How to Become a Data Scientist

Program overview: Why should I take this program?

• Why should I enroll?

  The data science field is expected to continue growing rapidly over the next several years, and there’s huge demand for data scientists across industries. Data scientist is consistently rated as a top career.

  Udacity has collaborated with industry leaders to offer a world-class learning experience so you can advance your data science career. You’ll get hands-on experience running data pipelines, designing experiments, building recommendation systems, and more. You’ll have personalized support as you master in-demand skills that qualify you for high-value jobs in the data science field.

  By the end of the program, you’ll have an impressive portfolio of real-world projects, and valuable hands-on experience. You’ll also receive career support via profile and portfolios reviews to help make sure you’re ready to establish a successful data science career, and land a job you love.

• What jobs will this program prepare me for?

  Obtaining the skills required to be a Data Scientist will make you extremely valuable across many industries, and in many roles. Data Scientists work as Analysts, Statisticians, Engineers, and more. Some become Data and Analytics Managers, while others specialize as Database Administrators. As a graduate of this program, you’ll be prepared to seek out roles that run the gamut from generalist to specialist, and all points in between.

• How do I know if this program is right for me?

  This program offers an ideal path for experienced programmers and data analysts to advance their data science careers. If you’re interested in deepening your expertise in the fields of analytics, machine learning, data engineering, and/or data science, this is a great way to get hands on practice with a variety of techniques and learn to build end to end data science solutions.

• What is the difference between the Data Analyst, Machine Learning Engineer, and the Data Scientist Nanodegree programs?

  The Data Analyst program is designed for people with some data analysis experience and little-to-no programming experience. Students will learn to analyze data using Python and SQL, to wrangle and clean messy data, to use applied statistics to test hypotheses, and to create data visualizations. Graduates of this program will be prepared for data analyst positions.

  The Data Scientist Nanodegree program is designed for students with strong programming and data analysis skills, as it is the next step for graduates of the Data Analyst Nanodegree program. Students will learn to build machine learning models, run data pipelines, design experiments and recommendation engines, communicate effectively, and to deploy data applications. Graduates of this program will be prepared for data scientist positions.

  The Machine Learning Engineer Nanodegree program prepares students for machine learning engineering careers. As both data scientist and machine learning jobs require machine learning knowledge, each of these two programs begins with a focus on machine learning. The curriculum diverges in later sections as you begin to focus on more job-specific tools, skills, and techniques.

Enrollment and admission

• Do I need to apply? What are the admission criteria?

  No. This Nanodegree program accepts all applicants regardless of experience and specific background.

• What are the prerequisites for enrollment?

  The Data Scientist Nanodegree program is designed for students with programming and data analysis experience. Students should have a high comfort level with a variety of topics before starting the program. In order to successfully complete this program, you should meet the following prerequisites:

  • Python programming, including common data analysis libraries (NumPy, pandas, Matplotlib).
  • SQL programming
  • Statistics (Descriptive and Inferential)
  • Calculus
  • Linear Algebra
  • Experience wrangling and visualizing data

• If I do not meet the requirements to enroll, what should I do?

  Udacity’s Data Analyst Nanodegree program is great preparation for the Data Scientist Nanodegree program. You’ll learn programming with Python and SQL, applied statistics, data wrangling, and data visualization.

  You can also prepare by taking a number of Udacity’s free courses, such as:

  • Introduction to Data Science
  • Introduction to Python
  • SQL for Data Analysis
  • Statistics
  • Data Visualization with Tableau

Tuition and term of program

• How is this Nanodegree program structured?

  The Data Scientist Nanodegree program is comprised of content and curriculum to support four (4) projects. We estimate that students can complete the program in four (4) months working 10 hours per week.

  Each project will be reviewed by the Udacity reviewer network. Feedback will be provided and if you do not pass the project, you will be asked to resubmit the project until it passes.

• How long is this Nanodegree program?

  Access to this Nanodegree program runs for the length of time specified in the payment card above. If you do not graduate within that time period, you will continue learning with month to month payments. See the Terms of Use and FAQs for other policies regarding the terms of access to our Nanodegree programs.

• Can I switch my start date? Can I get a refund?

  Please see the Udacity Nanodegree program FAQs found here for policies on enrollment in our programs.

Software and hardware: What do I need for this program?

• What software and versions will I need in this program?

  To successfully complete this Nanodegree program, you’ll need to be able to download and run Python 3.7.