best online bachelor degree in data science

Last Updated on December 16, 2022

Successful businesses know that they need to make strategic, timely decisions to stay ahead of the competition. Business executives depend on experienced data science professionals to collect and analyze data to help them make data driven business decisions. With thousands of data sets available, the role of the data scientist is both challenging and rewarding. Data scientists make sense of chaos by helping leaders determine what measurements to collect to help drive their next steps. Data scientists are found in all sectors and all over the world. Earning an online data science bachelor’s degree can give you the skills and knowledge for a career in data science without traveling to campus for a traditional program.

The best online bachelor degrees for analytics / data science prepare students for future roles as data scientists.

  • The university programs give you the opportunity to become familiar with and build proficiency in data-centric problem solving.
  • Data science training is complemented by general studies of information technology and computer science.

Australia’s top degrees are available 100% online. Each university also has a strong track record in distance learning.

Deakin Bachelor of Computer Science

Deakin University’s Bachelor of Computer Science has a strong data analytics focus. Core units include data science concepts, data capture technologies, data structures and algorithms, artificial and computational intelligence, and data mining and machine learning. As well, you can choose business and mathematics electives from other Deakin University cloud programs. The course is organised into 3 semesters annually, and is available both online and at Burwood Campus in Melbourne.Brochure

UNE Bachelor of Computer Science (Data Science)

You can major in Data Science as part of the University of New England’s Bachelor of Computer Science. The course is available both online and at Armidale in New South Wales. To qualify for the major, students are required to complete 6 core units: programming paradigms, parallel and distributed computing, artificial intelligence, algorithms in machine learning, statistical modelling and experimental design, and statistical learning.

Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS)

The Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) is a unique concept in the Netherlands. At three different locations (TU Eindhoven, Tilburg University and Mariënburg Campius) Data Science can be studied, researched and applied through bachelor and graduate programs, PDEng education, Data Science Centers and incorporated into existing ecosystems. 

The original Mariënburg convent dates back to 1423 and was established by Franciscan nuns. Over 200 years the Franciscan nuns lived at the convent until Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange and stadtholder, succesfully captured the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch during the Eighty Years’ War. 

Education

JADS offers a number of data science programs at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate level. Parallel in these program is the aim to develop so-called ‘T-Shaped’ data scientists and researchers, with strong skills and experience in one discipline and an essential understanding of many others. 

Research

The Jheronimus Academy of Data Science offers Data science research in three locations: Tilburg, Eindhoven and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Our Data Science Research Centers enhance the relevance of academic research to business and society. ​The Data Science Center Eindhoven (DSC/e) is TU/e’s response to the growing volume and importance of data. 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone and the world’s data will grow by 50 times in the next 10 years. Moreover, human and organizational activities are intertwined with the digital universe. Therefore, data science is growing in importance and becoming an integral part of different types of engineering and scientific research. Show less

Career

The career opportunities for data scientists are sheer endless. According to a Harvard study, the profession of Data Scientist is the ‘sexiest job’ of the 21st century. Meaning the skills that you will have as a data scientist are in exceptionally high demand. 

Not only in the Netherlands, but also worldwide the number of Data Scientist vacancies is growing exponentially.  

According to research by Dialogic, the number of vacancies in the Netherlands doubled between 2014 and 2015. McKinsey estimates that in 2018 there will be a shortage in professionals with deep analytical skills of between 140,000 to 190,000 in the US alone.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Online Master’s in Data Science

Don’t get left behind as the data science industry evolves. In as few as 18 months, earn your MS in Applied Data Science from Syracuse University, ranked #19 in Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs. Apply today and join Syracuse iSchool’s growing alumni network of over 10,000 data professionals. No GRE required.

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

Online MS in Data Science

No GRE is required for the University of Denver’s online MS in Data Science. In as few as 18 months, you’ll gain knowledge and skills in critical competencies such as programming, data mining, machine learning, database management, and data visualization. The program is available to students from all academic and professional backgrounds.

UC BERKELEY

Master of Information and Data Science

The online Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) program is preparing the next generation of experts and leaders in the data science field and providing students with a UC Berkeley education without having to relocate. Students graduate with connections to UC Berkeley’s extensive alumni network in the Bay Area and across the world. All international applicants will be required to submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON

Online Master of Business Analytics

Gain technical skills in SQL, Python, and R and learn to drive successful business outcomes with your master’s in business analytics online from UD. In 12 months, you will be prepared to pursue professional analytics roles. No GRE required.

Ranking is as follows:
Student/Faculty ratio:

  • 15:1 or less- 3 points
  • 16:1 to 19:1- 2 points
  • 20:1 and above- 1 point

Average Net Price:

  • Less than $13,000- 3 points
  • $13,000 to $20,000- 2 points
  • Greater than $20,000- 1 point

Graduation Rate:

  • Greater than 50%- 3 points
  • 30% to 50%- 2 points

An online Bachelor of Data Science (or Data Analytics) degree can set you up for job success. Graduates come away with the foundation skills for an interesting and rewarding career.

Fantastic job opportunities are available for data science and analytics professionals.

The best programs provide solid preparation for a future career as a data scientist. You develop technology skills broadly while building key strengths in data analysis.

Bachelor’s degrees in Data Science & Big Data often overlap and teach students how to work with large amounts of information. But the purpose and tools used by each discipline are different. Big Data focuses on all the information which cannot be processed using traditional database systems. The easiest way to see if specific data can be labelled as Big Data is to analyse the 5 Vs (Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, and Value). Data Science, on the other hand, focuses on analysing the data and extracting useful insights for a particular individual, business, or industry. Data Scientists are also responsible for transforming their findings into presentations or reports which can be easily understood by clients or general audiences.

You should study a Bachelor’s in Data Science or Big Data if you’ve always loved statistics and made decisions based on numbers and personal observations of past experiences. You’re likely to succeed if you have an analytical mind, problem-solving skills, and outstanding attention to details.

Data Science and Big Data specialisations

Most Data Science and Big Data courses are offered as B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) degrees. It usually takes 3 years to graduate in most countries and 4 years if you study in the United States. While Data Science or Big Data courses offer a well-rounded education, it is impossible to be an expert in everything related to data. After graduation, you’ll have to choose an area on which you want to focus. Some of the most popular specialisations are Data Engineering, Data Mining, Cloud Computing, Database Management, Data Visualisation, and others.

Data Science and Big Data courses and skills

The courses you’ll take during an undergraduate degree in Data Science or Big Data vary from one university and programme to another. However, you can expect to take classes in Data Structures, Algorithms, Database Management, Machine Learning, Calculus, Programming, Data Statistics, Creative Thinking, Data Science Ethics, Predictive Modelling, Visual Analytics, etc.

The most popular and useful programming languages for data scientists and big data professionals are Python, R, SQL, Scala, SAS, C

, Java, and others. Data Science and Big Data classes also help you develop skills which are essential to succeed in this industry. They range from analytical mindset, problem-solving, and creative thinking to communication, teamwork, patience, and well-developed attention to details.

Data Science and Big Data careers

Because an increasing number of companies and organisations rely on data insights and technology, Data Science & Big Data graduates can find work opportunities in almost any industry. Some of the most popular jobs are data scientist, database developer, data analyst, data engineer, business analyst, cloud architect, data strategist, machine learning engineer, etc.

These are the most recent and exciting trends in Data Science & Big Data: continuous intelligence (using integrated real-time analysis of data to support the decision-making process), augmented analytics (the use of AI and machine learning to analyse data and provide insights with little supervision from an engineer), and the continuous growth of cloud services, like storage, text editors, etc.

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