I want to be clear, the book is not required for this course. Plenty of people are getting through this class without the book. You won't be asked to complete any assignments from the book directly on specific pages. If that were the case, then it would be an unavoidable requirement to buy the book.
However, the book is still recommended and at $350 to $400 for a new textbook that can cause some people to have sticker shock. Don't worry! There are alternatives. You can buy the international student edition like I did, you can rent the book on Amazon, you can purchase older editions and you can get it used or in loose leaf form. All of these alternatives are under $100.
The only course that absolutely requires a book, actually two books, is DTSC-600 Information Visualization. Both of the required books for that course can be found for under $50. You will be asked specific questions on the quizzes and midterm that come from the reading assignments. Some of the questions can only be answered by knowing exactly what the author's thoughts are on certain design choices.
The situation is similar in Georgia Tech's Online Master of Computer Science degree. Books are not "required", however, recommended books are listed in the syllabus and some of the graduate TAs will recommend certain books. Some of the professors at the university actually authored a few of the recommended books. I believe the Machine Learning on Financial Time Series Data course at Georgia Tech is a course where the book is unofficially required and it's not cheap.
However, the book is still recommended and at $350 to $400 for a new textbook that can cause some people to have sticker shock. Don't worry! There are alternatives. You can buy the international student edition like I did, you can rent the book on Amazon, you can purchase older editions and you can get it used or in loose leaf form. All of these alternatives are under $100.
The only course that absolutely requires a book, actually two books, is DTSC-600 Information Visualization. Both of the required books for that course can be found for under $50. You will be asked specific questions on the quizzes and midterm that come from the reading assignments. Some of the questions can only be answered by knowing exactly what the author's thoughts are on certain design choices.
The situation is similar in Georgia Tech's Online Master of Computer Science degree. Books are not "required", however, recommended books are listed in the syllabus and some of the graduate TAs will recommend certain books. Some of the professors at the university actually authored a few of the recommended books. I believe the Machine Learning on Financial Time Series Data course at Georgia Tech is a course where the book is unofficially required and it's not cheap.
Currently working on: Capstone
Eastern University - (9 of 10 Courses Completed) (27 Credits)
Master's in Data Science
Western Governors University (WGU) - Completed in 2020.
Bachelor of Science, Business - Information Technology Management
TEEX (3 courses, 10 cr)
The Institutes (3 cr)
NFA (1 cr)
ALEKS (3 cr)
SOPHIA (21 courses, 57 cr)
Study.com (18 courses, 54 cr)
WGU (12 courses, 38 CUs)
Eastern University (9 courses, 27 cr)
Eastern University - (9 of 10 Courses Completed) (27 Credits)
Master's in Data Science
Western Governors University (WGU) - Completed in 2020.
Bachelor of Science, Business - Information Technology Management
TEEX (3 courses, 10 cr)
The Institutes (3 cr)
NFA (1 cr)
ALEKS (3 cr)
SOPHIA (21 courses, 57 cr)
Study.com (18 courses, 54 cr)
WGU (12 courses, 38 CUs)
Eastern University (9 courses, 27 cr)


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