Aspiring Data Analysts have a plethora of educational options available besides traditional college or graduate-level study. This article will explore some of the certificates and classes currently available to those wishing to learn more about this in-demand field, as well as the benefits of opting for these forms of study.
Why Get a Certificate in Data Analytics?
One popular option for learning data analytics is to enroll in a certificate program. Typically, these are offered by training schools and provide students with a certificate once they complete studies. Even though most certificate programs don’t require students to sit for an exam, they do provide industry-relevant training in many of the skills, programs, and tools necessary for a Data Analyst to succeed professionally. A certificate in data analytics indicates to employers that you have received training and education in a specific area of focus.
Those who are interested in obtaining a certificate in data analytics often opt for this course of study for several reasons:
- Timeframe. Most certificate programs are twelve months in duration or less. This makes certificate study a good option for those learners who don’t want to spend four or more years enrolled in college courses but still hope to receive helpful and timely training.
- Coursework. Certificate programs are generally offered as one course or a set of related analytics courses that yield a certificate upon completion. For example, data analytics certificates sometimes focus on just one topic such as R or Python programming languages, or provide a more robust overview of a topic such as data visualization or statistical analysis.
- Flexibility. Currently, a good portion of certificate programs in data analytics are being offered in the online format, which makes them a great option for learners who work, have family commitments, or may be traveling. In addition, because many certificate programs aren’t taught in real-time with a live instructor, students can study course material on their own time when it’s most convenient for their schedules. This format often involves recorded video sessions, uploaded course materials, and an instructor or reviewer who provides feedback on coursework.
Certificate Programs in Data Analytics
Certificate programs in data analytics vary in terms of coursework, length, and cost. The following are just a few options for those who are new to data analytics and are interested in pursuing a certificate in this field:
- The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy: This certificate requires students to complete four courses in topics directly relevant to data analytics such as Data and Programming for Public Policy, Machine Learning, and Data Visualization. Those enrolled in this certificate program learn industry-relevant skills and tools such as how to write code in Python or R, how to clean data, and present the findings of their analytics process to others.
- Cornell Online Data Analytics Certificate: In order to complete this certificate program, students take three classes: Understanding and Visualizing Data, Implementing Scientific Decision Making, and Using Predictive Data Analysis. Because this certificate is fully online, learners can complete coursework around work and family commitments.
- University of Pennsylvania Advanced Business Analytics Program: This certificate provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of business analytics and how it can be applied in real-world scenarios. It is offered both in-person as well as in the live online format. Coursework takes between 12 and 15 months to complete and consists of self-paced modules. The cost of this certificate is $40,000.
Classes in Data Analytics
There are also a range of short classes available to learners who are new to the field of data analytics and want to begin their studies. In addition to courses that charge a fee, free data analytics courses are also available for those who may want to begin exploring this topic.
There are many benefits to enrolling in a data analytics course:
- It’s an affordable way to get started learning about data analytics.
- It can help you decide if data analytics is a good match for you before you spend thousands of dollars on a certificate program or other more intensive course of study.
- Many of these courses span just a few hours or days instead of the months or years that would be needed to complete college coursework or a certificate.
- Most of these classes are offered in the online format so that they can be completed at your own pace. This means that if it takes you a month to finish the class, there’s no need to worry.
- Those who enroll in a free, self-paced data analytics course find that this field isn’t a good match for them can discontinue study immediately without any guilt.
- Since there are so many data analytics classes currently being offered by reputable institutions and providers, you can select the one that interests you most in terms of course focus. For example, some learners may want to start by learning data visualization, whereas others are looking for instruction in statistics, data cleansing, or programming.
The following are some learning options for beginner-friendly data analytics courses:
- Udemy’s The Complete Introduction to Data Analytics with Tableau: This introductory-level class provides learners with an overview of how to use Tableau for data visualization. Those enrolled in this course will leave with a firm grasp of the data analytics process, how to create dashboards, charts, and graphs, as well as how to perform calculations.
- Jovian’s Data Analysis with Python: Zero to Pandas: This free class is a great option for those who want to write code using cloud Jupyter Notebooks. Class participants receive detailed instruction on programming with Python, as well as how to create visualizations using Seaborn and Matplotlib.
- Springboard’s Data Analysis with Python, SQL, and R: This free curriculum provides students with instruction on topics such as data wrangling, statistics, data visualization, and other timely data analytics topics. Coursework takes approximately 350-400 hours to complete.
No matter if you opt for certificate study or individual courses, learning more about data analytics is a great way to prepare for a career working with big data.
Hands-on Data Analytics Classes
A variety of exciting learning options available for those looking to get their feet wet in data analytics. These courses provide industry-relevant job training that can open many professional doors. If you are interested in learning more about how to process, analyze, and ultimately visualize big data, Noble Desktop’s data analytics classes are a great starting point. Courses are offered in New York City, as well as in the live online format in topics like Excel, Python, data science, and data analytics technologies, among others.
In addition, more than 170 live online data analytics courses are also available in data analytics and visualization from top providers. Topics offered include FinTech, Excel for Business, and Tableau, among others. Courses range from three hours to nine months and cost from $229 to $60,229. For those interested in pursuing a certificate degree, Noble has you covered as well. Their Data Science Certificate teaches machine learning models, programming fundamentals, and data analysis.
Additionally, Noble’s Data Analytics Classes Near Me tool provides an easy way to locate and browse approximately 400 data analytics classes currently offered in in-person and live online formats. Course lengths vary from three hours to nine months and cost $119-$60,229.