7 “Best” Data Science Courses & Certifications (September 2023)

Data science is becoming more crucial as we dive deeper into the world of AI and technology, which means the need for proficient data scientists is growing as well. It is one of the top careers right now due to our high reliance on data for virtually everything. Data science is a complex field, so a certification can help you stand out.

Here is a look at the top big data & data science certifications:

1. DataCamp Professional Certificates 

Unlike the other certifications that we recommend, DataCamp is the only program that focuses on life-long learning. Choose from over 340 interactive courses, and over 90 real-life projects. In fact over 350,000 students,  and over 1,600 companies have used DataCamp.

DataCamp uses a completely different methodology that most online courses.

1. Assess your skills and track progress
2. Learn by completing interactive online courses
3. Practice with quick daily challenges
4. Apply what you have learned to solve real-wold problems.

This program offers immersive learning and features the following:

• Interactive exercises
• Short videos
• Live coding sessions
• Certifications for different career tracks
• All Skill levels
• Data Analyst (with R or Python) career track takes approximately about 60 hours to complete.
• Data Scientist (with R or Python) career track take approximately 90-100 hours to complete.

2. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate 

This Professional Certificate from IBM is aimed at those interested in a career in data science or machine learning, as it will help develop the necessary skills and experience. It is open to everyone, with no previous experience in computer science or language programming needed. There is a total of 9 online courses, covering things like open source tools and libraries, Python, databases, SQL, data visualization, data analysis, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and machine learning algorithms.

Here are some of the main aspects of this certification:

• Hands-on practice in IBM Cloud
• Real data science tools and real-world data sets
• Digital badge from IBM
• Beginner level
• Duration: 10 months, 5 hours/week

3. Data Science Certification Course using R

This self-paced Professional Certificate helps you develop the skills needed to handle real-world data analysis challenges. This course encompasses a conceptual understanding of K-Means Clustering, Decision Trees, Random Forest, and Naive

Here are some of the main aspects of this certification:

• Case studies: Unsupervised learning, recommender engines, deep learning, and much more.
• R software environment
• Live Online Classes
• Expert instruction
• Duration: 5 Weeks

4. Python Certification Training for Data Science

This top certification is aimed at those looking to build and deploy end-to-end solutions with machine learning and advanced analytics. It includes learning data science concepts from scratch, and it covers the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced topics. Some of the main topics include data analysis, deep insights, data prep, visual analytics, and machine learning.

Here is a look at some of the main aspects of this certification:

• Different Applications where Python is used
• Discuss Python Scripts on UNIX/Windows
• Values, Types, Variables
• Operands and Expressions
• Expert instruction
• Live Online Classes
• Duration: 7 Weeks

5. Business Analytics Specialization 

This certification developed with Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is a foundational introduction to big data analytics. It is specifically targeted at business professions like marketing, human resources, operations, and finance. It is a beginner course that requires no prior experience in analytics.

Here are the main aspects of this certification:

• 5-part course: Customer Analytics, People Analytics, Accounting Analytics, Operations Analytics, and Business Analytics Capstone
• Strategic decisions based on data
• Using real-world data sets for business strategy
• Beginner level
• Flexible schedule
• Duration: 6 months, 3 hours/week 

6. Advanced Business Analytics Specialization

This certification offered by University of Colorado Boulder brings together academic professionals and experienced practitioners. It focuses on real world data analytics that can help grow businesses, increase profits, and create maximum value for shareholders. You will gain skills in extracting and manipulating data using SQL code, executing statistical methods for descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analysis, and interpreting and presenting analytic results.

Here are the main aspects of this certification:

• Conceptual models of business and simple database models
• Develop models for decision making
• Basic Excel and software tool Analytic Solver Platform (ASP)
• Intermediate level
• Duration: 5 months, 3 hours/week

As everything in our world quickly becomes reliant on data, and as artificial intelligence becomes crucial in many sectors, data science skills are vital. It is also important to recognize that these skills are not only limited to those pursuing a data scientist career. They are just as important for other employees in an organization, as the changing work environment requires everyone to at least think like a data scientist. By completing one or more of these certifications, you will be valued as one of those individuals.

7. R Programming: Advanced Analytics In R For Data Science

This certification is offered by Udemy and is consistently one of the highest rating courses on this platform. Take Your R & R Studio Skills To The Next Level. Data Analytics, Data Science, Statistical Analysis in Business, GGPlot2. This course is designed to prepare you for the real world and offers the following:

• How to prepare data for analysis in R
• How to perform the median imputation method in R
• How to work with date-times in R
• What Lists are and how to use them
• What the Apply family of functions is
• How to use apply(), lapply() and sapply() instead of loops
• How to nest your own functions within apply-type functions
• How to nest apply(), lapply() and sapply() functions within each other
• Beginner or Intermediate level
• Duration:  6 Hours