Top Data Science Courses in the US

The United States is one of the top countries that is rapidly moving towards digitalization and automation. With the unprecedented amounts of data being generated, countries require innovative technology to gain insights from the available information in real-time. The US is trying to apply more data analysis to improve government operations using various methods like predictive models, data visualization, and descriptive statistics.

According to a report “Investing in America’s Data Science and Analytics Talent: The Case for Action,” around 70 percent of business leaders in the US will prefer candidates with data skills in 2021. Moreover, the report has stressed the importance of equipping students with data science and analytical thinking skills, not only for a career but also for employers and society as a whole. Austin, Portland, and Raleigh are some of the US cities attracting professionals with emerging digital skills.

Adding to the above stats is LinkedIn’s 2020 US Emerging Jobs Report which states that data roles like data scientists and data engineers are increasing steadily. There is a whopping 35% average growth for both roles with higher demand in Washington, greater Chicago, DC Baltimore, and the Atlanta metropolitan area. Undoubtedly, the domain of data science looks promising; and educational institutes are proactively trying to help students step into this field by offering a variety of training programs. This article is dedicated to aspirants who are looking to polish their data science skills through a training course.

So, let’s get started!

Best 5 Data Science Courses in the US

The US offers both online and on-campus courses that are reliable and train the candidates to be prepared for the future of the workforce. Discussed below are some of them:

Simplilearn – Post Graduate Program in Data Science

Simplilearn’s PGP in Data Science is a 12-month long comprehensive program that helps you gain expertise in statistics, Python and R programming, machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and more. Simplilearn has partnered with one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions, Purdue University, and collaborated with IBM to offer this program. Upon enrollment, you get access to more than 200 hours of live online classes, over 25 industry projects, and exposure to capstone from 3 domains.

Top highlights:

  • Purdue Post Graduation Program certification and Alumni Association membership
  • Exclusive hackathons and Ask me Anything sessions by IBM
  • IIMJobs Pro Membership for 6 months
  • Industry recognized IBM certificates for IBM courses
  • Access to IBM Cloud Lite account

Learning mode – Online

Key skills – Exploratory Data Analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Inferential Statistics, Model building and fine-tuning, Supervised and unsupervised learning.

Columbia University – M.S. in Data Science

This program is one of the most highly-rated and sight-after advanced data science programs across the world. Students who enroll in this program get to conduct original research, interact with industry partners and world-class faculty, and produce a capstone project. Individuals applying for this course should have an undergraduate degree, prior quantitative coursework, and introductory to computer programming coursework. There is also an option to choose an elective track focused on entrepreneurship.

Duration – Three semesters (30-credit degree program)

Learning mode – On-campus

Key skills – computer systems for data science, machine learning, probability and statistics, data visualization, statistical inference, and modeling.

Harvard University – Master’s in Data Science

This program by Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences trains students in the rapidly growing domain of data science. By taking this course, you will have a clear understanding of statistical modeling, optimization, machine learning, data acquisition, and management and analysis of massive data sets. The program will make you capable of using machine learning to make decisions, manage and analyze massive data sets, and applying problem-solving strategies to open-ended questions.

Duration – Three semesters (complete 12 courses in one and a half academic years)

Learning mode – On-campus

Key skills – reproducible data analysis, collaborative problem solving, visualization and communication, and security and ethical issues that arise in data science.

Carnegie Mellon University – Master of Computational Data Science

This program is designed to impart you the skills required to develop the layers of technology involved in the next generation of massive information system deployments and analyze the data those systems generate. You’ll develop a unified vision of very large information systems through the core classes and electives. The program incorporates internship and capstone project requirements to help you gain professional experience.

Duration – 16 months

Learning mode – On-campus

Key skills – databases, distributed algorithms and storage, machine learning, language technologies, software engineering, human-computer interaction, and design.

Georgia Institute of Technology – Master of Science in Analytics

This in-depth program helps students develop a winning business strategy by understanding the massive amount of information available today. Instructors who have expertise in statistics, business intelligence, big data, and high-performance computing will take your classes. There is a vast array of analytical problems that one can encounter, and this program helps you find solutions to them by developing deep insights and working across disciplines.

Duration – One to two years

Learning mode – On-campus and online modes available

Key skills – parametric and non-parametric statistics, regression, forecasting, data mining, machine learning, optimization, stochastics, and simulation.

Aren’t these some of the fantastic options to learn data science and take your career to new heights? Check out their websites to get further details and select the one that best suits your learning needs.