Q. How can I learn how to program/code in R (or python)?
Does HKS provide any training for R or python? What online courses might be a good place to start? Or, what if I've already learned the basics and want to learn more?
Does HKS provide any training for R or python? What online courses might be a good place to start? Or, what if I've already learned the basics and want to learn more?
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In the beginning of each semester, we typically have a two day hands-on workshop that delves into R for those who have no experience. This is a great first step to learning R, and highly recommended if you have no experience with programming or R.
Information about Data Carpentry, Spring 2026
Whether you've taken Data Carpentry already, or are just starting out, there are some great courses, with exercise files that Harvard gives you access to through LinkedIn Learning. Here is a list of some Beginning and Intermediately level courses in R to choose from.
An extensive collection of free books online on all aspects of R, including specialized book for different topics, like geospatial, journalism, and life science: Big Book of R
In the Fall of 2025, we started a new series of 7 lunchtime Python lessons. This would be a great choice if you are just getting into python, or would like a review of the basics. There are videos and Google Colab code available on the Python Bites Guide.
There are even more courses covering Python than R in LinkedIn Learning. You can see a filtered list of the Beginning and Intermediately level ones on their site. The "Essentials" series is often a good one to start with.
Though not quite as extensive as the offerings for R, there are a number of free books you can access online to help delve into all things python: Big Book of Python