If you’re feeling unsure about joining in the online data science master’s program, consider enrolling in a certificate program first. Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies offers certificates in Analytics and Modeling, Analytics Management, Data Engineering, Health Data Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship. With the stackable certificate option, you can complete a four-course program for graduate-level credit and later apply that credit toward your master’s in data science degree. The stackable certificate route to earning your MSDS is the best way to determine if the program is right for you while also building your resume with in-demand skills.