Module: Introduction to Machine Learning

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Introduction to Machine Learning
Module Code	CSC1166 (ITS: CA271B)
Faculty	Computing	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

This course will cover introductory topics and conventional algorithms needed to understand the field of Machine Learning. The course will prepare students to understand and distinguish between main groups of methods used in Machine Learning, supervised and unsupervised, and how and when they are applicable. Key topics will include Regression, Decision Trees, Naive Bayes, Neural Networks, Clustering and Principal Component Analysis.

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply knowledge about the purpose and key applications of Machine Learning in choosing appropriate Machine Learning methods to given appliciation tasks.
2. Distinguish between supervised and unsupervised Machine Learning methods and when and how to apply them.
3. Apply methods of Linear Regression to model and predict data dependencies.
4. Construct and apply Decision Tree learning to predict the values of variables of interest.
5. Build data classifiers by utilising Naive Bayes algorithms and Support Vector Machines.
6. Apply knowledge of the concepts and application of different types of Artificial Neural Networks in selecting appropriate neural-network based systems to given application contexts.
7. Obtain insights from unstructured data by using unsupervised methods such as Clustering and Principal Component Analysis.
8. Apply selected Machine Learning methods using publicly available data sets in Python or similar.
9. Explore existing ML libraries, tools and platforms such as Scikit-Learn and HuggingFace.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	36	Lectures and in-class tutorials covering key topics of the course. Full class notes are provided in advance of lectures and material is divided by lecture and topics covered. Course content and supplementary material on key topics are available online.
Laboratory	24	Laboratory hands-on experience running machine learning algorithms on existing data sets both locally and using online frameworks.
Independent Study	127.5	No Description
Total Workload: 187.5

Section Breakdown
CRN	21211	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator		Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Four short quizzes in Loop covering module material from the preceding 2-3 weeks; conducted supervised in class.	40%	n/a
Loop Quiz	Extended quiz covering all module topics; conducted supervised in class.	25%	n/a
Essay	1250 word essay on an application area of machine learning including examples of how technologies work, and discussion of ethical aspects; each student has to do a different topic.	35%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Fundamentals and Applications of Machine Learning
Purpose and objectives of Machine Learning, basic terminology and concepts, real-world machine learning applications, supervised vs. unsupervised learning.

Probability and Linear Algebra
Simple approaches to prediction, Linear algebra review, Probability Distributions (Gaussian), Least Squares, Nearest Neighbours, Decision Theory, Bayesian Methods.

Supervised Learning
Main methods used in supervised learning including Regression, Decision Trees, Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machines, validation and model evaluation, Basics of Neural Networks, Ensembles, Perceptron.

Unsupervised Learning
Principal techniques used in unsupervised learning including Clustering, K-means, Principal Component Analysis.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee and Aoife D'Arcy: 2015, Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analytics: Algorithms, Worked Example, and Case Studies, 9780262029445
Trevor Hastie, Robert Tibshirani, Jerome Friedman: 2009, 2. The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction, 2, 0387848576
Tom M. Mitchell: 1997, Machine learning, McGraw-Hill, New York, 9780070428072
Richard O. Duda, Peter E. Hart, David G. Stork: 0, Pattern Classification, 2, 0471056690

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None