Data science uses scientific systems and methods to collect raw data on businesses, brands, or software. The information gathered is used to help companies with future decisions. With a growing demand among companies, data science is a promising choice. If this is a career that interests you, you’ll need to know about the best majors for data science.
Data Science is a large field of study. Therefore, to start a successful career, you will need to know how to become a data scientist. In this guide, we will be discussing how to choose a major for data science and what degree for data science will allow you to achieve your professional goals.
Why Choose a Career in Data Science?
Throughout the last two decades or so, the world has rapidly become digitalized. Now more than ever, a depth of knowledge in data science is needed to gather, manage, and make sense of online and offline information. Online businesses and organizations are becoming increasingly popular.
Data scientists are well-compensated for the valuable role they play in nearly every industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) presents data on data scientists under Computer and Information Research Scientists. According to BLS, data scientists earn an average annual salary of $126,830, with plenty of room for increase based on location, experience, and specialization.
Data Science Job Outlook
According to the IUS Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for data scientists is projected to grow by 22 percent by 2030. Data science is an expanding and advancing field, leading to an estimated 3,000 job openings, every year.
Data Science Job Satisfaction
Similar to any job in business analytics, a career in data science offers a high job satisfaction. Your professional experience and technical skills create opportunities that are more competitive than many other science-related careers. There is room to increase your depth of study and change career paths or continue your development as a data scientist.
Data Science Salary Potential
| Career | Minimum Level of Education | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Data Architect | Bachelor’s degree | $123,052 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | Master’s degree | $122,717 |
| Data Scientist | Bachelor’s degree | $104,261 |
| Data Engineer | Bachelor’s degree | $100,583 |
| Data Analyst | Bachelor’s degree | $62,557 |
How to Choose a Major in Data Science: Tips for Selecting the Right Data Science Degree
Tip 1: Research
If data science is a field that interests you, start doing thorough research. It’s important to know income rates, job satisfaction, and relevant degree programs offered at various colleges and universities. You should get very familiar with data science as an educational and professional path before committing to it.
Tip 2: Get a Data Science Education
Once you’ve got an idea of what data science entails, select a program that appeals to you. Some good degree programs are an undergraduate degree or a master’s degree program in a data science field. For example, a Bachelor of Science in Statistics or a Master of Science in Business Analytics is a great start.
Tip 3: Talk to Data Scientists
Current data scientists have professional experience and a depth of knowledge that can help you. Speaking to a professional can provide direct answers to your questions. They can also help you make an informed decision about your chosen career path and advise you on the best institutions.
Tip 4: Do a School Search
Search for schools that offer data science degree programs. To narrow it down, you can create a list of the top five schools you are interested in. You can research further by asking alumni of prospective colleges questions to help you choose one.
Tip 5: Map Out a Decision Tree
A decision tree is a chart that helps you visualize your decision-making process. After considering the tips mentioned above, create a decision tree with all your research findings. You can include applications, universities, and links to sites for help. For proper consideration, you can create a pros and cons list to help you choose the best major for data science.
What Degree for Data Science: Best Majors for a Data Science Career
Statistics
Statistics is the analysis and interpretation of data. A statistician helps capture, analyze, and translate data in data science. If you become a statistician, you will gain critical thinking, computer literacy, and analytical skills. Harvard University is one of the best schools for a degree in statistics.
- Associated Career Paths: Economist, Statistician, Business Analyst, Market Researcher
- Levels of Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Computer Science
Computer science is another great major for data science. A computer scientists deals with large amounts of data, has analytical skills, and programming skills. They use a computer with a large storage capacity as a primary tool. In a computer science program, you will learn soft skills such as adaptability, curiosity, and communication skills.
- Associated Career Paths: Software Developer, Software Engineer, Database Administrator
- Levels of Education: Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, PhD
Data Engineering
Data engineering carries out hypothesis testing and builds models that help store and analyze data. With a strong background in engineering, you can decide to enroll in graduate programs from a high-ranking college and even get a graduate degree.
- Associated Career Paths: Business Intelligence Analysts, Software Engineer, Data Modeling
- Levels of Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Biostatistics
Biostatistics merges with biomedical sciences to solve medicine, biology, and public health problems. Majoring in biostatistics could mean studying to create solutions for health care systems and health challenges. On average, a biostatistician’s annual salary is $77,848.
- Associated Career Paths: Research Technician, Data Manager, Data Analyst
- Levels of Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Machine Learning
Machine Learning is a form of artificial intelligence that enables computers to function independently without being programmed. Various fields such as medicine, image processing, and speech recognition apply algorithms retrieved from machine learning. A machine learning engineer is paid $112,266 annually.
- Associated Career Paths: Business Intelligence Developer, Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineering
- Levels of Education: Master’s Degree, PhD
Other Data Science Related Majors
Other practical courses can lead you to have a successful data scientist career. Studying these majors could solve real-world problems and create common career opportunities for you. Listed below are other notable data science majors.
- Computer Programming
- Meteorology or Astrophysics
- Foreign Language
- Data Analysis
- Mathematics
- Data Mining
- Database Systems
- Data Visualization
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Social Science
Is a Career in Data Science Right for Me?
Yes, a career in data science is right for you if you’re interested in the field. Data scientists feed their curiosity by keeping an open mind to this evolving field. They possess specialized skills such as deep learning, mathematics, statistics, and programming. A data scientist identifies, assesses, and creates solutions to problems. They have critical thinking skills and programming skills. If these things interest you, you should definitely consider a career in data science.
Best Major for Data Science FAQs
Yes, you can learn data science on your own. Online resources like bootcamps or online classes from sites like Coursera and Udemy can help you. Do your research to find the best in-person and online data science courses to fulfill your career goals.
Data science is in high demand because data is retrieved from businesses, institutions, and software. A data scientist’s job is to read and analyze data and inform decisions. These companies need data scientists to help them operate smoothly.
Yes, you need experience to be a data scientist. Having work experience before applying for a data scientist job is a plus, but there are other ways to be a data scientist. The first thing you need to do is earn a degree and certification from a reliable organization. You can also apply for an internship at a firm.
A bachelor’s degree is best if you want to become a data scientist. You can also further your education through graduate programs by choosing a master’s or PhD program.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
