Explore the foundations of artificial intelligence

Discover the power of artificial intelligence through AI Machine Learning —an introductory, three-week online course designed for high school students eager to explore machine learning, data science, and real-world problem solving. Led by UC Santa Cruz instructors and supported by graduate mentors, this program introduces students to core AI concepts through hands-on coding, research-based projects, and technical instruction.

Students will build predictive models using Python and scientific libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Scikit-learn, while learning techniques such as clustering, classification, and dimensionality reduction. With guidance from mentors and exposure to generative AI tools, the course culminates in a final research project, equipping students with in-demand skills and a strong foundation for college and careers in technology.

Program details

Course Code: PREC.604
Pre-Requisites: None
Instructor: Judith Clymo, Ph.D.
Method: Commuter (Silicon Valley)
Dates: June 29 – July 17, 2026
Times: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Cost: $3,750

Topics

  • Introduction to AI and machine learning
  • Data analysis and visualization tools
  • Classification
  • Regression
  • Neural networks & deep learning

 

  Introduction Python Bootcamp
Day 1 Python: Introduction to Data Coding Exercises
Day 2 Python: Writing Basic Code Coding Exercises & Discussion Group
Day 3 Python: Documentation Coding Exercises
Day 4 Python: Pandas Coding Exercises & Discussion Group
Day 5 Python: Data Visualization Python Final Assessment
Day 6 Data Analysis & Visualization Tools Data Visualization
Day 7 AI/ML Overview Exploratory Data Analysis
Day 8 Guest Speaker Event Kaggle Project (Titanic)
Day 9 Classification Diabetes Progression
Day 10 Regression California Housing Prices
Day 11 Support Vector Machines and Decision Trees American Sign Language
Day 12 Unsupervised Learning K-Means Clustering
Day 13 Guest Speaker Event Kaggle Project (Choice)
Day 14 Neural Networks and Deep Learning CNN for Computer Vision
Day 15 Discussion: AI - Hopes and Fears Practice Presentations
TBD Final Presentations  

AI / Machine Learning Instructor

woman smiling with her arms crossed

Judith Clymo, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Computer Science, University of Leeds 
BA Mathematics, University of Oxford

Judith Clymo holds a PhD in theoretical computer science with a focus on automated machine reasoning. She is most excited about using AI to advance math and scientific discovery, with particular experience developing AI tools to support research in materials science. She has taught at universities in both the U.K. and the U.S., including courses in Python programming, algorithms and complexity theory and, most recently, deep learning for natural language processing at UC Santa Cruz. Throughout her teaching career, she has helped students to connect theoretical foundations with practical applications in computing and AI.