Advanced Certificate in
Data Science

Degree Type

Advanced Certificate

Study Options

On Campus
Online
Hybrid

To say data science is a discipline would be an understatement. It’s the convergence of many disciplines, including statistical analysis, database management, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

For the intellectually curious, data science is fantastically rewarding, offering new insights with every project. For the career-minded, data science is a path that offers new roads to advancement.

If you’ve already earned a graduate degree in computer science, information technology, or computer information systems, then the Advanced Certificate in Data Science at our King Graduate School will give you an even more marketable skill set — and access to a career filled with constant discovery.

Find Out About Our Online Data Science Certificate

Why a Certificate in Data Science?

It’s no secret that jobs in tech research are booming. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for computer and information research scientists are growing at a rate of 21% on average. Those numbers climb even higher when you zoom in on careers in data science, which are growing at a rate of 36%: seven times higher than the average for all occupations.

In fact, the demand for data scientists is so high that employers can’t find enough qualified people to fill their job openings. Organizations of all kinds — private, governmental, and nonprofit — need skilled professionals who know how to use large-scale data analytics to turn unstructured data into useful, actionable information.

The Advanced Certificate in Data Science can help you build the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills you need to meet that demand. In the process, you’ll also be preparing yourself for a career with unparalleled job satisfaction and stability.

Curriculum

We designed the Advanced Data Science Certificate program for students who already hold a graduate degree in a related field: students looking to enhance an already advanced skill set. Through a rigorous multidisciplinary curriculum, Advanced Data Science candidates will build a solid foundation in:

Big data analytics
Data management
Data visualization
Data modeling
Statistical and object-oriented programming
Statistical modeling
Cloud technologies
Artificial intelligence
Machine learning

Students work in multiple programming languages that include Python, R, and SQL (Structured Query Language), and train with leading-edge resources including:

As you progress in your studies, you’ll build the knowledge base you need to earn essential industry certifications, including:

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

Data Science Council of America (DASCA)

Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate

SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional

SAS Certified Data Scientist

The Advanced Data Science program culminates in a hands-on applied data science project. Each student works with an assigned faculty mentor to design, create, execute, and implement a project designed to provide industry-standard solutions for real-world problems.

Data Science Course Requirements: How Long Does It Take?

The Advanced Certificate in Data Science is an 18-credit program designed to be completed in three (3) semesters of full-time study — just one (1) year on our three-semester academic calendar. Students may even complete the program in two (2) semesters with the dean’s approval.

We also offer fully online and hybrid programs to provide even greater flexibility.

Learn more about the requirements for an Advanced Certificate in Data Science.

See the Curriculum

Featured Course

Machine Learning

Data mining, text and web data processing, autonomous navigation, bioinformatics, robotic control, and speech recognition may be unique specializations, but they all rely on one thing in common: machine learning. Using a combination of advanced statistics, optimization, and computer science principles, data scientists use machine learning to create automated systems that can sift through large volumes of data at high speed, and then use that data to make predictions or decisions without human intervention. In this course, Data Science students will become familiar with a cross-section of models and algorithms for machine learning that will prepare them to apply the technology in nearly any field.

see the course catalog

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Advanced Certificate in Data Science must hold a master’s degree (or its international equivalent) in a related field from an accredited institution, as well provide the following:

A completed application for admission.
A current résumé.
Transcripts from all prior educational institutions attended.
Two (2) professional letters of recommendation.

Data Science candidates must also participate in a pre-admission interview (either virtually or in-person).

Learn more about how to apply to Monroe University.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Our affordable tuition and fees (and manageable payment plans) make it one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Value Schools among Regional Universities North. We also provide every student with personalized financial aid counseling to make sure they receive every grant, scholarship, and loan for which they qualify.

In addition, we encourage data science candidates to see whether their employers offer reimbursement for professional development. Monroe currently partners with more than 400 organizations to offer Corporate Partnership Grants that cover up 20% of tuition costs.

Your Future Data Science Career

Our Data Science Certificate students are used to challenging themselves. By the time we meet them, they’ve already built extensive expertise in the fields of computer science and information technology.

As they expand their knowledge base in data science, they become ready for brand new challenges; brand new rewards; and brand new career paths that include:

Data scientist
Data analyst
Machine learning engineer
Applied data scientist
Predictive analyst
Data statistician
Technical analyst
Data engineer

Advanced Data Science students can apply their new skills in nearly every sector of our economy. From Fortune 500 companies to government agencies and nonprofits, every organization needs data science experts in order not only to survive, but to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world.