Data science certificates
Are you considering a career in information technology (IT) but looking for something new and exciting? Data science is an emerging field that can help organizations and businesses continue to improve and innovate.
Find out how earning a data science certificate can put you at the forefront of this developing specialty and discover what you can expect from a high-quality program.
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Why earn a data science certificate online?
Specialization
While an applied mathematics degree can give you broad knowledge, a data science certificate offers specialized skills in an emerging field, which can help you stand out as a candidate.
Networking
You may have instructors or classmates who work in the field and can provide you with professional contacts or point you to new job opportunities to enhance your career.
Continuous learning
Earning a certificate in a specialized field can showcase your dedication to constant learning, which is a trait many employers value.
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What you'll learn
A data science certificate program can broaden your knowledge and skill set by offering the following:
- A focus on learning how to work with large datasets to surface valuable insights for better business decision-making
- The opportunity to learn new skills, including data acquisition and cleaning, statistical analysis, programming languages, and data visualization
- A credit load of 12 to 15 hours or an average time commitment of anywhere from 10 weeks to 6 months
- An accelerated track for those who have earned a bachelor's degree, taken a beginner's course, or gained previous experience in the field
These skills can prepare you for a position with influence over important business decisions and strategies.
What can you do with a certificate in data science?
A certificate in data science has the potential to open many professional doors. Here are three roles organizations may hire for in this ever-evolving field, with each role's required skills and level of education as well as salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
Data scientist
Data scientists lead the way in developing insights from raw datasets. You'll determine what data exists and is needed to solve a problem. Then you'll figure out how to collect, prepare, and analyze the data using algorithms and statistical models.
Finally, you will present the data using visualization techniques so that all stakeholders can understand and use it to make business decisions.
- Required level of education: Typically, a bachelor's degree in statistics or computer science
- Required skills: Programming languages (Python and R), machine learning algorithms, applied statistics, data preparation and visualization, critical thinking
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $108,020
Market research analyst
Market research analysts help businesses develop and implement product development and sales strategies based on consumer preferences.
In this role, responsibilities may include collecting data on consumer trends, competitors, and broader market conditions, using statistical methods to analyze that data, extracting business insights, and presenting your findings visually.
- Required level of education: Typically, a bachelor's degree in business or social science
- Required skills: Statistics, data analysis, data visualization, analytical thinking, attention to detail, communication, industry knowledge
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $74,680
Operations research analyst
Operations research analysts are business problem-solvers. In this role, you may identify a problem in an organization and gather information on it from a variety of sources.
Using quantitative models and analytical software, you may analyze that data with the purpose of gathering insight into the issue. You may then report your findings and recommend solutions, using the data to support what you propose.
- Required level of education: Typically, a bachelor's degree in business, math, or computer science
- Required skills: Computer programming, statistics, database software, critical and analytical thinking, communication, attention to detail
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $83,640