The course requires basic programming skills, with a preference for Python. It will cover mainstream NLP tasks and explore both traditional and modern AI techniques for NLP, including SVM, deep learning, and large language models (LLMs).

The objectives of the course are threefold:

• To provide a foundational understanding of natural language processing problems.

• To develop basic skills in applying conventional machine learning techniques to solve NLP tasks.

• To gain a fundamental knowledge of how modern LLMs address NLP tasks, along with their limitations.

• Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contact information for every Penn State campus (https://equity.psu.edu/offices/student-disability-resources/campus-offices). For further information, please visit Student Disability Resources website (http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/).

• In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: See documentation guidelines (http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/guidelines). If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.