Natural Language Processing (NLP) covers how computers understand and generate human language. You'll learn about text preprocessing, tokenization, part-of-speech tagging, and parsing. The course dives into machine learning models for language tasks, sentiment analysis, and information extraction. You'll also explore neural networks for language processing and work on building chatbots or language translation systems.

Is Natural Language Processing hard?

NLP can be challenging, especially if you're new to machine learning or linguistics. The math behind some algorithms can be tricky, and there's a lot of new terminology to grasp. But don't worry, it's not impossible. With consistent effort and practice, most students find it manageable. The cool applications and projects make the difficulty worth it.

Tips for taking Natural Language Processing in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
Practice coding regularly - implement basic NLP tasks like tokenization or sentiment analysis
Stay up-to-date with NLP research papers and new models like BERT or GPT
Join online NLP communities (Reddit, Stack Overflow) for help and discussions
Work on a personal NLP project (e.g., building a chatbot) to apply what you learn
Use tools like NLTK or spaCy to experiment with NLP concepts
Watch "Her" or "Ex Machina" for a fun take on AI language processing

Common pre-requisites for Natural Language Processing

Machine Learning: Covers fundamental algorithms and techniques for teaching computers to learn from data. You'll explore supervised and unsupervised learning methods.
Probability and Statistics: Provides the mathematical foundation for understanding probabilistic models in NLP. This course covers probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and statistical inference.
Linear Algebra: Teaches vector and matrix operations crucial for understanding many NLP algorithms. You'll learn about vector spaces, eigenvalues, and matrix decompositions.

Classes similar to Natural Language Processing

Text Mining: Focuses on extracting useful information from large text datasets. You'll learn techniques for text classification, clustering, and topic modeling.
Information Retrieval: Covers methods for efficiently storing, searching, and retrieving information from large collections of text. You'll study search engines and recommendation systems.
Computational Linguistics: Explores the intersection of linguistics and computer science. You'll learn about formal language theory, grammar systems, and parsing algorithms.
Deep Learning for NLP: Dives deep into neural network architectures specifically designed for language tasks. You'll study RNNs, LSTMs, and transformer models.

Computer Science: Focuses on the theory, design, and application of computer systems. Students learn programming, algorithms, and various subfields like AI and databases.
Computational Linguistics: Combines linguistics and computer science to study language from a computational perspective. Students learn to build models of language structure and use.
Data Science: Teaches methods for extracting insights from large datasets. Students learn statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization techniques.
Cognitive Science: Studies the mind and its processes from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students explore how humans and machines process information and language.

What can you do with a degree in Natural Language Processing?

NLP Engineer: Develops and implements NLP systems for various applications. They might work on chatbots, voice assistants, or language translation tools.
Data Scientist: Analyzes large datasets to extract insights and build predictive models. They often use NLP techniques to work with text data in fields like finance or healthcare.
Machine Learning Researcher: Conducts research to advance the field of NLP and machine learning. They might work in academia or research labs, developing new algorithms and models.
Speech Recognition Engineer: Designs and improves systems that convert spoken language into text. They work on technologies used in virtual assistants, accessibility tools, and more.