Is It Worth It To Do a Data Science Course Through Online Platforms?

Did you know?

As per U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics report, the demand for data science professionals is projected to grow by 36% from 2023 to 2033, which means that this domain will provide new job opportunities every year with the number increasing gradually.

Data Science is one of the top in-demand industries in the world. Learning skills that align with this domain will help you succeed in your career. But is it that easy to learn data science?

A lot of beginners face challenges while pursuing data science as a career, this field requires you to have good analytical skills, with strong implementation skills. You can learn data science from various resources and one of them is online courses.

This blog will clear your doubts about whether a data science online course is the right choice or not.

Why Choose Data Science?

Data science is a transformative field where professionals harness the power of vast datasets to solve complex problems, forecast trends, and drive innovation. 

In today’s data-driven world, the demand for skilled data scientists is soaring as industries across the board aim to optimize operations and make informed decisions.

For instance, just as healthcare leverages data science for patient care and disease prediction, finance relies on it to enhance risk management and develop innovative solutions.

 This universal applicability underscores data science as a dynamic, rewarding, and future-proof career path.

Here are some key industries where data science is making a difference:

1. Healthcare: Data science is transforming healthcare by enabling advancements in predictive diagnostics, personalized medicine and building automated systems for hospitals. Data science is used in hospitals and clinics to analyze vast amounts of data, improving the accuracy for diagnosis. 

2. Finance: In the financial sector, data science enables fraud detection, credit scoring, and personalized banking. Banks and financial organizations rely on machine learning to analyze transaction data in real-time, which helps in identifying unusual patterns that may indicate fraud.

3. Energy Sector: Data science is used by energy companies to analyze demand patterns, to optimize energy distribution and identify renewable energy energy sources. Data science is used in fields such as oil and gas to find new extraction sites and minimize operation risks and maximize resource usage.

4. Media and Entertainment: Data science plays a big role in personalizing the user experience, and enhancing the engagement of the users. Platforms like Spotify, Amazon Prime, and Netflix analyze user preferences and viewing habits to recommend content which increase user engagement and satisfaction.

5. Government and Public Services: Government and public agencies leverage data science to enhance public services, optimize resource allocation, and improve safety measures to ensure data privacy and security.

Is an Online Data Science Course Worth It?

With the demand for data science surging, more people are considering online courses as a flexible and accessible way to enter this field. But how worthy are these online courses in data science? Let’s see what advantages and benefits they bring to the table:

1. Flexibility: Online courses give learners the flexibility of learning anytime, from anywhere at their own pace. With this advantage it’s best for those working professionals who are looking for a career switch or students who want to maintain their education and learning together.

2. Industry-Relevant Content: Many online courses, especially those from reputable platforms, are designed in collaboration with the industry experts and leading Universities or tech giants. Which ensures that students learn skills directly applicable in the industry.

3. Cost-Effective: Online programs provide industry skills at a very valuable cost, which is comparatively less than the traditional degrees, making them a financially better option to pick.

4. Global Networking: Online platforms often give their learners access to the large networking base of highly experienced professionals. Fostering networking opportunities that can benefit learners in their career.

5. Placement Assistance: Many platforms offer placement assistance with the courses, so that students can transition their career as soon as they complete the course. Placement support may include career counseling, resume reviews, interview preparation, and connection to hiring partners.

6. Recognition and Accreditation: The industry heavily relies on the weight of online courses from well known institutions or organizations. Learners consider programs offered in collaboration with some well known universities or firms who are trusted in the technology sector as they reflect more on the job market.

If you want to know more about the most trusted platform from which you can learn data science, consider going through our blog “How to learn data science from India’s most trusted edtech platform”.

Career Opportunities After Online Courses

Completing an online course in data science brings a range of exciting career opportunities and paths. With your skills in this domain, you can indulge yourself in any of the roles or specializations you want to pursue. Here are some famous roles for data science graduates: 

1. Data Analyst: They are responsible for interpreting data and analyzing it for helping companies in making decisions for better business outcomes. They often indulge in handling large data sets, and performing data visualization to get better insights.

• Skills needed: Excel, SQL, Basic to intermediate knowledge of  ML concepts, and strong communication skills to present the findings to non-technical audiences.
• Salary range: The typical salary for a data analyst ranges from 4 LPA to 10 LPA in India.

2. Machine Learning Engineer: They are responsible for building complex machine learning models using algorithms, these models are further used in predictive analytics to help systems learn from data patterns and produce accurate predictions and results.

• Skills needed: Programming languages(Python, R), good understanding of ML algorithms, familiarity with cloud services(AWS, Google Cloud), and also real-time data handling.
• Salary range: In India, machine learning engineers earn between 6 LPA and 17.3 LPA.

3. Business Intelligence Analyst: They are responsible for assisting companies in strategizing by translating data insights into valuable and actionable business decisions for betterment of business vision and goal.

• Skills needed: Knowledge of data management, data visualization, SQL, and some basics of programming languages.
• Salary range: In India, the salary for a business intelligence analyst can range from 6 LPA to 12 LPA. 

4. Data Engineer: They are responsible for managing and organizing data infrastructure ensuring data flow within the organization.

• Skills needed: Expertise in SQL, cloud platforms, big data frameworks and data pipelining.
• Salary range: Generally ranges from ₹5-15 lakh per annum, with further growth potential based on experience and specialization 

To get started in learning skills for the above-mentioned profiles, you can check out our free course, which will give you a better understanding of each topic:

• SQL Free Course.
• Machine Learning Algorithms Free Course.
• Big Data Frameworks Free Course.
• Data Visualization Free Course.
• Introduction to R Free Course
• Python Fundamentals for Beginners Free Course

Recommended Online Data Science Courses

To help you find the right program, here are some recommended courses in data science from Great Learning: 

1. Post Graduate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics

This course is for fresher as well as for experienced professionals, with no prior coding experience needed. You can become a data scientist or business analyst with this full guided course, which has an industry aligned curriculum.

• Program Highlights:
  • A 12-months online program with the flexibility to learn from anywhere and anytime.
  • 50% average salary hike, with 3300+ hiring partners.
  • Top industry demand tools and languages covered including Python, SQL, ChatGPT, Tableau, Predictive Modelling and many more.
  • Weekly online mentorship by experts.
  • Dedicated program support, network with people of similar interests.
  • Certificate from UT Austin.

2. MIT Data Science and Machine Learning Program

This program gives you a deep dive into ChatGPT and Generative AI modules in machine learning and data science. With this, you will gain cutting-edge skills through hands-on learning and real-world case studies.

Program Highlights: 

• 12-weeks online program.
• Recorded lectures from 11 world-renowned MIT faculty and instructors.
• Personalized mentorship and guidance from data science & machine learning practitioners.
• Work on 3 industry-relevant hands-on projects and 50+ case studies.
• Curriculum covering Data Science, Machine Learning, and more.
• Certification of Completion from MIT IDSS, which is globally recognized.
• Become an MIT IDSS alumni and build a global network.

3. PG Program in Data Science and Engineering

Jumpstart your career in data science with this 9-months online data science course designed for beginners and freshers in India. Gain Critical Skills in Python, Tableau, SQL, and Numpy.

• Program Highlights:
  • A 9-months online program with the flexibility of learning anytime, anywhere.
  • 3300+ hiring companies, past 90 days placement stats(150 job offers, 1 new hiring process).
  • After 3-4 years of program, average 17.45 LPA CTC, with 550% hike for experienced professionals, and 320% hike for freshers.
  • 1:1 mentoring from industry experts.
  • Dedicated placement drives, access to job boards, and career assistance.
  • Earn a Data Science certificate from Great Lakes, ranked among the top 10 business schools.

With the above courses and programs you will gain exceptional industry knowledge and skills which will help you to land your dream job. To explore more such courses you can check out data science courses by Great Learning. 

Conclusion

But in an era where data is royalty when it comes to making business decisions, learning data science techniques to solve real-world problems is a tactical and genuinely worthwhile investment. This field needs flexibility, affordability and industry relevance and online courses provide it all.

If you’re new to the game or want to continue to advance your skills, an online data science course can teach you where to begin in terms of rewarding career paths. You can check out which online data science course is the best for beginners to get a broader view of data science courses.

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