how Azure ML Studio (classic) framed beginner data science. It was originally aimed at near-beginners with basic math and optional introductory R/Python who were progressing through Microsoft's data-science certificate track.
Skip if: Anyone wanting current, employable skills. Skip it if you need to actually learn Python or R coding (the course familiarizes you with tools, it does not teach programming), if you want hands-on practice in a maintained platform (Azure ML Studio classic is deprecated), if you want a verified certificate (the certificate program is retired), or if you simply want an up-to-date 2026 data-science foundation.
About This Course
Microsoft course covering data exploration, statistical testing, probability distributions, and basic ML with Azure ML.
What You'll Learn
Curriculum
What data science is and how data scientists approach problems; orientation to the data science process.
Statistical foundations including confidence intervals, correlation, and the basics needed for analysis.
Using simulation to reason about uncertainty, plus hypothesis testing.
Creating and interpreting different plot types to explore datasets and surface relationships.
Data ingestion, selection, integration, cleaning, and transformation.
Building and evaluating ML models in Azure Machine Learning Studio; six graded labs and a final exam are completed using the Azure ML tool.
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with basic mathematics
- Introductory-level knowledge of R or Python is preferable but not required
- Experience with Microsoft Azure is preferable but not required
- Willingness to troubleshoot technical problems and learn actively
Instructor
Microsoft Team
Instructor · edX
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free to access the archived content, with no paywall to view the material
- Strong instructor lineup on paper: Dr. Steve Elston (PhD in Geophysics, Princeton; Managing Director, Quantia Analytics), Prof. Cynthia Rudin (MIT Prediction Analysis Lab), and Microsoft's Graeme Malcolm
- Beginner-friendly scope that lets non-coders build a working ML model via Azure ML Studio's drag-and-drop designer without writing code
- Hands-on by design: six labs plus a final exam are all worked through inside the Azure Machine Learning tool, with unlimited attempts allowed on the labs
- Some Professional Program learners found it a fruitful, enjoyable course that effectively prepared them for the machine-learning course that followed
Cons
- Retired: part of the discontinued Microsoft Professional Program (track enrollments closed Sep 15 2019, program retired Dec 31 2019, edX runs available only through Jun 30 2020), so there is no current official enrollment or verified-certificate path
- Built entirely around classic Azure Machine Learning Studio, which Microsoft has since deprecated — the hands-on workflow is outdated and not transferable to current Azure ML
- You do not write a single line of code: labs use pre-prepared Azure ML blocks, so it familiarizes you with a tool but does not teach you to program in R or Python
- Mixed-to-negative production reception: real reviewers described it as boring and badly edited with instructors who didn't make the topic engaging, and some found advanced statistics poorly explained
Alternatives To Consider
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Data Science Essentials free?
Yes — Data Science Essentials is free to access. Course content was free to audit. The original verified certificate (paid) and its Professional Program credit are no longer available because the program was retired; treat any surviving copy as free, archived, no-credential material.
Who is Data Science Essentials for?
Realistically, almost no one starting today. The only defensible audiences are: someone already holding partial Microsoft Professional Program credits who wants to revisit archived material for continuity, or a curious learner who wants a free, low-effort historical look at how Azure ML Studio (classic) framed beginner data science. It was originally aimed at near-beginners with basic math and optional introductory R/Python who were progressing through Microsoft's data-science certificate track.
What will you learn in Data Science Essentials?
Core data science theory and how data scientists think about the data science process; Probability and statistics for data science, including confidence intervals, correlation, and hypothesis testing; Using simulation to reason about data and uncertainty; Data cleansing and manipulation: ingestion, selection, integration, and transformation of data.
What are the prerequisites for Data Science Essentials?
Familiarity with basic mathematics; Introductory-level knowledge of R or Python is preferable but not required; Experience with Microsoft Azure is preferable but not required; Willingness to troubleshoot technical problems and learn actively.
Is Data Science Essentials worth it?
The course belongs to the retired Microsoft Professional Program for Data Science (track enrollments closed Sep 15 2019, program retired Dec 31 2019, select edX runs available only through Jun 30 2020), and its central tool — classic Azure Machine Learning Studio — has since been deprecated by Microsoft. Even where archived copies still play, the labs teach an obsolete drag-and-drop workflow and the course never has you write code, so it does not teach R or Python. New learners in 2026 should choose a maintained alternative.
How we reviewed this course
This is an independent editorial assessment by Cursarium, based on edX's published course materials and aggregated public learner feedback (last reviewed 2026-06). We have not independently completed the course. Links to providers are standard references, not paid placements.
Sources
- DataBaselines — hands-on review of MPP Data Science Essentials (DAT203.1x): module list, six Azure ML labs, tool-based (no-code) learning, ~40h
- Class Central listing — Data Science Essentials from Microsoft (course description, instructors, learner reviews)
- CourseTalk — edX Data Science Essentials student reviews (~21 reviews; 'boring, badly edited', no code written)
- Build5Nines — Microsoft Professional Program is Retiring (enrollment by Sep 15 2019, program ends Dec 31 2019)
- IBL News — Microsoft Retires Its Professional Program and Opens a Role-Based Certification Site
- Microsoft Community Hub — Microsoft Professional Program retiring edX courses (retirement discussion; select runs through Jun 30 2020)