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Beginning a career in data science can be difficult. So if you\u2019re looking to begin a career as a data scientist<\/a>, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Before diving into a data science program, it\u2019s important to understand what exactly it is that data scientists do. A data scientist may analyze the data from a website to help an organization better understand its clients and improve its services. Often, data scientists will present their findings to other departments, so it could be useful to gain experience and comfortability speaking in front of larger groups. Data scientists often work with engineering and design teams to improve the user\u2019s experience with a product or service. Data scientists are frequently employed by companies and the government. Some data scientists even work as independent consultants. If you\u2019re preparing to enter a bachelor\u2019s degree program in data science, it\u2019s important to become familiar with the skills all data scientists are expected to have. These skills can be broken into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Let\u2019s begin with the hard skills. Hard skills include data wrangling\/munging, preparing data, basic statistics, data visualization and writing code. These are all skills you will be expected to master during a bachelor\u2019s degree program. Though data scientists do not code as often as software developers, they must still be able to do so. During your bachelor\u2019s degree program, you can therefore expect to learn at least one common coding language such as Python, R, SQL or Java. Now, let\u2019s move on to some of the soft skills required of a data scientist. You\u2019ll need more than just the technical skills to excel as a data scientist, especially if you\u2019re aiming to work at a big company. With this in mind, you should acquire a strong set of interpersonal skills, or soft skills, such as communication, a business mindset and critical thinking. You may not necessarily be tested on these skills during your bachelor\u2019s degree program. If you choose a good program, however, the courses you take should help equip you with these necessary skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three main types of data scientists: data scientists, data engineers and data analysts. Data scientists find solutions to problems and create programs to analyze data. They utilize SQL, R, Python, Hadoop, MongoDB, Tableau and Scala. Data engineers create the methods used to analyze data. Their responsibilities involve maintaining databases and creating queries and pipelines to store data. Data analysts are essentially entry-level data scientists who are just beginning their career in data science. A data analyst\u2019s duties involve analyzing data and making recommendations. They aren\u2019t usually responsible for creating their own technical programs for solving problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data science programs include certificates, associate\u2019s degrees, bachelor\u2019s degrees and doctoral degrees. There are also plenty of options for online programs to meet your unique financial situation, schedule and education level. A quality data science bachelor\u2019s degree program will equip you with all the skills necessary to thrive as a data scientist, ranging from soft skills like critical thinking and problem solving to hard skills like statistical analysis and data visualization. Before you choose your online data science bachelor\u2019s degree program, make sure it is from an accredited college or university. This ensures that your education meets national standards. Searching for the right online bachelor\u2019s program to fit your needs and situation can be overwhelming. To jumpstart your search, here is a list of five accredited online data science bachelor\u2019s degree programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The online bachelor\u2019s of science in data management\/data analytics program at Western Governors University<\/a> equips students with necessary data science skills like database management, data wrangling, data science, data analytics and visualization. Some of the courses that WGU offers through its program include web development foundations, data wrangling with MongoDB and spreadsheets. Students enrolled in this program are also required to complete an IT capstone project. This program is well-suited for professionals looking to earn their data science degree to advance their career. For instance, students can take assessment tests to forego familiar material and advance through the program at a quicker pace. Another benefit of WGU\u2019s online program is that students receive a Udacity Nanodegree, which involves resume support, employment guidance and networking opportunities that last after graduation. WGU\u2019s online program is largely self-paced. As soon as a learner has demonstrated mastery of a subject, they can move on to the next course without waiting for the next term to begin (each term lasts six months). The length of the program depends on a learner\u2019s background experience and the number of transfer credits they have, but students typically take anywhere from six to 36 months to graduate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This global university offers an online bachelor\u2019s of science in data analytics that trains students in foundational methodologies, concepts and technologies necessary for a career in data science. Webster University\u2019s<\/a> data science program involves 128 credits, including 36 major-related core credits. Courses cover topics like decision support systems, data science, data warehousing and electronic commerce. Online classes at Webster are small (around 24 students) and take place asynchronously, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace. Moreover, Webster University\u2019s data science program offers courses in eight-, nine- and 16-week terms, allowing students to choose the format that best fits their lifestyle. Webster suggests that adult professionals enrolled in the program take one course per term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York University<\/a> offers an online bachelor\u2019s of science degree in applied data analytics and visualization. This program prepares graduates for roles as database administrators or database analysts at government agencies, corporations, service industries, political organizations, consulting firms and nonprofit organizations. Students must complete 128 online credits; this includes core curriculum courses, foundation classes, data science and visualization courses, and electives. Some of NYU\u2019s course offerings include visual analytics, data analytics, cultural and legal implications of digital technology, and business intelligence, among others. Students are also required to complete a four-credit senior project, either as a seminar or an internship capstone. All online courses are asynchronous, allowing professionals to work at their own pace. Professors hold office hours through live web conferencing, so students can be confident that they will receive individualized attention even while learning remotely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Arizona State University\u2019s<\/a> online bachelor\u2019s of science in business data analytics is the perfect fit for students looking to manage data analytics for large businesses. Students earn their data science degree through ASU\u2019s nationally recognized business school. US News and World Report ranked ASU as #1 in the United States for innovation. ASU data science students take courses that train them in data warehousing, data science, large data analytics solutions, dimensional modelling and visualization methods. Courses take place over intensive, 7.5-week terms. Students are required to complete 120 credits that include 51 credits of upper-level classes. ASU\u2019s online course offerings include enterprise analytics, business data mining, and business data warehouses and dimensional modelling. Online bachelor\u2019s of data science students are also expected to complete a final capstone course that integrates ethical business practices into a global setting. The application requirements for ASU\u2019s data science program are rigorous. For example, freshman applicants must be in the top eight percent of their class or hold a minimum GPA of 3.6 to be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nTypes of Data Scientists <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoosing a Data Science Bachelor\u2019s Degree Program <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nTop 5 Online Data Science Bachelor\u2019s Degree Programs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Western Governors University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nWebster University <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nNew York University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nArizona State University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nBaker College<\/h3>\n\n\n\n