A Beginner-to-Upper Intermediate Data Science Roadmap for 2025 #11: Generative AI & Large Language Models (LLMs) Fundamentals

A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Start a Data Science Career In 2025

Part 11 of the Beginner-to-Upper Intermediate Data Science Roadmap for 2025 will cover the fundamentals of Generative AI & Large Language Models (LLMs).

It will cover key topics such as prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and fine-tuning LLMs, providing essential resources, including books and university courses, to deepen understanding.

The final section emphasizes hands-on learning by guiding readers through three practical projects: crafting effective prompts, building a RAG-powered search system, and fine-tuning an open-source LLM.

By the end of this roadmap, learners will have the knowledge and practical experience to build and deploy generative AI applications in real-world scenarios.

This article is the eleventh article in the ongoing series of A Beginner-to-Upper Intermediate Data Science Roadmap for 2025:

• Introduction to Data Science & Data Methodology (Published!)

• Mathematics for Data Science (Published!)

• Python Fundamentals (Published!)

• Python for Data Science (Published!)

• Software Engineering Basics (Published!)

• Database & SQL Fundamentals (Published!)

• Data Cleaning & Preprocessing (Published!)

• Feature Engineering (Published!)

• Mastering Machine Learning (Published!)

• Deep Learning Fundamentals (Published!)

• Generative AI & Large Language Models (LLMs) Fundamentals (You are here!)

• Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) (Coming Soon!)

• Building Your Data Science Portfolio (Coming Soon!)

• Getting Ready for the Market (Coming Soon!)

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a professional looking to make a career change, Data Science and AI offer a wide range of exciting and lucrative opportunities.

In this series of articles, I will provide a comprehensive guide with a clear and actionable plan for building the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this growing field. By following the steps outlined in this roadmap, you’ll be well on your way to a successful and rewarding Data Science and AI career.

This roadmap will take you to an upper intermediate level, and you can land a job and start your career after finishing it. However, to go to an advanced level, you must take more in-depth courses, books, and research papers.

For each learning step, there will be compulsory material, optional material, and action points to ensure that you implement what you have learned Also, each of the learning resources will be estimated in hours, so you can calculate the time needed to finish this roadmap based on your pace.