Despite the increasing use of the statistical programming language R in statistics and data analysis (SDA), its implementation in communication science education is limited. Experiences, recommendations, and a critical exchange are therefore scarce. The following contribution addresses this very gap. At the Department of Journalism and Communication Research of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, we have transitioned the SDA education to R. We share our concept and demonstrate its success. The results of an online survey indicate that students perceived most teaching elements as helpful, recognizing both opportunities and challenges. We present key learnings designed to assist others in successfully integrating R into SDA education.