What Degree Do You Need to Become a Data Scientist?

If you are interested in a data science career or becoming a Data Scientist, you may wonder what degree you need to enter the field. Bachelor’s degrees in computer science and related subjects are common among Data Scientists. For more senior positions, a Data Scientist may also have a Master’s degree in data science. However, it is not necessary to have a degree to start your career as a Data Scientist. What recruiters care most about is that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to do the job. An alternative path to a university degree is to take data science classes or obtain a data science certificate. You can also demonstrate your knowledge and skills by obtaining an industry-recognized certification and compiling a professional portfolio. Read on to learn more about different educational paths available to aspiring Data Scientists. 

What is a Data Scientist?

Data Scientists extract meaning from raw data to detect patterns and propose solutions that meet an organization’s needs, especially the needs to compete and grow. A Data Scientist’s responsibilities include finding valuable data from data sources, developing machine learning algorithms, improving data collection procedures, cleansing and validating data integrity to ensure accuracy, and detecting patterns and solutions based on data. Data Scientists build models based on data, create data visualizations that communicate patterns and findings to stakeholders, and automate collection processes. Because data plays a critical role in the success of any organization, Data Scientists can build careers in business, technology, finance, nonprofits, and many other industries. 

Those who wish to become a Data Scientist should develop the analytical, statistical, and programming skills needed to manage and interpret raw data. These skills include understanding statistics, machine learning, and reporting tools. Aspiring Data Scientists also benefit from understanding the programming languages R, SQL, Python, Java, and C++. 

Read more about what a Data Scientist does.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Data Scientist?

If you are interested in a data science career, you might wonder if you need a degree to become a Data Scientist. Data Scientists have a thorough understanding of mathematical and scientific principles including statistics, linear algebra, calculus, statistics, probability, computer science, and certain programming languages. With the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI), Data Scientists should also understand machine learning algorithms and their uses as this branch of AI plays an increasingly crucial role in gathering, sorting, managing, and analyzing data. While most Data Scientists hold a four-year college degree of some kind, often in a subject such as computer science, there are other ways besides university to learn the necessary skills required of a Data Scientist.

You can learn the skills needed to start a career as a Data Scientist by attending in-person or live online data science classes. Such classes may include training on data science fundamentals, the use of data visualization tools, and the use of machine learning. Data Scientists should also understand the programming languages R, Python, Java, and SQL, so classes that provide hands-on experience with these programming languages will greatly benefit aspiring Data Scientists. Some courses focus on specific skills while others, such as certificate courses, cover a range of skills and topics.

Read more about if you need a degree to become a Data Scientist.

Common Degrees for Data Scientists

Data science careers require a thorough understanding of mathematical and scientific principles, especially as relates to technology. This is because data science careers use statistics, programming languages, analytics tools, and more to manage data and extract valuable insights. Common degrees for Data Scientists include: 

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science 
• B.S. in Applied Math
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Data Science 
• M.S. in Data Analytics

While these degrees are among the most common for Data Scientists to hold, it is not always necessary to have one of these degrees to start a career in data science. Organizations of all kinds need Data Scientists to help them reach their goals and make sense of data. Such organizations include government agencies, large corporations, small businesses, and startups. With so many organizations seeking data science professionals, there are several opportunities for those with data science training outside of a university degree. The most important part of becoming a Data Scientist is the ability to do the work required of the position. The following section will outline multiple paths to starting a career as a Data Scientist without a degree.

Tips for Starting a Data Scientist Career Without a Degree

To obtain the skills required of a Data Scientist, you can enroll in data science classes that meet online or in-person. You can also gain industry-recognized certifications and gain experience through internships and volunteering. The following sections offer information about earning a data science certificate, earning industry-recognized certifications, and finding internships that add professional experience to your resume.

Earning a Data Science Certificate

Before beginning a career in data science, you will need to learn the skills used by Data Scientists and other data science professionals. In-person and live online data science classes provide the means of learning these skills under the guidance of an expert instructor. Your instructor can offer real-time guidance, personalized feedback, and help you navigate your new career path. Meeting in real-time online or in-person also offers the chance to collaborate with classmates on hands-on assignments. These projects give you real-world experience and allow you to build a professional portfolio. 

When looking for a data science certificate program, look for a curriculum that includes: 

• Python for Data Science 
• Python for Automation
• Training in Data Visualization
• Machine Learning Education
• SQL

Data certificate programs that offer mentorship, job search assistance, and flexible financing options can also help you get the most out of a program.

Industry-Recognized Data Science Certifications

Certifications differ from certificates because, while the criteria to earn a certificate differs depending on the class or program, certifications follow a standardized certification process. Certifications are earned by passing an exam administered by a third party. Industry-recognized certifications can go a long way to making your resume stand out, serve as evidence of your expertise, and can even lead to a higher salary. 

Most data science certifications require several years of professional experience in the field and may require a university degree. However, an excellent certification for aspiring or new Data Scientists to consider is the Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP) certification exam is open to anyone regardless of education or experience. All that is required to gain the credential is to pass the aCAP exam. You can learn more about how to prepare for and take the aCAP exam on the aCAP exam’s official page.

Internships and Volunteer Opportunities

Some entry-level data science positions do not require previous professional experience. However, if you want to gain real-world experience or add professional experience to your resume, internships or volunteer positions provide the opportunity to do so. You can find several internships through sites like Glassdoor and Indeed. If you find that most internships are restricted to university students, you may wish to look into a volunteer opportunity. Even if you do not see a volunteer position posted, feel free to reach out to nonprofits and inquire whether you can assist them with data science tasks. Most nonprofits gladly welcome any volunteer support.

Learn the Skills to Become a Data Scientist at Noble Desktop

If you are looking to start a new career in data science, you might think the only way for you to become a Data Scientist is by enrolling in a four-year university or pursuing other costly and lengthy educational options. However, there are many alternative methods available to help you transition into a data science career, including data science bootcamps and certificate courses designed to help working professionals gain the skills needed to obtain an entry-level job as a Data Scientist. Exploring in-person and live online data science bootcamps and certificate programs can help you find the class that meets your career goals, budget, and schedule. The first step to finding the class that fits your needs is to understand the differences between in-person classes and live online classes. 

In-person data science classes meet in a traditional classroom setting at a physical location. In-person classes have the advantage of providing all necessary equipment, such as computers and software, and allowing students to network with local professionals such as your classmates and instructor. You also have the advantage of learning from an expert instructor face-to-face. The primary drawback to in-person courses is the extra time and money required to commute to the physical learning location. Live online data science classes offer many of the same benefits as in-person classes, including the ability to learn in real-time from an expert instructor. You can also collaborate with classmates, and you have the advantage of learning remotely. 

Noble Desktop offers several different in-person and live online data science classes that can help you start a career as a Data Scientist. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp teaches students foundational programming concepts and how to handle different data types, use conditional statements to control the flow of a program, use Scikit-Learn, Matplotlib, Numpy, Pandas, and other Python libraries and tools. Noble’s Data Science Certificate program and Data Analytics Certificate program provide a deep dive into the topics and skills essential to launching a career in data science or data analytics and offer one-on-one mentorship and job search assistance. All Noble Desktop classes provide students with hands-on experience, flexible financing options, setup assistance, a free retake, small class sizes, and real-time guidance from an expert instructor.

Learn more about Noble Desktop’s in-person and live online data science classes.

You can also learn more about data science careers and data science learning options with Noble’s free Data Science Learning Hub.

Key Takeaways

• The most common university degrees held by Data Scientists include undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science, mathematics, or data analytics, but you do not have to have a degree to start a career in data science. 
• Certificates, certifications, and internships can help you gain the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to start a career as a Data Scientist.
• You can receive comprehensive training to become a Data Scientist through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.