Why Learn Data Science?

Have you ever explored all of the things data science can do? Data science cuts across virtually every industry. Data science is most needed in sectors like telecommunications, media and entertainment, digital marketing, and the automotive industry, but there are many others. Business Analysts, Financial Advisors, and Machine Learning Engineers are just a few positions that require data science fundamentals like Python programming, SQL, and data visualization.

Here, you’ll learn more about the types of careers that benefit from data science and how it can enhance your professional life. Regardless of your overall goals, learning data science is a valuable and impressive skill to add to your resume. 

What is Data Science?

Data science is a broad field that encompasses the disciplines of mathematics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence (AI). Data professionals such as Data Scientists and Data Analysts use advanced techniques like machine learning algorithms to find patterns in a vast amount of information. This process can provide actionable insights to stakeholders, from Product Managers to C-suite executives.

Today nearly every sector requires data science expertise, whether public or private. Among the top sectors where data science is critical are health and wellness, retail, web and application development, banking and finance, and governmental agencies. The field continues to project dramatic growth over the next decade; Glassdoor even listed Data Scientist as number three in its 50 Best Jobs in America in 2022.

Read more about what data science is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Data Science?

Data science has so many applications in different industries that a comprehensive review could fill a book. Professionals as diverse as Business Analysts, Machine Learning Engineers, and Enterprise Architects use data science in their day-to-day activities.

Top sectors for data science include banking and finance, marketing and advertising, and healthcare:

• Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) - Business Analysts and Data Scientists use data for everything from fraud detection to customized financial advice. Machine learning algorithms can assist with risk analytics, stock trading, and other tasks.

• Marketing & Advertising - Data Analysts and Marketing Analysts use data science in advertising to create targeted ad copy, recommend products and services, and leverage social media platforms. Programming languages like Python and R, often key to data science positions, help experts analyze data and make recommendations.

• In healthcare, Data Scientists create algorithms to create care plans and improve patient services. Using data analysis in medical imaging can help care providers with diagnoses and treatment decisions.

Data science has proven crucial to many other sectors, from retail and manufacturing to the public sector. If you want to combine challenging work with job security, start with data science.

Common Professional Uses for Data Science

Data science cuts across nearly every industry, with professions in manufacturing, retail, government, and cybersecurity, to name a few. Whereas Data Scientists use their knowledge and skills in one way, Marketing Analysts may use theirs in quite another.

Banking services, web development, and healthcare are among the top sectors where data science is more critical than ever. The following points emphasize how they use data science in vastly different business models.

• Banking, Financial Services, & Insurance (BFSI) - The BFSI sector covers everything from Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to auto insurance, credit reporting, and wealth management services. Cybersecurity and identity theft also figure largely into this picture, and data science is essential to all these functions.

• Web and application development - The rise of data science means artificial intelligence and machine learning have become more crucial than ever. Data Scientists and Data Analysts often collaborate with Web and App Developers, and when a new app goes public, data on its popularity or efficacy requires analysis. As a result, data science is now a critical part of the development life cycle.

• Health & Wellness - Data science can help doctors fight disease through a specialty called predictive medicine. Machine learning algorithms help with everything from imaging studies to clinical trials and even with predicting which drugs will (or will not) most likely prove effective. Big data benefits big pharma in a host of new ways.

Learn Python Programming

Data science positions from Data Scientists to Business Analysts rely on Python programming skills. Python cuts across many industries, including banking/finance, retail, telecommunications, and most other major sectors.

If you want to learn data science, Python training will be one of many skills you’ll need. However, even if you’re not going for a data science career, the Python training you gain from a data science curriculum offers benefits for roles in areas like cybersecurity, web development, and app development, among others.

You can pick up a few Python fundamentals from online tutorials, like Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Python Fundamentals seminar. To get a better handle on the aspects of Python required for data science careers, consider enrolling in a full-scale bootcamp or certificate program.

To master Python as part of a more comprehensive curriculum, Noble’s Data Science Certificate offers all the training needed to secure an entry-level data science position. Subjects in this program include not only Python but also machine learning algorithms, SQL, and top Python libraries like NumPy and Pandas.

Use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence applications include machine learning (ML), automation, and natural language processing (NLP). These tools have become crucial for sectors ranging from ecommerce to healthcare.

If your goal for learning data science tends toward the AI or ML side of the equation, check out a beginner-friendly course like the intensive Python Data Science & Machine Learning Bootcamp from Noble Desktop. Here you’ll learn Python fundamentals, including Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib, and machine learning packages like Scikit-learn.

Students interested in data analytics can save by taking this bootcamp as part of Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate program.

Communicate Insights Through Data Visualization

Data visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI can be essential for positions ranging from Business Intelligence (BI) Analysts to Data Analysts, Marketing Analysts, and Data Engineers. The need for data visualization extends to data cleaning, identifying trends, and finding exceptions to the rule—not just presenting data in a chart or graph.

Students serious about learning the ins and outs of data analytics or business intelligence can get all the training they need to qualify for a statistical analysis or data visualization position through Noble Desktop’s comprehensive Data Analytics Certificate. This program can be completed in one month full-time or five months part-time and includes over 100 hours of hands-on training. It comprises the following bootcamps:

• Excel for Data Analytics
• Data Analytics Foundations
• Python for Data Science Bootcamp
• SQL Bootcamp
• Python for Automation
• Python Machine Learning Bootcamp
• Tableau Bootcamp

Attendees receive eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions and a verified certificate of completion. Graduates can retake the program for up to one year at no additional charge.

How to Start Learning Data Science

Live data science classes, either in-person or online, are the most popular options for learning this essential programming language. You can find in-person data science programs near you using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me search tool. Check out the Data Science Certificate for training in Python and SQL or the Data Analytics Certificate to learn Python machine learning and Tableau. For virtual live training options, look for the best course for your goals, as you can take it from anywhere. Online live data science courses include a FinTech Bootcamp and Python Data Science & Machine Learning Bootcamp.

On-demand or self-paced data science courses are also available, although they aren’t nearly as thorough as live bootcamps or certificate programs. The Get Started in Data Science video tutorial from Noble Desktop provides a free two-hour introduction, while course providers like Udacity or Skillsoft offer training with your paid subscription to their platforms. Other on-demand alternatives require payment.

Noble offers additional free seminars on data science, along with blog posts and tutorials. You’ll find samples in the data science section of the Learn Hub. Their website's Free Seminars page hosts an Intro to Python Fundamentals seminar. And check out their YouTube page for a playlist on Python, Data Science, and SQL.

Read the full guide on how to learn Data Science.

Learn Data Science with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Because data science is a broad field, targeted training can prepare you for a data-centered position or even help you choose a specific role. You might think you’ll need a four-year data science degree, but this isn’t necessarily so. The bootcamp or certificate educational model has become increasingly popular for data professionals, thanks to features like small class sizes, hands-on training from industry experts, and individual mentoring. Noble Desktop offers a wide range of data science programs to help get you started.

• Data Science Certificate - The comprehensive Data Science Certificate provides all the skills required for entry-level data science, data analytics, or software engineering roles. Students learn how to write complex queries and build machine learning models while preparing a portfolio on a real-world basis. Skills covered include Python, SQL, NumPy, Pandas, and Jupyter Notebook, to name a few.

• Data Analytics Certificate - The comprehensive Data Analytics Certificate program offers the perfect training ground for Data Analysts, Business Intelligence Analysts, and Marketing Analysts. With a heavy emphasis on Tableau data visualization software, you’ll learn skills like Python programming, SQL, and machine learning, among others. Registrants of the Data Analytics Certificate or Data Science Certificate can also attend Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp at no additional charge.

• Python for Data Science Bootcamp - The Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers everything from programming fundamentals to data visualization. Students can save by taking this course as part of Noble’s Data Science Certificate, Data Analytics Certificate, or FinTech Bootcamp.

Check out all the Noble data science classes and bootcamps for additional options, like the Python Data Science & Machine Learning Bootcamp, Python for Data Science Bootcamp, or Python Machine Learning Bootcamp.

Key Insights

• Data science is a broad field encompassing the disciplines of mathematics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence.
• Top fields where data science is most needed include:
• Automotive
• Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) 
• Healthcare
• Marketing and Advertising
• Media and Entertainment
• Telecommunications
• Web and app development
• Top roles in data science include:
• Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Data Scientist
• Enterprise Architect
• Financial Advisor
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Marketing Analyst
• Web developer

• Why learn data science?
• Glassdoor listed Data Scientist as number three in its 50 Best Jobs in America in 2022.
• Advanced techniques like machine learning algorithms are increasingly important in industries as varied as healthcare, retail, and finance.
• Top skills for data science can also apply to other tech fields, including software engineering, web and app development, and cybersecurity.
• The skills most in-demand for data science roles include:
• Programming languages like Python and R
• Data visualization programs like Power BI and Tableau
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
• SQL (Structured Query Language) to work with databases

• You can receive comprehensive data science training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.