Data science is consistently proven to be one of the trendiest fields in the industry year after year. So, what does it take to be a data scientist? A master’s degree in data science sounds idyllic, but is it the only way to thrive in this constantly changing field? Maybe so, if you want to rise to the top of the industry quickly. However, that is not the only to become a successful data scientist. Read on to find out if a master’s degree in data science is beneficial to you.
What Is Data Science?
Data science is constantly evolving and changing but, it is consistently one of the best fields in the industry. Simply put, data science can be described as the study of data. Furthermore, data science involves analyzing, studying, and recording of data that is then used to extract useful information from. The overall goal for data science is to discover the insights of data. Data scientists will use the information that they analyze to gather specific insights or make specific conclusions.
What Does a Data Scientist Do?
A data scientist’s job description is never the same and is usually based upon the company that they are working for. Data scientists are mathematicians, business analysts, and statisticians all wrapped up in one. According to Glassdoor, a data scientist is one of the best jobs in IT based on earning potential, job satisfaction, and the number of job openings. The trendiest job in IT involves a great deal of data mining and programming skills. To be a data scientist, you need to have excellent problem-solving skills, efficiency with machine learning and AI, and be proficient with statistics.
There are also various types of roles under the same data science umbrella. Some of those include data scientists, data engineers, and data analysts. Data analysts are the entry-level position of data science. Data engineers are involved in maintaining databases and creating pipelines to store the data. Lastly, data scientists work to solve difficult problems and develop programs to analyze the data.
Companies or the government usually employ data scientists to make the data that they collect useful. According to Indeed, a data scientist makes an average of $124,189 a year in the United States.
Is a Data Science Master’s Degree Beneficial?
There are many different facets of a data science master’s degree, as well as several different routes that you can take in terms of specialization. Some of the data science fields for a master’s degree include business analytics, artificial intelligence, engineering, programming languages, and applied statistics.
Data science master’s programs teach the value of analytics while blending mathematics, business, and statistics. A master’s degree in data science can qualify you for higher ranking jobs as well as grow your career as a data scientist. It can also set you apart from other candidates competing for the same position.
However, a master’s degree doesn’t always translate into a job. Consider your goals before enrolling in a master’s program and the actual reasons you want to further your education. Before choosing a program, ask the university about the employment rate after graduation. As per usual, when deciding which and what education is right for you, you need to consider just that, what is right for your specific situation and what you can afford, among others.
What Are Some of the Best Data Science Degrees?
If you decide that a master’s degree is right for you, then you might want to consider these universities. These are the top five schools to obtain a data science master’s degree from.
1. Perdue University
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
Tuition: $29,741 for in-state students, $47,786 for out-of-state
Concentration: Supply chain, investment, and corporate finance analytics
2. DePaul University
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Tuition: $850 per credit hour
Concentrations: Computational methods
3. University of Rochester
Location: Rochester, New York
Tuition: $51,072, on average, for 32 credits
Concentrations: Computational and statistical methods, health, biomedical, business, and social sciences
4. New York University
Location: New York, New York
Tuition: $2,286 per credit, but you can save on registration and service fees by paying for more than one course at once
Concentrations: Data, big data, and mathematics data, natural language processing and physics
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tuition: $25,000 per semester
Concentrations: Systems, analytics, and data science
Is a Master’s in Data Science Right for You?
A master’s in data science can give you the edge over other job applicants and will likely qualify you for promotions within your field. It can also be extremely beneficial since data science is going to be around for years to come.
However, these programs are time-consuming and may cost thousands of dollars. Consider your goals, time commitment, and money allowance that you have for education. Regardless, you have a lot of options to consider, including a coding bootcamp. Take a few moments to weigh all options, make your decision and you’ll be well on your way towards your dream career.
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