Data is everywhere; it comes in different sizes and from different sources. There’s data in every second of recorded security camera footage, each open-ended survey question response, and even in the quarterly grades of the students in a given school district. However, until this data is sorted and analyzed, none of it is actionable.
This is where data analytics comes in. Data analytics is the set of techniques used to analyze raw data (unprocessed data) to extract relevant information, trends, and insights. This process includes collecting data, organizing it, and storing it, then performing statistical analysis on the data. Once the information is collected, conclusions can be drawn from it, which can be used for problem-solving, business processing, decision-making, and predictions that can inform what a company’s next steps should be.
This article will explore some of the available learning options for those who are interested in studying data analytics.
Where Can I Learn Data Analytics?
Each day, an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created. The demand is greater than ever for qualified Data Analysts to help analyze this information. The good news is that there are many educational options available for those who are new to data analytics, as well as seasoned Data Analysts hoping to switch industry focus or climb the professional ladder into management positions. Some Data Analysts elect to study in a formal educational environment, at the college and graduate level. Others choose to pursue a certificate or certification. And for those who are looking for an overview of data analytics, free courses are available as well.
Undergraduate Study
Receiving a bachelor’s degree in data analytics or data science from a four-year institution is the most commonly selected option for aspiring Data Analysts. This undergraduate degree provides students with the essential coursework, experiences, and qualifications that will help them apply for a tech job, post-graduation.
A degree in data analytics can take many forms such as:
- Bachelor in Data Science and Analytics
- Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics
- Bachelor in Data Analytics
- Bachelor in Computer and Data Science
- Bachelor in Data Science and Analytics
- Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Data Science
At institutions where data science or data analytics tracks aren’t offered, students can major in related subjects such as statistics, computer science, or another area related to data analytics. There are also in-person study options as well as online degree programs available for those interested in pursuing data analytics in college.
Graduate Study
In addition to the bachelor’s degree in data analytics, a popular option for learners hoping to gain a more specialized and advanced set of skills is to pursue a master’s degree in this field. These degrees typically take between 12 and 15 months to complete.
Here are just a few of the reasons some learners wish to study data analytics for a master’s degree:
- Master’s degrees teach dedicated learners how to directly apply the technical skills they learned in school to the real-world.
- Because this degree is more specialized than an undergraduate degree in data analytics, students often get to choose an area of focus in line with their career goals and electives that reinforce this trajectory. For example, some institutions offer graduate study in cybersecurity, financial analytics, or consulting.
- Many of these programs teach programming skills in languages such as R and SQL, as well as data analytics programs like Tableau, which have direct applications for work environments.
- Earning a master’s degree from an accredited, reputable program lets employers know that you have mastered more advanced skills than undergraduate education alone can provide, which may lead to a higher-level starting job or a promotion.
As of 2022, 250 programs offer master’s degrees in either Data Analytics or Data Science. This leads to between 8,000 and 10,000 graduates entering the workforce each year.
Certificate Study
A certificate in data analytics is a great investment for those who wish to develop industry-relevant skills that are currently in-demand by employers. Those who are interested in obtaining a certificate in data analytics often opt for this course of study for several reasons:
- 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 want to receive industry-relevant training.
- 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.
- Many certificate options in data analytics are currently being offered in the online format, which makes them a great option for learners who work, have family commitments, or may be traveling.
- When employers see that a candidate has a certificate in data analytics or a related sub-field, it signals to them that the applicant has advanced skills that may be an asset to their workplace.
- A certificate not only can lead to career advancement, but to higher pay.
Data Analytics Certification
Some learners opt to receive a certification in data analytics to demonstrate to employers that they have a solid grasp of data analysis and management skills. While the CompTIA Data+ certification is vendor-neutral, others are offered by companies such as Microsoft and provide a more specialized training:
- CompTIA Data+ Certification: This is a great introductory certification for Data Analysts. This certification is considered to be the only certification in this field that prepares students to work with core data analytic skills, provides hands-on training, and is also vendor-neutral. This certification teaches those enrolled how to analyze datasets and report on them. It also provides instruction on how to follow data quality and oversight standards, as well as training in data mining, data visualization, and data governance, among other topics.
- Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate: This certification teaches participants how to work with Microsoft Power BI to clean and transform data, as well as how to create scalable data models. In addition, skills such as data preparation and modeling, visualization, and analysis are also covered during this certification.
- Cloudera Certified Associate Data Analyst: This certification is geared toward those whose job involves extracting and creating reports in the Cloudera CDH environment. Data Analysts who use Cloudera, as well as Business Intelligence Specialists, Systems Architects, Database Administrators, and SQL Developers are good candidates for this certification.
Other Educational Options
In addition to studying data analytics in college or graduate school, or pursuing a certificate or certification in this field, there are other educational options available for interested learners at all levels. Free data analytics courses are also available for those who may want to begin exploring this topic. Enrolling in a free course is a great first step for those who wish to see if data analytics is a good match for them, as well as for those who aren’t fully ready for a deep dive into analytics.
Free classes are often introductory-level, relatively short courses that provide an overview of data analytics. Most free classes span several hours or days of learning, rather than months or years that would be involved with college, graduate, or certificate study. Free data analytics courses generally provide self-guided learning, and are designed for those who have little to no experience with analyzing data.
Free data analytics classes are currently available through educators such as Springboard, CareerFoundry, and Harvard.
Hands-on Data Analytics Classes
There are many exciting learning options available for those who are interested in studying data analytics. These courses provide industry-relevant job training that can open many professional doors for Freelance Data Analysts, as well as anyone working with data. For those who want to learn 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.