Online Data Science Boot Camps: Your Guide to Get Started

Data science is a lucrative career space. According to the BLS, the average data scientist earns $98,230 annually, with some high-earning individuals earning $165,230 annually. According to a McKinsey report, the demand for data science grew at a rate of 12% in 2016, with a shortage of 250,000 data scientists expected in the US by 2024.

These compelling figures are part of the reasons why some people opt to pursue a data science career. We have developed this guide to help you understand how data science boot camps can help you build and scale your career.

So let’s start with the basics.

What Is a Data Science Boot Camp?

Whether you are considering a data science transition, you will need the right set of skills to help you navigate the discipline. You can acquire these data science skills through various certification programs including a traditional degree or a boot camp. Each comes with its advantages and disadvantages. But for this article, we will focus on online data science boot camps.

A data science bootcamp is a short-term, intensive program designed to prepare you for a data science career. Data science boot camps come in all shapes and sizes to meet the diverse needs learners have.

These include part-time, full-time, self-paced, and instructor-led programs. Now, with advancements in technology, you can find these boot camps online to access at your convenience.

Let’s look briefly at each type of data science boot camp:

Full-time boot camps

These are ideal for learners who want the full intense learning experience. Learners in a full-time boot camp can dedicate up to 40 hours per week to learning. Due to the intensity of these boot camps, you can crush any ambitions of working, even part-time while learning. Flatiron School is an example of an institution offering a full-time online data science program. Flatiron School also offers a flexible, part-time data science boot camp.

Part-time boot camps

Part-time boot camps are ideal for those who want a flexible schedule to learn and work. They require about 20 hours per week, which is a manageable commitment for those holding full-time jobs. While they take longer to complete, part-time boot camps may be less expensive than full-time bootcamps.

The Georgia Tech Data Science and Analytics Boot Camp is a good example of a part-time program. Learners in the program attend evening and weekend classes over 24 weeks.

Self-paced

Do you love the freedom to learn on your terms? Self-paced data science boot camps could be the best fit for you. These programs allow you to learn at your pace and when you find the time. Some data science boot camps are also designed to target individuals of different backgrounds. For example, those who want to build on their statistics and programming background can explore the 100% online data science boot camp from the University of North Florida.

The bottom line is, having an aptitude for math and statistics makes it easier when learning in data science boot camps. However, you could come from any academic background or program, as long as you are ready to put in the work it takes to become a data science professional.

Data science boot camps are designed to provide you with the in-demand data science skills that will help you in your career. Some of the skills you will learn include:

Statistics

Statistics is a fundamental data science skill. Some of the statistics concepts you will cover in a data science boot camp include distribution curves, standard deviation, statistical analysis, and probability. Statistical skills allow you to collect, analyze, interpret and present data and draw useful insights.

Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra

Data science professionals use mathematical concepts in their everyday responsibilities. Therefore, data science bootcamps will equip you with these skills to help you apply mathematical concepts to solve complex data problems.

Programming and Coding

Data science boot camps teach a variety of programming languages, particularly SQL, Python, and R. Some boot camps teach additional programming languages including C, C++, and Java.

Predictive modeling

With predictive modeling skills, you can identify patterns in existing data to draw conclusions and make predictions on future events, results, or behavior.

Machine Learning and Deep Learning

Companies are looking for data scientists who will help them implement various machine learning applications. Therefore, having a specialized skill in different machine learning concepts puts you at an advantage in the job market.

Data Visualization

Data visualization skills allow you to use data storytelling to explain insights from a large set of data. Without data visualization skills, it becomes harder to communicate these insights to stakeholders who rely on data for decision-making.

In addition to technical skills, data science bootcamps equip you with soft skills such as the following:

• Business knowledge

• Problem-solving

• Curiosity

• Critical thinking

• Communication

• Collaboration

How to Determine If an Online Data Science Boot Camp Is Right for You?

Where should you start? How do you prepare for a data science boot camp? Which bootcamp program is the best for you?

It is normal to ask these questions when you are considering a career transition to data science. In this section, we will provide you with tips to help you make the best decision for your career.

Let’s start with what you need to know before you attend any data science boot camp.

What You Should Know Before Attending a Data Science Bootcamp

When you look through different online data science boot camps, you’ll realize that most bootcamp programs do not require prior experience in data science. However, this does not mean that you should enroll without preparation or foundational knowledge.

As any data science professional will tell you, learning data science requires time and dedication. Thus, creating the need for preparation before the program. Preparation begins with knowing certain things before the program. At a minimum, you should have an understanding of:

• What online data science boot camps include in their curriculums.

• What the foundational skills are necessary to understand the concepts taught. Consider taking a data science course online or a prep course in python, statistics and/or probability, and math.

Data Science Boot Camp vs. a Data Science Undergraduate Degree

Historically, undergraduate degrees have been the path to the job market. However, with certain careers in technology, this is rapidly evolving. Employers are as comfortable hiring boot camp graduates as they are working with college graduates evident in a recent ZDNet article of June 2021.

These program types have some key differences and these differences could influence whether you prefer to take a data science degree or learn through a data science boot camp.

Here are the key differences between a data science degree and a data science boot camp:

Data Science Degree

A data science degree is a formal university program that requires up to four years to complete at the undergraduate level. Degrees that prepare you for a data science career could include computer science, applied math, statistics, or related degrees.

In addition to the time commitment, formal university degrees will require higher investment in tuition compared to boot camps. However, data science degrees may come with greater breadth of specialization or tracks while carrying the brand reputation of the university.

Here’s a summary of the pros of pursuing a data science program:

• You learn from instructors with extensive academic experience in data science

• Degree programs approach learning formally and provide graded feedback to track your progress

• You gain in-depth knowledge in various aspects of data science

• You can choose a specialization to focus on

• Brand reputation of the university and alumni network may provide significant value

The cons include:

• You will need to meet certain academic requirement to be accepted into the university and possibly additional requirements to be accepted into the degree program

• Tuition is expensive, with most learners paying off student debt over a span of decades

• The time investment required is often substantial (as much as four years)

• Most formal degrees require you to relocate near the campus for in-class courses

• Academic institutions take time to adopt industry changes into the curriculum, meaning you may be learning from an outdated curriculum

• Universities are slow to adopt innovative payment methods (such as ISAs and deferred tuition) and likely won’t guarantee job placement after graduation

Now, Let’s Review Data Science Boot Camps

Data science boot camps are short, intensive programs that prepare you for a data science career. These programs require a brief time investment. Due to the short time frame, they require intense engagement with your learning materials and projects.

Data science boot camps are ideal for learners who want to get into the data science field as soon as possible. You may consider a boot camp over a university degree program if you feel that four years is a long time or the tuition costs are too high.

Here are some pros of a data science boot camp:

• Boot camps offer flexibility, with some allowing you to study part-time as you work

• They are less expensive than an undergraduate degree while offering students payment methods such as deferred tuition and income sharing agreements (ISAs)

• Their curriculums evolve faster to match industry skills

• Data science boot camps are more focused on practical learning

With data science boot camps, however, you might find it harder to remain committed. Some boot camps might also not meet the rigorous standards of formal institutions. But, with the right information, you can weed out low-quality boot camps.

Here are some tips to help you choose a high-quality online data science boot camp:

• Create a career plan. Actively evaluate how soon you want to start your data science career and the kind of career progression you seek.

• Determine how much you have to pay for bootcamp tuition. Evaluate private loan options, ask your employer about tuition reimbursement plans, explore grants and scholarships, and DO your homework on income share agreements and deferred tuition plans.

• Figure out your work schedule. If you are currently working, are you willing to resign in order to pursue a boot camp full time? Or would you rather pursue a part-time boot camp and continue working?

• Assess your learning style and curriculum interests. Narrow boot camp programs which best support your preferred learning style. Decide what specialization or discipline within data science to focus on and evaluate bootcamps offering those courses or learning modules.

• Check the prerequisites. Make sure you qualify before you “fall in love” with any given bootcamp.

• Ask questions and talk to current students and recent alumni. Make sure to “interview” the bootcamp provider. Remember that you are their customer! Ask them about their graduation outcomes (what percent of students who enroll go on to graduate), inquire about their job placement track record (how many graduates gain employment in the data science field and how long does it typically take to find employment), and ask to speak with recent graduates who’ve gained employment. Conduct your own reconnaissance by researching bootcamp reviews websites which publish student reviews and go onto LinkedIn and Glassdoor to read professional reviews.