How Long Do Data Visualization Courses Take?

With various course formats available, the length of data visualization classes can vary from an hour to several months. While data visualization majors are virtually nonexistent in the U.S., you can learn related skills in two- or four-year degree programs. When looking for the right data visualization class for your learning needs, the time commitment required is among the several factors you’ll want to consider. With both full-time and part-time options available, some lengthier classes may require more learning hours than shorter, more intensive courses. This resource will introduce you to the various data visualization class formats so you have the information you need to select the best option for your goals and schedule.

Length of Classes

The length of a data visualization course can vary significantly depending on the format and depth of instruction. The best way to determine the exact length of a data visualization course is to research the specific program you're interested in. There are factors to consider when you choose a course that aligns with your learning goals and time constraints. Where you are in your data visualization learning journey, and your ultimate goals in learning data visualization will determine the ideal course for you and how much time you will need to dedicate to your training.

Introductory Classes 

If you’re a complete beginner to data visualization, you have a few options for where to begin your education. Those confident that they want to launch a career in data visualization may prefer to jump into a bootcamp with no experience required as a prerequisite. However, others may choose to enroll in an introductory data visualization class as their first step into the topic. These classes tend to be short courses of anywhere between an afternoon and a week, as that is the time most need to master the basics of data visualization. Introductory data visualization classes may primarily cover a single application of the foundational principles of data visualization or a foundational treatment of both tools and techniques. Of course, by their nature, introductory classes will not explore data visualization in depth or prepare you for a career. However, they are an excellent place to familiarize yourself with the topic if that is all you need in your data visualization education. An introductory class is also an excellent choice for those curious about a career in data but who need a better understanding of it before pursuing it.

Advanced Courses 

Advanced data visualization courses are the next step for many who attend an introductory class. They’re also a frequent choice of those who choose to learn the basics of data visualization with free online seminars and tutorials, as learners tend to find they can only go so far with self-teaching data visualization with the help of free resources. Like introductory classes, advanced classes are usually short courses running no more than four or five days. You’ll also find that advanced courses are available in various areas of data visualization, covering specific tools and techniques of the field. Those wishing to strengthen their knowledge of an application like Tableau can use an advanced course to achieve their learning goals. Others with strong skills in self-directed learning may be able to piece together a solid education in data visualization with advanced courses. Still, this experience will be very challenging to assemble, and chances are high of unintentionally missing an element of the skill set. Bootcamps also boasts career support and mentorship benefits that you’ll miss out on by exclusively attending advanced courses.

Data Visualization Bootcamps 

Data visualization bootcamps and certificate programs are comprehensive career-centered classes that can guide you every step from a beginner with no experience in data visualization to ready to land your first job in the field. By nature, any data visualization professional development course will be substantially longer than introductory and advanced short courses, as these bootcamps must take up the time necessary to teach a vast amount of content. In addition to traditional instruction and discussion, they also support portfolio building, career support, and other mentorship, adding to the valuable hours of education you receive for the considerable financial investment required by data visualization bootcamps.

For those who dream of becoming a data visualization professional, the price of a bootcamp or certificate program promises a return on investment well worth the while for most students. They also find that the time investment pays off abundantly, as a full-time bootcamp is arguably the fastest track to launching a data visualization career with the potential to last a lifetime. Full-time data visualization programs are intense and immersive, requiring you to set aside several weeks to dedicate exclusively to your education. If you are a busy professional or parent, a slower-paced part-time program for several months may be better for you.

Self-Paced Classes 

Featuring a unique blend of structure and flexibility, self-paced classes can be an appealing data visualization learning solution for disciplined and self-driven students. Also known as on-demand courses, self-paced classes allow you to begin a class and do coursework whenever is most convenient. This freedom is welcome for some learners who can keep themselves focused and motivated. However, many struggle to stay on track with their learning goals without a set schedule and the support of an expert instructor who can answer questions and troubleshoot problems as they arise in real-time. Bootcamps and live short courses provide these benefits and others that keep students on track in their data visualization education and prepare them for job readiness by the completion of the course. Self-paced classes can vary significantly in length, as introductory, advanced, and comprehensive options are available, and, ultimately, the student sets the program's pace.

College Degrees

While data visualization classes and degrees are few and far between, some adjacent two- and four-year degrees will cover related skills. Some recent high school graduates wishing for a traditional college experience or individuals wanting to explore fields in addition to data visualization may benefit from investing time and money in a college degree. Subjects like statistics, graphic design, and information science can be excellent foundations for building a data visualization career. However, individuals planning to go to college for a data visualization career may need additional training and portfolio-building support before becoming career-ready in data visualization.

Learn Data Visualization with Noble Desktop

Whatever your goals in learning data visualization, Noble Desktop has a class for you. Their Data Visualization Certificate program is an excellent option for those looking for a comprehensive program to prepare to launch a data career. Featuring 132 hours of hands-on learning, a free retake option, and one-on-one mentorship sessions you can use as career prep, this certificate program’s curriculum includes all you need to know to begin working in data visualization. No experience is required to attend a course that is available on a part-time or full-time schedule. By the end of this certificate program, you will have a strong understanding of data visualization principles, Python, Excel, and analytics and have a digital certificate of completion to verify this knowledge to potential employers. This certificate and the portfolio you assemble during the course will help you land your dream job in data visualization.

Noble’s Tableau for Data Visualization Bootcamp is an excellent option for those who wish to work with Tableau to visualize data. Participants receive an overview of the field of data visualization and learn about Tableau Public’s visualization tools. By course completion, students will have a solid understanding of identifying which datasets to connect to and how to analyze, filter, and organize data to make customized, publishable visualizations. This course also offers a free retake for those interested in revisiting Tableau concepts. 

Noble’s in-person or live online Data Analytics Certificate is another good learning option for those seeking a more intensive study option. This rigorous program provides expert instruction on various data analytics concepts and prepares learners to become Business Analysts or Data Analysts. By course completion, all participants will be familiar with core business intelligence, statistical analysis, data analysis, and data visualization concepts. This is a project-based course in which students will complete various real-world projects using prescriptive and predictive analytics. All students receive one-on-one mentoring as part of tuition.

In addition, Noble Desktop offers other in-person and live online data visualization courses. Those who wish to learn the tools to become Data Scientists may consider enrolling in Noble’s Data Science Certificate, which covers machine learning, automation, SQL, and Python. A Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers fundamental and complex Python programming concepts, such as creating programs and using statistics to make machine learning models.