An online Bachelor of Data Science or similar degree can set you up for job success. Graduates come away with the foundation skills for an interesting and rewarding career as an analyst or data scientist.
You can major in data science and analytics in an information technology or computer science program. The best degrees provide solid preparation for a career working with big data. Students develop technology skills broadly while building key strengths in technical analysis.
Related: Business Analytics vs Data Science
Data Science and Analytics Degrees
The best degrees in analytics/data science train each student to be a data scientist. The programs offer hands-on experience in data-centric problem-solving, complemented by general IT and computer studies. Australia's leading distance education universities offer the degrees entirely online.
Why a Bachelor's in Data Science Is Worth It
Getting a degree in data science is one of the single most powerful ways to boost your value in the job market. Analysis skills are in demand whether you work as a technical specialist or as a bridge between technology and business leaders.
Useful skills
By learning analytics, you acquire the ability to extract human-level information and insights from data. This is an amazing skill to possess.
To keep pace with the explosion of big data in all industries, universities have introduced numerous analytics programs in recent years. Students are learning how to find patterns, predictions, stories, and meaning in large, complex information sets.
Related: How to Become a Data Analyst: 7 Qualifications
Not just data analysis
What you can do with a data science degree is broader than many people imagine.
The value of data comes not from the difficulty or brilliance of the computations performed, but in how information and insights influence human decision-making. Professional roles and opportunities for people skilled in analysing data extend into communication, advisory and leadership fields.
Related: Data Analyst: A Good Career for the Future
Learning Outcomes
An undergraduate program with a data concentration covers essential skills, such as using programming languages and big data analytical tools, performing statistical analysis through R language, and predictive modelling methods.
Additionally, you'll learn how to structure data for problem-solving and present it visually. These skills can be further honed as a professional analyst.
To become qualified as a data analyst, consider studying business intelligence and analytics as part of any computing or IT degree. The analytical skills most sought after by employers include dataset management, statistical analysis, and data visualisation.
Related: 5 Reasons to Take a Data Analysis Course Online
Best Degrees for Data Science
Something aspiring data scientists should be aware of is that you don't have to do a data science bachelor degree to enter this field. In fact, the discipline is usually studied at a postgraduate level by graduates from different backgrounds.
The best degree to become a data scientist is a Master of Data Science. Other postgraduate study options include the relatively short Graduate Certificate of Data Science or Graduate Certificate of Data Analytics, which are normally four subjects. A graduate diploma (8 subjects) is another good choice.
A specialist master's degree is ideal because it allows you to efficiently develop the practical skills required in practice. Postgraduate courses avoid dwelling on the theory or foundation knowledge that is taught in undergraduate computing degrees. The focus is on applied skills development.
To qualify for a master's program, it is generally sufficient that you hold a maths-heavy bachelor degree or have gained equivalent professional experience. The best closely-related undergraduate degrees for a career in this field include Business Analytics, Computer Science, Information Technology, and Mathematics and Statistics.