Data science is a fast-growing field and industry that has piqued the interest of many students and professionals looking to begin a new career or transition out of an established career path. For those interested in pursuing employment opportunities within data science, there are several routes that one can follow to become a professional in the field. There are differing opinions about which route is the best route for beginning a successful career in data science.
There are two paths that are commonly advertised as leading to a career in data science: completing a data science degree or a data science certificate program. While both of these pathways have the potential to lead towards a data science career, each of these pathways come with their own unique costs, benefits, and outcomes. The following article outlines the criteria for making the decision between choosing a data science degree or a data science certificate program.
Choosing Between a Data Science Degree or Certificate
There are three considerations and corresponding questions that students and professionals should focus on when choosing between pursuing a data science degree versus a data science certificate program. The first area to consider is the expected coursework and cost of the program, as well as the question: What classes can you take on data science? For this area, you should consider how much money, time, and effort you are capable of putting into a program, as well as the type of courses that are being offered for this cost.
The second area focuses on the skills and experience that you want to gain from the program, which answers the question: What do you want to learn from data science? Identify the experience that you want to have and how you want to apply certain skills. Then, the final consideration outlines the potential careers or opportunities that can come from completing a data science program, by answering the question: What do you want to do with data science? This final question is the most important to consider and is influenced by the prior two questions and considerations as well as your projected outcome of pursuing data science instruction.
Additional Considerations of the Data Science Degree
In addition to the considerations above, when pursuing a data science degree you would also have to choose what type of degree program that you are interested in, whether it be an Associate’s (AS), Bachelor’s (BA), Master’s (MA/MS), or even a doctorate (Ph.D.). Depending on your educational background, any of these levels of data science degrees require a certain amount of time and effort dedicated to the program, with an associate’s degree usually spanning two years and a doctorate lasting several years (four at the least). Pursuing a data science degree program also requires applying to colleges and universities, which can include taking specific standardized tests, gathering recommendations, as well as waiting to be accepted into programs, so there is an extensive amount of time and planning that is required when pursuing a data science degree. The data science degree may be more appealing to students that do not have previous employment experience, post-graduate degrees, or that want to specialize in multiple academic subjects.
Coursework and Cost - What Classes Can You Take on Data Science?
One of the primary differences between data science degrees and data science certificate programs is the courses offered, the amount of time that it takes, and the cost of the program. Due to the fact that there are thousands of data science degrees and certificate programs that you can pursue, beginning the process of choosing a program by focusing on coursework and cost helps to weed out a large majority of programs that are too high of a cost or that do not provide the courses that you would want to take.
Data science degree programs offer multiple years of instruction which usually means that these programs allow students to take dozens of classes over the course of their studies, which makes it easier to specialize in specific data industries or niches. At the same time, data science degrees can also be expensive and require a full or part-time commitment in order to complete them. Degree programs also work on an academic calendar and schedule, so students are beholden to their institution when it comes to what classes they take and when they take them.
In contrast, data science certificate programs offer a condensed format, with a focus on giving you an overview of the field in a few weeks or months. While this means that there are fewer opportunities for specialization, there is more of a focus on practical courses and learning modules. Certificate programs are also more flexible in their schedule and timing, with many classes being taught in an online format which allows students to complete coursework on their own time. For all of these reasons, certificate programs tend to be less expensive than pursuing a degree at a college or university.
Skills and Experience - What Do You Want to Learn from Data Science?
The second question to consider when choosing between a data science degree versus a certificate program is what skills do you want to learn and what types of experience do you want to have, both within and outside of the classroom. This is one area where there is a significant amount of overlap between the degree and the certificate program, as both tend to be focused on teaching students practical skills that can be used on the job. Whether you want to learn more about programming in Python or creating data visualizations, both degrees and certificates offer coursework that will teach a variety of data science skills.
At the same time, the experience of participating in a data science degree program and a data science certificate program can be different depending on the type of program that you take part in. If you are interested in building relationships with professors and students at a college or university, or if you want access to a pipeline from an institution into a specific company or position, then pursuing a data science degree is most beneficial. If you already have a four-year degree and are less interested in the college experience, and more interested in learning data science skills, then a certificate program is the right choice for you.
Careers and Opportunities - What Do You Want to Do with Data Science?
Finally, the most pressing question for students and professionals interested in a data science career is what they plan to do within data science and the expectations of that outcome. While some data science careers are open to individuals that have a data science certificate, there are some careers and opportunities which will require a four-year or advanced degree in data science. before deciding which path you will choose it is important to research the opportunities you would like to pursue and the requirements for those opportunities.
Both data science degrees and certificate programs offer different employment and career opportunities for students, such as internships, mentoring, and career planning. It is also important to research whether or not the degree or certificate that you want to pursue not only includes opportunities to learn about data science but also resources to pursue a career in your field of choice. Especially for those that are interested in pursuing more research-based professions in data science, there is a higher expectation of having a degree, whereas entry-level or technical data science positions tend to be more open to those who have pursued a data science certificate. Each option has the potential to lead to career success in data science.
Data Science Courses and Skills for Career Success
Interested in Choosing a Data Science Certificate? Making the decision between pursuing a data science degree and taking part in a certificate program is dependent on what you want to learn and the career path that you want to embark upon. Noble Desktop offers a plethora of data science classes that teach skills corresponding to specific careers in the data science industry. The Data Science Certificate delivers valuable experience and programming skills for those wanting to start a career in data science. In addition, the Data Analytics Certificate offers courses and skills which give students the necessary training to pursue a career as a Data or Business Analyst.