How to Become a Data Scientist

Quick Highlights:

Data science involves collecting, organizing, and analyzing data using mathematics, programming, AI, machine learning, and statistics.
It is expected to grow by 36% over the next decade due to the increasing need for data interpretation by organizations.
Data science projects typically go through four stages: data intake, storage and processing, analysis, and communication, each crucial for converting raw data into actionable insights.
Data scientists enjoy high salaries, with an average of $157,018 per year, and the field is experiencing rapid job growth, making it an attractive career choice.
While a bachelor’s or master’s degree in data science is beneficial, alternative educational paths such as boot camps and certification programs can also lead to a successful career in data science.

With a data science education, you can be at the forefront of modern technology. Whether you want to work with artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning, a data science bachelor’s degree is a good first step. Afterward, you can continue to learn data science skills with data science master’s degrees and certifications.

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What Is Data Science?

What is data science? At its heart, data science is all about the way data is collected and organized. It uses a blend of mathematics, specialized programming, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistics. Once data is collected and organized, it can be used by businesses for strategic decision-making.

Because there is so much data created each day, data science is one of the fastest-growing degree fields. Over the next 10 years, data science careers are expected to grow by 36%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is because organizations must have data scientists in order to interpret data.

In a typical data science project, you will go through a few basic stages.

Data intake: The beginning of any data science project is with data collection. Structured and unstructured data is gathered from a variety of different sources.
Storage and processing: Next, the data must be cleaned and stored. A data management team is in charge of determining workflow for analytics. They may need to deduplicate the data or use data integration programs to prepare data for analysis.
Analysis: After storing and processing the data, data scientists work to analyze it for patterns, biases, ranges, and other factors.
Communication: For data to be useful, stakeholders must understand it. The final stage is one of the most important steps. In this stage, the data science engineer must use data visualizations and other tools to communicate the importance of the data to stakeholders.

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Why You Should Become a Data Scientist

Other than enjoying the high data science salary, there are many reasons why you might want to become a data scientist. After you learn data science skills, you can enjoy being a part of a thriving industry. In addition to being extremely flexible, these roles are also available at a wide variety of companies.

High Salaries

The average data science salary is $157,018, according to Glassdoor. Even if you are an entry-level data science engineer, you can expect to earn a starting wage of $122,954. As you gain experience, your wage will only continue to increase.

Easy Options for a Data Science Education

While getting data science master’s degrees will make it easier to get a job, you can become a data scientist without a degree. The exact requirements depend on the industry and the employer. Although a degree might not be required, you’ll have an easier time finding a position if you at least have a data science bachelor’s degree.

Job Growth

Once you have learned the right skills for data science, you can enjoy being a part of a vibrant industry. From 2013 to 2019, the industry grew by a whopping 256%. Between now and 2029, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this career field to grow faster than almost any other career in the country.

Flexibility

After you learn data science skills, you can enjoy finding jobs in an incredibly flexible field. You can work as a data science engineer in just about any major corporation and industry. All types of businesses need data scientists to monitor and report on data.

Do You Need a Degree to Be a Data Scientist?

What degree is best for data science? More importantly, do you need a data science education to become a data scientist?

While you don’t technically need a data science bachelor’s degree to get a job, it will make the process much easier. At the very least, you will want to take a data scientist course to familiarize yourself with the subjects you need to know. If you don’t already have a degree in data science, you will need to show that you have the necessary skills to become a successful data scientist. For example, you will need a strong background in mathematics, computer science, statistics, Python, and R programming.

If you don’t pursue data science master’s degrees or bachelor’s degrees, you should still take some type of data science course. For example, you can enroll in a data science boot camp or a certificate program. By pursuing a different certification option, you can demonstrate to employers that you have the appropriate skills for data science careers without spending multiple years getting a traditional college degree.

Educational Paths to Become a Data Scientist

To get hired in this industry, there are a few data science education pathways you can choose from. Getting a data science bachelor’s degree or master’s degree is the standard option. If you want a faster pathway, you can take online courses or boot camps instead.

Data science bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. During the degree, you will need to take courses in computer science, mathematics, statistics, and programming.
Data science master’s degrees: A master’s degree begins after you have finished your bachelor’s degree. This type of program typically lasts for one to three years. Because it involves getting an advanced level of learning, you will generally earn more money after you have finished a graduate degree.
Online data science courses: If you want a faster option, you can sign up for an online data scientist course. Individual courses and certification programs allow you to learn data science skills without investing four years of your time and energy. Additionally, you can find certification programs for specific kinds of data science degrees.
Boot camps: While boot camps involve intensive training, they are extremely fast to complete. During a period of a few weeks or months, you can learn the basic skills for data science. Some boot camp programs will even help you land a job after you finish your program.

Do You Need Special Skills for Data Science?

Like any career field, you will need to learn data science skills in order to get hired as a data scientist. If you pursue a data science bachelor’s degree, the program will automatically teach you these skills. While different careers in data science will require different skills, you will generally need to perfect the following abilities.

Programming
Advanced math
Computer science
Collaboration
Big data analytics
Business acumen
Curiosity
Deep learning
Machine learning
Ethics
Statistics analysis
Data visualization and storytelling

How Long to Become a Data Scientist?

If you are trying to learn how long to become a data scientist, the answer depends on the type of job you want and the company you will be working for. Most boot camp programs only take about three months to complete. Meanwhile, a data science bachelor’s degree takes around four years to finish. If you decide to enroll in data science master’s degrees after your bachelor’s degree, it will take an additional one to three years.

Becoming a Data Scientist

There are a few steps you should take in order to become a data scientist. To be a competitive job applicant, you will need a degree in the field. You may also need to show a portfolio of successful projects or professional references.

Degrees

While you can take a data science course or go to a boot camp instead, a data science bachelor’s degree is the best option for becoming a data scientist. If your college does not offer a bachelor’s degree in data science, you should enroll in a related subject, like mathematics or computer programming.

Certifications

After you complete your bachelor’s degree, there are still more skills you should learn. Depending on the job you want, you may need to gain your Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer certification or become a certified analytics professional (CAP). There are also additional certifications, like the Amazon Web Services (AWS) certified data analytics specialty or the Cloudera certified associate (CCA) data analyst designation.

Learn Data Science Tools

To excel in this career field, you need to know how to use the right tools. For example, data scientists should be familiar with Python and R programming. Often, you will be able to learn about these tools during your bachelor’s degree program.

Finish Data Science Projects

Sometimes, prospective employers want to see a track record of successfully working as a data scientist. You can prove your abilities by creating a portfolio of your best projects. Then, you can send in your portfolio whenever you give an employer your resume.

Research Companies

Once you have completed your data science education, you should spend some time finding companies you want to work for. Research the company to figure out what they do and the type of employee they need. You should also see if you know anyone who works at the organization because they may be able to give you a leg up in your job search.

Find Out More About Becoming a Data Scientist

After learning the answer to “What is data science?”, you should take some time to find the right data science bachelor’s degree program. With a data science education, you can learn data science skills and begin networking with other people in the industry.

While you might not need data science master’s degrees to get a job, a master’s degree can set you apart from the competition. In addition, advanced degrees will provide you with additional skills for data science jobs. Through the right education and skills, you can prepare yourself for a rewarding career as a data scientist.

Sources:

University of Notre Dame

Fortune

Rice University