Learn Data Science Online with Udacity’s Data Science Nanodegree Program
The era of natural selection is right here with us. Technologies of the past are paving way for new, better, and more intuitive applications. And with this come the emergence of newer and more technical jobs. One of the most sought after skills by businesses, large and small, is data science. Even if this is not your area of practice, you have probably heard about Big Data, as businesses are increasingly turning to it to enhance productivity.
Entry level jobs are paying handsome salaries, with growing demand for experienced data scientists. And this is why you need to stay in the know, constantly updating your data science skills and learning how to manage and use data more efficiently and effectively. Udacity is a top-rated online education platform that offers several data science programs ranging from beginners through to advanced courses. In this post, we introduce you to the Data Science Nanodegree, a program specifically designed to give you a head-start into your career as a data scientist. We have provided some of the insights into this online data science certification program, providing you all the information you need to decide if this is the right program for you.
Udacity data science Nanodegree certification: Why should you choose this program?
It is projected that the field of data science will continue its rapid growth for the next couple of years. This is because businesses in all industries are realizing the benefits of using data to enhance their productivity and gain competitive edge. Currently, several organizations are in the process of converting, and thus putting qualified data scientists in high demand. Organizations working in collaboration with this program include Kaggle, IBM, Insight, and Starbucks.
These organizations and others across the industry have provided data science students with real-life projects and case studies they need to get hands-on experience in readiness for the job market after successful completion of their program. All the projects you will complete during the coursework can be applied to create an amazing portfolio that you can use to impress potential employers.
With this Nanodegree program, you will be getting more than just an opportunity to learn. You will be getting the opportunity to work with a team of industry leaders and data science experts. For a start, you will be taught by several extremely knowledgeable instructors that have years of experience in everything data science. Here are the instructors you will be working with:
- Josh Bernhard – Data Scientist with Nerd Wallet
- Jun Lee – Data Scientist with experience in building recommendation engines
- Luis Serrano – Former Machine Learning Engineer with Google
- Andrew Paster – Data Scientist who built his own Jewelry brand
- Mike Yi – Udacity Content Developer and support lead
- David Drummond – VP of Engineering at Insight
- Judit Lantos – Senior Data Engineer at Netflix
Learning from such an extraordinary team of knowledgeable and experienced instructors is not doubt a recipe for success, making it one more reason for signing up for this online certification program.
What is this Nanodegree program like?
First of all, it is important to mention that this is an advanced online learning course that is designed to prepare learners for jobs in the field of data science upon successful completion of the program. That said, it is important that you are conversant with these concepts and topics before enrolling for this course.
- Machine Learning – You will need some working knowledge of Python, SQL, as well as Terminal
- Python – You will need experience in writing functions and building applications using Python
- Statistics – You will need to know how to apply statistics, including sampling distributions for effective data analysis
- Math – A working knowledge of calculus and Algebra would be great
- Data Wrangling – You will need to know how to work with Matplotlib for data visualizations
If these sounds like concepts you understand, then this online education program will help you apply knowledge, enabling you to take it to the next level.
The curriculum in detail
This online learning program is broken down into five distinct sections with comprehensive lessons included. The course wastes no time introducing the concepts, jumping right into problem solving. Here is the program structure:
- Solving Data Science Problems
You will learn how the professionals do it, starting with learning the process of data science. You will combine this with visuals that create images for better understanding and processing that will effectively help you communicate your data with the relevant audience.
- Software Engineering for Data Science
In this section, you will be introduced to the more technical aspect of the course. You will be introduced to software engineering, an essential yet complex component of data science. You will start off by learning how to create unit tests and classes. You will build on the skills learned in this section as the course progresses.
- Data engineering for Data scientists
This section of the program gives you a glimpse into how data runs through the entire data science process. You will learn essential skills that are applied in constructing complex pipelines, transform data, and even appreciate the relationship between cloud and data
- Experiment Design and Recommendations
In this section, you will design your own experiments and analyze the results with A/B test for the best and most optimal results. You will also look into the recommendation systems and learn how they are built.
- Data Science Projects
Taking into account all the skills and knowledge you have acquired during the course, you will be required to build your own open-ended project. Besides trying out your overall understanding and testing your new skill set, this will also be an opportunity for you to create a project that you can show off to potential employers.
Certificate
Upon successful completion of this online data science program, you will be issued with a Udacity Nanodegree certificate bearing your name. You can print or share digital copies of this certificate. With more and more corporations establishing partnerships with Udacity, this online learning platform’s certificate is increasingly gaining prestige. And the more major employers and experts come out of Udacity, the more valued its certificate will be. These are definitely a perfect addition to your portfolio and resume.
Udacity’s Nanodegree guarantee
A part from a rich list of amazing content that comes with this online data science course, learners will be able to step out into the world of Data Science with tremendous confidence. This Nanodegree program is designed to empower you with everything you need to succeed. The carefully structured course is made to help you advance your skills step by step, building a strong foundation in order to take up and solve more complex data related problems.
As a graduate of Udacity’s online data science Nanodegree program, you will have a unique set of skills, making you more competitive in the job market. Udacity is dedicated to giving their learners the best-rounded training possible to ensure that they are prepared for real-world challenges. Alongside this training approach, this Nanodegree program, just like other Udacity’s online certification programs, come with a couple of guarantees, all of which are aimed at your success as a learner. Here are some of these guarantees:
- Projects
This is not just another run of the mill end of course project. Udacity’s data science projects are created by industry experts who have partnered with the online learning platform. Professionals from some of the world’s largest IT firms give learners actual problems that organizations face on a daily basis. Learners are then required to use their newly acquired skills to solve these problems, thus putting them into active practice and gaining experience in the process.
- Mentoring
Throughout the duration of the program, you will have access to a strong support system that includes a mentor that will provide you with 1-on-1 support and guidance from the onset of your course through to the end. This mentor is available to respond to all your queries and keep you on track. Most of these mentors have been learners before and thus fully understand the challenges you will encounter. They are around to cheer you every step of the way.
- Career Coaching
Apart from dedicated mentors, you will also have access to expert coaching sessions. These sessions will help you appreciate that you are just as dynamic in person as you are on paper. Use these skills to stand out from the crowd and land your dream job after successfully completing this data science Nanodegree program. Your career coach will provide you with a customized career plan as well as interview prep resources.
- Customized learning
Udacity understands that people are busy. As such, this online Nanodegree program can be tailored to fit your schedule, helping you succeed by setting a learning pace that suits your lifestyle. All of the course content are available for the learners throughout the entire learning period making it a breeze for you to complete the program successfully and start your dream data science career.
Getting hired
Pretty much every graduate is intimidated by the same thing: the interview process. Udacity’s career coaching experts know what employers are looking for in a data scientist. As such, they will offer you expert advice in readiness for the job market. Apart from review your resume, your career coach will help you craft a killer LinkedIn profile to ensure that it sets you up for your dream career.
Udacity invests a lot of resources in ensuring that their graduates are confident when stepping out into the job market. They are confident that their graduates have the right skills set, and therefore continue making connections with organizations looking for new talent. Several large corporations have partnered with this online learning platform, giving jobs to data science graduates at a higher rate. In order to participate, you will be required to register for Udacity Talent Program. You can join this program and create a profile that Udacity partners will use to assess you based on your skillset. Once you have completed your profile, it will be added to a database where a large network of employers is waiting to hire you.
Data Science Nanodegree course pricing
Well, by now you must be wondering what this online data science certificate program costs. For all that is included, you would think it costs an arm and a leg. However, compared to the cost of the traditional degree, this program costs pennies. The total cost of this program, including certificate is $1,279.00. This includes 4 months of access to all services, which is the average time learners take to complete this course when they dedicate 10 hours per week to learning. You can pay this amount in lump sum or in monthly installments of $399. Learners who need more time to complete the program can be added one more month at an extra fee of $399.
What course graduates are saying:
Out of 65 review, this course has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5. Most learners comment on the projects, stating that those were their favorite part of the program. Here are some of the reviews from successful learners:
“The program offers a very quick immersion into the field of Data Science. It is is easy to follow and very well structured. Several exercises are provided for the student to facilitate the learning process. Real-world application examples are provided with hands on exercises. Anyone who is interested in entering the field of Data Science and has no previous experience should consider taking this program.” Lucas Norberto B.
“Good syllabus and having a hands-on is an added advantage. It’s very beneficial to my learning. Have come across lot of trainings and courses throughout my 10 years of experience. This course distinguishes from others by having clarity on the topics that were explained. As we know, a picture portrays 1000 words, creating a video series to explain everything plays a vital role in making the concepts clear to all learners. Thank you for all the creators of this course.Good syllabus and having a hands-on is an added advantage. It’s very beneficial to my learning. Have come across lot of trainings and courses throughout my 10 years of experience. This course distinguishes from others by having clarity on the topics that were explained. As we know, a picture portrays 1000 words, creating a video series to explain everything plays a vital role in making the concepts clear to all learners. Thank you for all the creators of this course.” Balachandar P.
“The program is great for self-motivated people who want to research and learn on their own. The videos are well organized and provide fair amount of information to complete the assignments and challenges. The only thing I felt tasking was the fee associated with this degree. I think it can be lowered a lot given the fact that students are mostly on their own with time management and assignment completion. Overall I would say, I am enjoying this learning journey and hope to complete it in the coming weeks.” Karthic G.
Overall, this program has a higher than average rating, providing students with a way toward success with online data science course that suits their schedule and learning needs. In addition, this Nanodegree program enjoys a lot of positive feedback on platforms like Reddit and Quora.
Conclusion
The job market is evolving at a rapid rate following the emergence of new technologies. For those who are just getting started with data science, this is the perfect time to acquire the skills and stay ahead of competition. For those that are already in the field of data science, keeping your skills up to date with latest concepts and technologies is essential. Udacity’s online data science Nanodegree program is perfect for both scenarios, giving learners of every level an opportunity to build up their skills. Data science is not going anywhere. As a matter of fact, the need for qualified data scientists is on the rise as businesses turn towards data use to stay ahead of competition and increase their productivity. Udacity offers learners an opportunity to be experts in data science with structured lessons and resources that make them competitive in the job market. Sign up for this online certification program today or change your career with Udacity.
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