Data Science Certificate Programs

If you’re interested in data science, or perhaps have already completed a bootcamp, a graduate data science certificate may be worth considering. A graduate certificate in data science generally takes less time to complete and is more affordable than a master’s degree. 

Data science certificate programs may also be a way to get a taste for data science before committing to a more long-term program. There are also more specialized certificate programs—those in applied statistics or mortgage analytics, for example—that may appeal to you if you’re already working in data science or want to add a concentration to a master’s degree that you’re currently pursuing.

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Harvard University

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Certificate in Business Analytics

Harvard’s 9-month certificate program equips high-level executives with the data and analytics skill set to lead their organizations to the industry forefront.

  • Live online classes in a webcam-enabled online classroom
  • Case-based lessons pioneered by Harvard Business School (HBS) faculty
  • In-person learning experiences at immersions hosted on Harvard Business School’s campus in Boston

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Why a Data Science Certificate?

A data science certificate is a formal course of study that universities typically offer to students who have already completed their bachelor’s degree. In comparison to a full master’s or PHd program, certificates provide a relatively quick way to get up to speed in a specialized field of study—in this case, data science. Certificate programs are common in a number of fields, such as business and cyber security.

Harvard University

Harvard Business School Online

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Certificate in Business Analytics

Harvard’s 9-month certificate program equips high-level executives with the data and analytics skill set to lead their organizations to the industry forefront.

  • Live online classes in a webcam-enabled online classroom
  • Case-based lessons pioneered by Harvard Business School (HBS) faculty
  • In-person learning experiences at immersions hosted on Harvard Business School’s campus in Boston

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Here are some potential reasons to pursue a graduate certificate in data science or a related specialty:

  • You’re looking to advance at your current company. Perhaps you’re a financial, business or systems analyst keen to master the latest data analysis methods. Or maybe you’re a computer scientist or statistician itching to dig deeper into big data. You may even be a manager interested in harnessing data science to improve business performance. A data science certificate may equip you with the skills and knowledge to advance in roles like these.
  • You want to switch careers (or you’re just starting out). Whether you’re fresh out of college with some statistics and computer programming under your belt or mid-career and looking for a change, why not aspire to be a data scientist? Online certificate programs may provide a flexible way for you to explore this career path.
  • You want to specialize. Some certificate programs are designed so that you can apply some of the credits toward a master’s degree. Completing a data science certificate may give you a more in-depth understanding of a data science subfield. You may enroll in such programs while still pursuing your master’s degree or afterwards, as an alternative option.

In terms of graduate certificates in data science, you may choose a general path or specific path (e.g., data mining or business analytics). If you’re just getting started in the data science field, the general path may suit you so you can learn key terminology and concepts. However, if you already have a data science background (educational or professional) or are interested in a specific data science application, you may consider a more specialized program. 

What’s the Difference Between Data Science Certificates and Courses? 

Data science certificates are typically made up of multiple courses, while a data science course is a standalone class composed of multiple modules. Certificates vs. courses may cover some of the same topics. However, since data science certificates include multiple courses, they often provide a more thorough curriculum than a single data science course. 

If you’re choosing between a data science certificate versus course, you may consider curriculum and duration. In terms of curriculum, what do you want to learn about? There may be data science certificates and courses that cover the topics you’re interested in. However, a data science certificate may go more in depth on the topic than a single course. This is why you may also want to consider program duration. 

In what timeframe do you want to complete your data science studies? If you only want to spend a month or two studying, a data science course may be a better option than a certificate program. Similarly, a course may be a way to see how interested you are in data science before committing to a longer certificate program. If you enjoy it, you might work toward completing a certificate program next.

Data Science Certificate Curriculum 

Data science certificates vary in terms of courses and if you’re able to tailor the curriculum by choosing electives. In general, a program may be made up of three to five courses. Some programs may also include a capstone or similar project. 

Some data science certificate course topics may include:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Big data analytics
  • Data mining
  • Quantitative methods
  • Business intelligence
  • Regression and variance
  • Network theory
  • Information retrieval
  • Applied statistics
  • Data privacy and protection
  • Data visualization
  • Data management systems

The exact curriculum may vary from program to program, and it may also depend on the specialty track you choose. For example, in addition to a general data science certificate, you may pursue a certificate in applied analytics, business analytics or data mining. Additionally, companies like IBM and Microsoft offer their own data science certificate programs customized around their technologies. 

Certificate program admissions requirements may vary. Check the specific admissions requirements of the data science certificate programs you’re interested in.

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