An Online Data Science Degree/Certificate is Within Reach — With Lots of Affordable Options
By: Benjamin Obi Tayo Ph.D.
Tags: Online Education, Data Science, Mooc, Professional Development, Self Improvement

An Online Data Science Degree/Certificate is Within Reach — With Lots of Affordable Options

Photo by Matt Howard on Unsplash

In the midst of a global pandemic that has brought about unprecedented economic challenges, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost, businesses crushed, and millions of people out of work, many individuals are returning to school to learn something new for self-improvement or for phycological benefits associated with learning. If you are currently unemployed and are looking for an area to enhance your professional skills, or if you are simply interested in learning a new skill to boost your resume, data science is worth your consideration. Data science is a growing multidisciplinary field that can open the doors to several opportunities. Anyone passionate about working with data can set it as a goal to learn the fundamentals of data science.

5 Reasons for Acquiring Data Science Skills

i) Learning about data science provides an opportunity for you to recreate yourself.

ii) We live in a digital world. Everything is data-driven.

iii) Data science is also a very promising field with lots of high-paying job opportunities.

iv) Basic data science skills are important for personal use.

v) You can use your knowledge in data science to generate side income.

Learning Data Science Online

Learning data science has never been easier. There are unlimited online degree or certification programs in data science that are very affordable. Before discussing some of these online programs, let’s first consider some of the advantages of online education.

a) Online programs are very accessible. You are already on the internet. That means you have the basic tools you need for online education, that is, a computer and an internet connection.

b) You are not limited by geography. With online education, you can attend schools anywhere, including top-ranked institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Penn State, University of California, Johns Hopkins University, etc.

c) You can take classes in your own time from the comfort of the home. Hence there is no commute or parking worries.

d) Class schedules are very flexible, and many courses allow you to view class material when you want and repeatedly, so you can work at your own pace.

e) Distance learning is a good option for people with mobility issues, non-drivers, and those with commitments at home, such as stay-at-home moms or dads that have children to look after.

f) Online programs are generally more affordable than on-campus programs.

Online Data Science Programs

1. Traditional Online College Degree

Several top universities offer traditional graduate-level online programs in data science. Because these are graduate-level programs, most will require an undergraduate degree in an analytical field such as physics, mathematics, accounting, business, computer science, or engineering. These programs typically have a duration of 3 to 4 semesters for those who pursue full-time enrollment. Traditional programs come in different flavors, such: Data Science Master’s, Data Analytics Master’s, or Business Analytics Masters. The advantage of online programs is that it is less costly and does not require relocation. Most online master’s program in data science or business analytics can be completed on average between 18 to 24 months. The cost for online data science master’s programs can be anywhere from $13,000 to $40,000. With a simple google search, you can find hundreds of online master’s programs in data science from several top universities in the world. Before selecting the program that is right for you, do well to ask yourself the following questions:

a) How good is the curriculum?

b) What are the prerequisites? Some programs require you to have completed some basic math and programming courses. Some would require GRE or GMAT test scores.

c) What is the duration of the program?

d) What is the cost of the program?

Find below are examples of universities that offer online master’s degree programs in data science/business analytics and their admission requirements:

Duke University: A bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, economics, or an equivalent quantitative major by the start of the program.

Kansas State University: Completion of STAT 350 and STAT 351 (or equivalent statistics courses). Familiarity with computer programming and applications is highly recommended.

Columbia University: A bachelor’s degree in a related field of engineering or science.

Harvard University: There are no prerequisite courses required, but the quantitative experience will be vital to your success in the program.

Syracuse University: An undergraduate degree in business, statistics, math, engineering, finance, information technology, physics, supply chain, or economics.

University of Tulsa: A four-year degree in business, engineering, or science.

Walden University: A bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, information technology, or an equivalent subject.

2. MOOCs Professional Certificate/MicroMasters

There are so many excellent massive open online courses (MOOCs) in data science on platforms such as edX, Coursera, DataCamp, Udacity, and Udemy. The courses offered could be standalone courses or in the form of specializations (professional certificate) or MicroMasters. These are offered by top universities such as Harvard, MIT, University of Michigan, Boston College, The University of Adelaide, University of California San Diego, University of California, Berkeley, etc. These programs are cheaper and affordable, and you can take courses at your own pace. The professional certificate and MicroMasters program costs are typically in the range from $600 to $1,500.

By dedicating some time, you can teach yourself the fundamentals of data science from these courses. Here are some of my favorite online data science specializations/MicroMasters programs:

You can find out about more MicroMasters programs offered on the edX platform from this link: edX MicroMasters programs in data science.

Summary

In summary, we’ve discussed two important pathways to learning the fundamentals of data science. If you want, put in two years at a traditional online college program. This will give you a deeper understanding of the field. Still, if your circumstances don’t allow you to pursue a fully online degree, you can (with some passion and dedication) teach yourself data science through self-study. MOOCs provide great courses on a variety of data science topics at a fraction of the price you pay for a traditional online program. By dedicating the right amount of time and energy, you can learn the fundamentals of data science via MOOC specializations and MicroMasters. The only prerequisite for success is a solid background in a closely-related discipline, e.g., statistics, mathematics, physics, computer science, or engineering.

The pathway to data science is different for different individuals based on their backgrounds. So if you are interested in learning the fundamentals of data science, it’s up to you to decide which of the pathways discussed in this article would be suitable for you.

Additional data science/machine learning resources

Timeline for Data Science Competence

Data Science Curriculum

Essential Maths Skills for Machine Learning

3 Best Data Science MOOC Specializations

A Data Science Portfolio is More Valuable than a Resume