How Long Do Data Analytics Courses Take?

When you sign up for a data analytics course, another key consideration is its length and the amount of time you’ll have to invest in training. Even though enrolling in a data analytics class is an excellent way to acquire hands-on training in a range of in-demand skills that can greatly improve your long-term earning potential, you’ll have to make sure that you’re getting the most out of the time you invest in your studies, which can range in length from just one afternoon for a skills class to many weeks or months for a more comprehensive certificate program. In this article, you’ll learn about how long various video editing classes last and which length of a course is most suited to your data analytics training needs.

Lengths of Classes

Just like any other skill, the amount of time needed to learn data analytics depends on some key factors, such as the level of proficiency you hope to acquire, your professional aspirations, and how much time you have available to devote to your training. Coursework varies in length significantly depending on the type of programy you opt for; the program’s length typically correlates to the depth of instruction you’ll receive. Skills classes are the shortest type of training. They focus on one data analytics tool or skill and generally take one or several days to complete. Bootcamps and certificates are longer; they can require weeks or months of study to finish and often include career-focused training and professional development incentives as well. The longest form for studying data analytics is college, which is a four-year or longer investment. 

Skills Classes

Because the field of data analytics is broad and requires knowledge of many related skills and tools, some students opt to study these individually. For example, you may want to brush up on your Excel spreadsheet knowledge or devote some time to learning how to communicate with relational databases using SQL. In a short class, you’ll have the opportunity to learn one data analytics skill or tool and practice using it without having to focus on other subjects. Over the course of one or several days, you can fully immerse in small class training and, upon course completion, immediately get started using your knowledge. One of the main benefits of this type of coursework is that it allows students to fill gaps in their education without wasting time on skills they already have. 

Noble Desktop offers short skills classes in data analytics for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced students. Aspiring data professionals can get started learning to work with spreadsheets in Noble’s Excel Level 1 or acquire advanced-level training in data visualization by enrolling in Tableau Level 2. Students can opt to enroll in one or more skills classes as needed. Whether you opt to complete your studies in person close to home, or remotely through live online options, these classes provide all the perks of live training in a fast-paced, straightforward educational environment.

Bootcamps

If you’re interested in studying one or more analytics skills during the same course, enrolling in a data analytics bootcamp is a great option. These programs provide hands-on training for learners at all levels who want to learn how to work with big data. Participants learn from an expert instructor with real-world data analytics expertise and experience. Depending on the type of bootcamp you select, you may focus entirely on one data analytics tool, such as in Noble Desktop’s SQL Bootcamp. These types of programs often combine beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level short skills classes and help learners progress from basic data knowledge into more complex concepts over several days or weeks of training. Sometimes, these bootcamps are available for a discount for those who commit to all three levels of coursework rather than opting for just one skills course.

Other data analytics bootcamps are more comprehensive and provide students with data analytics training that includes instruction on several tools, such as Python, Tableau, SQL, and Excel. These programs are often longer and more involved than those that focus entirely on one skill. Students devote weeks or even months to acquiring a well-rounded background in data analytics.

Data Analytics Certificates

If you’re looking to learn data analytics for your current career or for professional advancement purposes, certificate study is an excellent choice. These intensive programs are available in the live online and in-person format from many top educators around the globe. Although the focus of each certificate program varies depending on the program’s duration and its focus, most certificates in data analytics prepare students to work with a range of essential data tools, such as Excel spreadsheets, Tableau data visualizations, SQL and Python programming, machine learning, and automation. In addition to several weeks or months of rigorous, in-class training (depending on whether they’re completed on a part-time or full-time basis), students in these programs also have the opportunity to receive career-focused support during studies. For example, the Certificate in Data Analytics, which is available from Noble Desktop, provides students with supplemental 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, which they can use for additional help on coursework or for professional development purposes, such as resume critiques or LinkedIn profile help. Certificates also usually offer learners the time and space to compile a professional portfolio of work, which can be shared with prospective employers. 

College Degree

The longest learning option available for studying data analytics is enrolling in a four-year college program. The college atmosphere offers learners an immersive educational experience in which they have four (or more) years to focus on coursework. However, not all colleges offer a major in data analytics. While an increasing number of colleges are providing this study option for undergraduates, those interested in learning data analytics in the university setting may need to select a related major to acquire data analytics training, such as a degree in statistics, applied mathematics, or computer science. Depending on the student’s professional goals and how they hope to use their data analytics training, they may also choose a major in a data-adjacent field, such as finance, economics, management information systems, psychology, or business. Coursework in majors like these typically offers aspiring Data Analysts training in core data skills, like how to work with computer programming languages, apply mathematical concepts, communicate with databases, and perform statistical analysis.

While college is a great way to fully immerse in a supportive, interactive learning environment, there are several important considerations learners should make before going this route. The first is time commitment. Whereas graduates of bootcamps or certificates can put their data analytics skills to use immediately upon completing a program that takes a few weeks or months, college usually requires at least four years of time to complete. Additionally, coursework will require completing a range of classes, many of which may not be related to data analytics. For professionals interested in using their skills sooner, college study may, therefore, be prohibitive. Cost is another important factor. Most four-year colleges cost tens of thousands of dollars per year to complete, which is much more per year than a single bootcamp or certificate program usually costs.

On-demand Classes

On the other end of the learning spectrum from college classes are on-demand data analytics courses. This type of training is pre-recorded by educational providers like Coursera and Udemy and placed online at an earlier time. Students have the flexibility of deciding their own learning pace, as well as where they’d like to be when they complete lessons. These convenient classes allow learners to pick up and put down lessons as their schedule permits. While this level of freedom is a perk for many learners, it also can be a challenge for some individuals, who may not be able to find the motivation to keep up with their studies without formal deadlines. On-demand data analytics classes range in length from under an hour for some skill-specific content (such as Excel basics) or ten or more hours for more intensive, self-paced study options. Since no instructor is present for this form of training, however, students must find answers on their own when they don’t fully understand a concept or skill. This is why some learners may struggle with on-demand coursework, especially those who are new to data analytics and may require additional clarification or support. Some learners, therefore, may begin with on-demand coursework but move over to live instruction to fully comprehend concepts they’ll need for their current job or a new career path.

Part-time or Full-time?

Another consideration all learners will need to make when they opt for data analytics training is whether to study full-time or part-time. This decision is usually based on the student’s availability and scheduling constraints. For those who work full-time, part-time coursework may be the only way to acquire professional data analytics training while working simultaneously. Courses are often available on weekends or weeknights, which will not disrupt traditional work schedules. Other learners who have more flexible schedules may prefer a full-time study approach, which will allow them to fully immerse in their studies and complete their training at a much faster pace.

When deciding whether full-time or part-time data analytics training is better for you, it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both options. Those who select full-time training will complete their studies much faster. Certificate programs may take only weeks to complete full-time, whereas they would require several months of part-time study to finish. However, committing to a full-time program means that you should expect to be doing a good amount of homework in a much shorter time frame. Part-time data analytics coursework, on the other hand, affords learners more space and time to practice the skills they’re learning, which may improve retention.

Learn Data Analytics with Noble Desktop

If you’re looking to learn data analytics or build on your existing skills, Noble Desktop provides both full-time and part-time training options for learners at all levels. In the following paragraphs, several popular course options for aspiring data professionals will be explored, as well as the requirements for each program. 

If you’re interested in taking a deep dive into data analytics, Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate is 

For you. This hands-on program provides students with training in a range of data analytics software and tools. During this intensive certificate, students become familiar with how to analyze and visualize data in Excel and use Python scientific libraries. Participants work with SQL to retrieve data from relational databases and explore how Tableau is used to visualize data findings. All participants receive eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions as part of tuition, which can be used for professional development or to revisit complex course material. Both part-time and full-time study options are available.

Those who are interested in a shorter class that teaches Python data skills can opt instead for Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp. Participants use Python to create programs, visualize data, and create machine-learning models with statistics. Instruction is provided on core Python concepts, such as how to write statements and expressions, understand different data types, create variables, and use lists. During the second part of this bootcamp, topics like dictionaries, control flow tools, loops, and conditional statements are taught. Part three of the coursework covers how to use NumPy and Pandas to clean data and work with Matplotlib, Pandas, and NumPy to transform data findings into advanced visualizations like bar charts and histograms. A supplementary 1-on-1 mentoring session is included.

Students interested in data visualization training can enroll in Noble’s Tableau Certification Program.This class is intended for those who want to pass the Tableau Desktop Specialist certification exam. As part of this training, students complete two shorter classes: Tableau Level I and Tableau Level II. Six hours of private tutoring is also included in Tableau. Those enrolled learn about Tableau’s interface and how this program is used to create a range of charts. Students also study how to create dashboards and map data. In the private training sessions, participants can revisit difficult course material or ask questions about content that will appear on the exam. Tuition includes the Tableau Desktop Specialist exam sitting fee and a free exam retake (if necessary), as well as test proctoring. Those who pass this test at the end of this program earn professional Tableau certification, which can be included on the student’s resume to demonstrate they’ve achieved a level of expertise with this tool. Those who are not interested in sitting for the exam can opt instead for an additional hour of private tutoring. 

All Noble classes are available live online and in person in New York City. Tuition includes a free course retake for a full year.