Guide to a Quick Online Masters in Data Science

What is Data Science?

Data Science

A Data science career is perfect for those with an expertise in programming, research, math, and computer technology. Professionals will learn real-world applications in this interdisciplinary field. There are plenty of job opportunities for those in data science and a variety of employment companies to work at. Those in data science study algorithms, incorporate procedures, and examine processes on a large amounts of data. They do this to uncover hidden patterns, form insights, and create decision-making advancements on both structured and unstructured data. Data science is one of the fastest-growing career field and can take you up the career ladder with the right skills and credentials to land the best job in several industries.

Is a Data Science Degree Worth It?

When an applicant applies for a job, having some education is always better than just having the work experience and skills to do the job. Getting this degree can open more job opportunities for those working in the field. It can also increase your salary, compared to getting a data science job without the degree or even a certification. So, yes, it is definitely worth going for the degree option when applying for a career in data science.

Why Should I Get My Degree Online?

There are many degrees that are available online these days. Earning an online degree provides numerous benefits for the applicant. One is the flexibility to work from home, or anywhere for that matter. Many online courses are also reasonably priced for the applicant, and some colleges will provide online courses at the same cost for both resident and non-resident applicants.

Types of Degrees and Specializations in Data Science

There is a variety of specializations and concentrations to focus on in the data science field. Here are three options within the field and to spark your interest. 

Data Engineering: This involves designing and developing the infrastructure needed to store, process, and analyze data. The prospective learner will need a background in computer science and software engineering, including proficiency in SQL and Python languages. 

Data Visualization: Being a Data Visualization specialist involves having strong technical and creative skills, as well as, creating visual representations of data, and understanding of design principles. Having a creative mindset is imperative. 

data science

Business Analytics: Having a strong foundation in statistics is a must. You will need to use data to drive business decisions, understanding of business principles, and analyze data to identify trends and patterns using a business strategy.

What Will I Learn in a Data Science Program?

The basic courses in a data science degree program will focus on several disciplines, such as computer science, math, and big data. Some programs will incorporate graphic design, public speaking, and storytelling as well. You will also learn to generate algorithms and identify data trends. Specific courses include foundations of data science, data mining, algorithm analysis, data structures, programming, and artificial intelligence. In addition, Math courses for data science may include calculus 1 and 2, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, probability, statistics.

Careers and Salary

There are so many areas of interest within the data science career path. Here are a few areas that many individuals go into once they earn their degree and start looking for job prospects. 

Data analyst- $80,091 / yr

The average top salary for a data analyst is $80,091 per year in the United States. However, with advanced knowledge and master degrees, the common analyst can easily make six figures, depending on location, employer, and education. Additional ay increases could provide the analyst with bonuses, commission, and profit sharing as well. 

Machine learning engineer– $151,886/ yr

Another high-paying salary in the field of data science is Machine learning engineering. According to Glassdoor, the high paying position will offer graduates a salary starting around $151,886 per year. 

Data engineer– $114,000. 

The Data Engineer role works with Data Management and Advanced Analytics platforms. An engineer will use data analysts and data scientist teams to help design, implement, and support a number of database services. The average annual salary pay is $114,000. 

Business-related careers in Data Science

Business analyst– $93,000.

Business analysts will gather and analyze a company’s data to identify their needs and recommend effective solutions. Some will work along their clients’ teams in order to eliminate any redundancies and also improve efficiency within the group. The average pay salary is $93,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Database administrator– $101,000

The main job of Database Administrators is to create or organize systems to store and secure data. Entry level employment will require a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field. There is about 11,500 openings for database administrators and architects (projected) over the next few years. The average salary is $101,000 annually.

Product analyst– $79,911/yr. 

A product analyst will research, collect, and analyze data on the behavior of customers, before, during, and after they use a product or service. They gather this information to determine what product features are widely accepted, and which ones may need improvement. A Senior product analyst may have a salary of $79,911 per year. 

The Job connection between Data science and financial services

Financial analyst-$65,499

A financial analyst will make about $65,499 per year. They study marketplace trends, demographics and microeconomic factors, to improve investment strategies and provide financial advice to companies on topics such as bonds, stocks, and other areas of concern.

Do I Need a Master’s Degree in Data Science?

Most people that go for a career in data science do not necessarily need a masters degree. However, there could be some advantages and benefits for those who do earn the degree. Typically, Data science master’s programs take about one to two full-time years to complete. Some course programs do offer accelerated programs that allows graduate students to finish in less than 12 months. Plus, adding a data science master to your BS degree will give you a competitive edge against the other applicants for the position. 

What Can I Do with a Master’s Degree in Data Science?

With advanced technologies continuously adapting and developing each year, there is more knowledge and information being added into each curriculum. For this reason, many graduates of the data science degree will find work in several types of industries. As we see above, some will work in the business aspect of the degree, while others may find employment within financial services. Other job responsibilities may be gathering data, creating algorithms, drafting reports, or cleaning data. An individual with this degree may work in either the private or public sectors. So, the areas of job interest are nearly limitless. 

Choosing the Best Data Science program

There are a variety of data science programs to choose from. And many offer similar benefits. But not all will provide you with everything you are looking for. So, here are some tips to help students find the best program that fits their needs.

Admissions: to enter into a program, most schools will require:

Accreditation: finding a school with the highest accreditations is important. Accreditations can help provides access to federal and state funding, makes transferring credits easier, and can create a set of quality standards for all education institutions or programs.

Financial Aid and Scholarships: Most schools will offer financial aid, and some may provide scholarship opportunities t those eligible.

Certifications and Licensure

A data science certification may be necessary when applying for certain positions within the field. It can be used to persuade an employer during the hiring process, especially when someone does not meet some or all of a job’s stated education or experience requirements. There are other reasons why someone would need a certificate in data science. For example, gain more training after graduation, improve specific abilities, or just to showcase your skills in data analytics. Here are some common forms of certifications offered to those in the data science field. 

Best Programs

CSU Global

The MS in Data Analytics at CSU Global offers graduates flexible courses with several start dates and available 100 percent online. CSU Global’s master’s degree is also accredited, and includes a completion of 24 core degree course credits with 12 degree specialization credits. The topics in the curriculum will prepare students in Data warehousing, Data mining and visualization, Business analytics, Predictive analytics, and Enterprise performance management. The program will also prepare them for careers as a Database Scientist, Operations Analyst and Database Architect. CSU’s accreditations and rankings include #2 for the Best No GRE Master’s Degrees for 2020 and #9 for the Best Online Master’s in Data Science Programs for 2022. 

Oregon State University

Oregon State University’s MS in Analytics offers students a challenging, yet interesting masters degree, equipping them in  quantitative tools and skills needed for a worthwhile career in data science. Coursework includes statistics, computer science, mathematics, policy and applied sciences such as genomics.The 45-credit master’s program includes courses in statistics, computer science and statistics electives. A certificate program is also available. Tuition is affordable to most students; however, financial aid is available. 

Penn State World Campus

Penn State World Campus offers a MPS in Data Analytics to graduate students working toward a career in Data Science. This comprehensive base program curriculum will help students learn to design, implement, and apply data management techniques once graduated. The program is available completely online and is a 30-credit curriculum. The course is taught by expert professionals working in the field. Skills taught include decision-making, organizational, and analytical skills. Penn State offers high accreditations and holds top rankings among other computer science or technical degrees. 

University of Illinois at Springfield

The MS in Data Analytics at University of Illinois at Springfield offers both on-campus and online course formats, providing an interdisciplinary approach in topics such as computer and mathematical science. Each student will experience real-world scenarios in data science, while using data analysis technology and understanding cloud services, such as Amazon Web Services. The curriculum will also provide research opportunities by expert faculty scholars. The MS in Data Analytics program is available each spring and fall semester. Some math prerequisite course completions are required being applying. The MS in Data Analytics program ranked at #1 in 2021 as the Best Online Master’s in Data Science Programs by Study.com nationwide. 

University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus offers a MS in Data Analytics program to graduate students wanting to expand their knowledge and skills in a data science career field. The program gives the student hands-on experience with experienced professionals already working in the field. The 36-credit course program is available completely online and can be completed within 24 months. Core coursework includes Decision Management Systems(6 Credits), Data Management and Visualization(6 Credits), Machine Learning(6 Credits), Predictive Modeling(6 Credits), and Big Data Analytics(6 Credits). This degree will help students gain Real-World Experience from each class taken within the program. University of Maryland Global Campus offers both affordability and flexible course programs. 

Data Science Professional Organizations

There are several organizations and affiliates in Data Science. Here are some of the top professional organizations that many join in this field.

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