Since the 2000s, India has been on a constant trajectory to becoming one of the significant contributors to the information technology sector. This growth has manifested itself through the advent of indigenous IT companies. Companies such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have become significant global players. These companies not only provide data management services but also have a range of analytical services. Infosys is famous for its fantastic data analytical services, covering a wide range and providing artificial intelligence and machine learning integrations. The demand for analytical services has meant a rise in job opportunities in data science. It can be a lucrative career path and an upskilling chance for working professionals. This article will cover data science, career opportunities, and a guide to finding the best courses.
Data science courses
Data science is an amalgamation of various subjects. It combines mathematics and programming to create algorithms capable of analyzing vast data sets independently. Therefore the best data science courses include all the necessary topics and other essential tools in their curriculum. These courses are an excellent choice for students and working professionals. Students have the privilege of choosing the conventional data science path, and working professionals can see data science courses as an upskilling opportunity. For both cases, data science is a safe option. We can rest assured that data science and data analysis requirements will only increase for years to come.
Data science curriculum
The best data science courses typically follow a well-established course structure. The curriculum will generally consist of mathematics, programming, machine learning, deep learning, and cloud computing. These subjects combine to create modern data science methods and technologies.
Mathematical topics
Mathematics is considered to be the backbone of data science. To become a successful data scientist or analyst, one must possess some knowledge about concepts such as linear algebra, calculus, statistics, and probability. Therefore, the best data science courses will include all the necessary mathematical concepts in their curriculum.
Programming language
The second most important subject in the data science curriculum is programming. Most courses provide classes on python as it is considerably easier to learn and also has a vast library of resources created by the programming community. Even better is that one can quickly access the recourse, which is entirely free. Keeping the importance of programming languages for becoming a great data scientist in mind, the best data science courses create a curriculum that emphasizes teaching programming to every student.
Machine learning and deep learning
Modern data science relies heavily on artificial intelligence. To be more specific, it requires the implementation and integration of machine learning and deep learning algorithms. This is why the best data science courses focus heavily on teaching about machine learning and deep learning algorithms in a way that even complete beginners can quickly grasp the concepts. Developing competency in both is very important for becoming successful in data science because most companies will require you to dispose of tasks revolving around the machine and deep learning.
Cloud computing services
One can be certain about at least two things in life. The first is that at the end of the day, no one is going to heaven, and the second is that increasing the size of datasets will also increase the accuracy. Until very recently, extensive data was not easily accessible, and even if it was, we couldn’t process them in a timely fashion. Thanks to some of the major players in the cloud computing industry, we now have easy access to massive computational powers. Cloud computing allows us to analyze vast data sets from laptops, unheard of even a few years back. Cloud computing also eliminates the need for companies to manage sophisticated computational hardware for undertaking any form of advanced data analysis methods.
The best data science courses develop their curriculums while keeping the importance of cloud computing in mind. Therefore, the course will generally include multiple classes on cloud computing and teach about the various cold computing services and how one can use them efficiently.
Data cleaning and structuring
One must feed the algorithms with data free of inconsistencies to find the most accurate results. This is why data scientists and analysts must dedicate a substantial chunk of their time cleaning and structuring data sets. The best data science courses include various tools and techniques for streamlining the cleaning process.
Interactive dashboard creation
Developing algorithms and finding insights is only half of the work done as a data scientist or analyst. The other half is to explain the finding in a comprehensible fashion to the relevant personnel. Interactive dashboards are unique at compiling the discovery in a visualizable format. Therefore, the best data science courses emphasize teaching the various tools and techniques for creating effective dashboards.
Online data science courses
Online data science courses are best suited for working professionals. In this precarious job market, one must constantly work on themselves to stay relevant in the industry. Most working professionals know the importance of upskilling, and those who didn’t also gain a chance to visualize the significance during the covid-19 pandemic.
Even though most working professionals want to work on themselves, they need more time to start taking regular courses. This is why online courses have become very popular amongst working professionals. Unfortunately, this popularity has resulted in mushrooming of various institutes claiming to provide the best data science courses. Later in the article, we will discuss how one can quickly identify a worthwhile course from the crowd.
Online courses allow working professionals to take classes outside of working hours. Some courses will even hold physical classes during the weekends. Also, online courses are cheaper than regular courses.
Read Also : Cool Data Science Applications Every Business Should Know
Identifying the best data science courses
The increase in data science course offerings has made it challenging to find genuine ones. Joining a course without proper research could become a problem for those looking to join a course. So we have compiled a list of things to ensure the course is a worthy investment.
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A reputable institution
Before joining a course, one must do proper research about the history of the institution offering the course. The best institutions will generally have some experience in the field. They will also have multiple course offerings, including online and offline curriculums. The best ones will also have the backing of ex-students. Looking for reviews on intuition and getting in touch with ex-students will help understand the pros and cons.
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Focus on the basics
The best data science courses will always focus heavily on the fundamentals of any subject. Even for those with a good grasp on topics such as mathematics and programming, a revisit to the basics always helps. Therefore anyone looking to join a data science course must look for courses that emphasize the basics of each topic.
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Industry-aligned course structure
An industry-aligned course structure helps the students acquire practical skills they will require when working as data scientists or analysts. Therefore, courses that combine theoretical aspects and practical information in their curriculum are far better than those that only focus on the theoretical aspects. This is why one should always look for courses with an industry-aligned vision.
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Experienced faculty members
The best data science courses have multiple things in common. One of them is ‘experienced faculty. An experienced faculty has a better teaching method and can easily explain the topics to the students. This is why one should keep the importance of a professional faculty in the back of their mind when searching for a course.
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An all-encompassing curriculum
Previously in this article, we discussed all the necessary subjects and topics required for an all-encompassing study of data science. This is why one should look for courses that cover all the subjects mentioned earlier and topics in their curriculum.
