Natural Language Processing

Build cutting edge NLP systems

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

April 18, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

10 weeks, online
5-10 hours/week

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$2,500 US$2,000

Course Information Flexible payment available
Course Fee

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Develop Future-Ready Skills Today

Emeritus is collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science Executive Education to help you build future-ready skills. Enroll before and get up to 20% tuition assistance to set yourself up for professional success.​

Application Details

program fee

US$2,500 US$2,000

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Program Prerequisites
Participants should have strong programming abilities in Python and knowledge of data structures and algorithms.

Learn Natural Language Processing Applications for the Real World

From customer-service chatbots to AI-enabled virtual assistants, the demand for technology that employs natural language processing (NLP) is growing at a phenomenal rate. According to Payscale, technology professionals with the training and skills to implement NLP applications now earn an average annual salary of $109,000.

Natural Language Processing, a 10-week online program available through the Executive Education program from Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, provides both a fundamental understanding of NLP and an overview of its applications.

"A world-renowned research institution, Carnegie Mellon University is a top technical university."

Source: Forbes

Key Outcomes

This 10-week online program will give you a foundational understanding of NLP. After completing the program, you will be able to:

  • Learn key machine learning concepts and deep learning methods to build cutting-edge NLP systems in any specific domain
  • Develop graphical models for lemmatization - a key step in many NLP tasks
  • Synthesize n-gram language models and make qualitative/quantitative comparison of simple to complex n-gram models
  • Utilize neural networks to label parts of speech (POS) and named entities (NER) in English and other languages
  • Train dependency parsers from treebanks and use them to perform NLP tasks
  • Automatically detect phrase structure grammar from tree banks by generating parse trees

Program Modules

This program consists of 10 modules that comprise a comprehensive overview of NLP and its practical applications. A short capstone project at the end of the program will enable you to demonstrate your proficiency.

Module 1:

Introduction to NLP

Examine the what, why, and how of NLP, its key applications, and associated challenges. You will:

  • Learn the definition of NLP
  • Review current and future applications

Module 2:

Linguistic Morphology

Explore the basics of linguistics and morphology and the importance of morphology as both a problem and resource in NLP. Plus, learn to distinguish prefixes, suffixes, and infixes and how to construct a simple FST for lemmatization. You will:

  • Define identifying characteristics of morphemesx
  • Evaluate tools and resources related to morphological analysis

Module 3:

Language Models and Smoothing

Learn language modeling and its application in NLP and how to use different language models for estimating the probability distribution of various linguistic units. You will:

  • Discover how computational language models are used for prediction, scoring, and correction
  • Evaluate tools and resources for language model construction

Module 4:

Classifiers

Get introduced to POS tagging and named entity recognition, and explore various applications. You will:

  • Evaluate the features of document topic classification and notation
  • Demonstrate how to extract features beyond a single word

Module 5:

Deep Learning for NLP

Learn the basics of text classification, along with applications and different approaches. You will:

  • Compare and contrast sequence-based neural networks
  • Learn how neural network training works
The time allotted to complete assignments has been extended after week 5.

Module 6:

Sequence Labeling—Speech Tagging and Named Entity Recognition

Study the formal grammars and the languages they generate to determine which kind of language applies to a particular NLP task. You will:

  • Explore the process of mapping strings of words to strings of tags
  • Implement POS tagging with eight foreign languages

Module 7:

Lexical Semantics

Explore the various building blocks of deep learning for NLP components, and learn how to build and train a deep neural network. You will:

  • Determine the ideal lexical approach to ascertain word meaning
  • Predict word meanings using cosine similarities

Module 8:

Word Embeddings

Learn the basics of lexical semantics and different ways of looking at a word's meaning as well as how to compute co-occurrence matrices. You will:

  • Evaluate reasons and motivations for using word embeddings
  • Explore improvement techniques for word embeddings

Module 9:

Phrase Structure and Dependency Syntax

Learn the difference between extension and intension, the basic criteria for a good meaning representation language as well as the uses and values of semantic role labels, and how to write a basic algorithm for semantic role labeling. You will:

  • Analyze syntax and its applications to NLP
  • Identify dependency parsing tools and resources for NLP tasks

Module 10:

Sentence Semantics

Learn the key challenges associated with meaning and how to implement compositional semantic parsing for precise meaning representations of utterances containing significant compositionality. You will:

  • Translate first order logic (FOL) into English vocabulary
  • Analyze approaches to the representation of meaning beyond FOL and description logics

Module 1:

Introduction to NLP

Examine the what, why, and how of NLP, its key applications, and associated challenges. You will:

  • Learn the definition of NLP
  • Review current and future applications

Module 6:

Sequence Labeling—Speech Tagging and Named Entity Recognition

Study the formal grammars and the languages they generate to determine which kind of language applies to a particular NLP task. You will:

  • Explore the process of mapping strings of words to strings of tags
  • Implement POS tagging with eight foreign languages

Module 2:

Linguistic Morphology

Explore the basics of linguistics and morphology and the importance of morphology as both a problem and resource in NLP. Plus, learn to distinguish prefixes, suffixes, and infixes and how to construct a simple FST for lemmatization. You will:

  • Define identifying characteristics of morphemesx
  • Evaluate tools and resources related to morphological analysis

Module 7:

Lexical Semantics

Explore the various building blocks of deep learning for NLP components, and learn how to build and train a deep neural network. You will:

  • Determine the ideal lexical approach to ascertain word meaning
  • Predict word meanings using cosine similarities

Module 3:

Language Models and Smoothing

Learn language modeling and its application in NLP and how to use different language models for estimating the probability distribution of various linguistic units. You will:

  • Discover how computational language models are used for prediction, scoring, and correction
  • Evaluate tools and resources for language model construction

Module 8:

Word Embeddings

Learn the basics of lexical semantics and different ways of looking at a word's meaning as well as how to compute co-occurrence matrices. You will:

  • Evaluate reasons and motivations for using word embeddings
  • Explore improvement techniques for word embeddings

Module 4:

Classifiers

Get introduced to POS tagging and named entity recognition, and explore various applications. You will:

  • Evaluate the features of document topic classification and notation
  • Demonstrate how to extract features beyond a single word

Module 9:

Phrase Structure and Dependency Syntax

Learn the difference between extension and intension, the basic criteria for a good meaning representation language as well as the uses and values of semantic role labels, and how to write a basic algorithm for semantic role labeling. You will:

  • Analyze syntax and its applications to NLP
  • Identify dependency parsing tools and resources for NLP tasks

Module 5:

Deep Learning for NLP

Learn the basics of text classification, along with applications and different approaches. You will:

  • Compare and contrast sequence-based neural networks
  • Learn how neural network training works
The time allotted to complete assignments has been extended after week 5.

Module 10:

Sentence Semantics

Learn the key challenges associated with meaning and how to implement compositional semantic parsing for precise meaning representations of utterances containing significant compositionality. You will:

  • Translate first order logic (FOL) into English vocabulary
  • Analyze approaches to the representation of meaning beyond FOL and description logics

Capstone Project: You will use combinations of tools and techniques learned during the program to build a realistic and complete NLP solution. Choose any functional application you are interested in:

  • Speech recognition
  • Question answering
  • Machine translation
  • Document summarization
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Program Experience

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Programming Assignments

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Discussions

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Guest Speakers

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Knowledge Checks

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Capstone Project

Who Should Attend

The program is particularly suitable for the following professionals:

  • Software developers and other technology professionals seeking a foundational understanding of NLP while adding a credential of repute to their CV
  • Data science, data analytics, and machine learning professionals who want a better understanding of NLP

Program Faculty

Faculty Member David R. Mortensen

David R. Mortensen

Systems Scientist, Language Technologies Institute, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University

David Mortensen is a systems scientist and assistant professor in the Language Technologies Institute, which is part of CMU's School of Computer Science. A computational linguist, David focuses his research on two strands: uncovering how linguistic... More info

Faculty Member Alan Black

Alan Black

Professor, Language Technologies Institute, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University

Alan Black is a professor in the Language Technology Institute at CMU. A world leader in the area of speech synthesis, Alan is the principal author of the Festival Speech Synthesis System, a free software system used worldwide by academic and industrial groups... More info

The Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science Executive Education learning experience

At Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science Executive Education, we provide organizations and people access to the skills and tools necessary to solve real-world technical problems by equipping the next generation of technology leaders with the experience, insights, and novel solutions developed by our community of computer science experts. From custom training programs to online individualized learning, our cutting-edge programming—backed by faculty who pioneered the field—takes your skillset to the next level, giving you the tools to tackle your company’s next great technological challenge.

Certificate

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a verified digital certificate of completion from Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science Executive Education. This is a training program and it is not eligible for academic credit.

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Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, per the stipulated requirements. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science Executive Education.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.


    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 315 756 3771 (US) / +44 203 835 5826 (UK) / +65 3138 2533 (SG)

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