Start Your Career in Data Science with Coding Dojo

Many professionals today work in a fast-paced environment, so whether data-driven business solutions are used or not can have a significant impact on success or failure. According to a survey by PwC, businesses that utilize big data and analytics can enhance their productivity and increase their profits. It’s no wonder that the demand for data professionals continues to increase and shows no sign of slowing down.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that STEM-related occupations are estimated to rise by as much as eight percent between 2019 and 2029, compared to 3.7 percent for other occupations. The message is clear: Prospective employers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to hire data scientists to help them make effective business decisions.

Why Become a Data Scientist?

If you’re looking for both professional fulfillment and financial growth, upskilling in data science may be the right thing to do. On Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America for 2021, the data scientist role ranked second with an average salary of $113,736. This is much higher than the average salary across most occupations in the United States.

Essential Data Scientist Skills to Develop

Some of the essential qualities of a data scientist that employers look for include knowledge and hands-on experience with programming languages and statistical expertise in models, such as regression, clustering, and decision trees. Data scientists should also be familiar with creating a machine learning project and deep learning methods. More importantly, they should know how and when to apply these concepts in their work.

In terms of soft skills, employers in the tech industry look for flexibility. This means that data scientists should be open to any outcome that the data or models show them. They should also work well as part of a team because they often collaborate with other experienced professionals within the company, including web developers and senior management. Moreover, they should be highly detail-oriented because this will help them identify bugs and potential problems in their work. 

The implementation of data in decision-making is growing, as is the volume of information created worldwide, which is fueling the need for data scientists. With this rise, Coding Dojo offers aspiring data scientists a beginner-friendly Data Science Part-Time Online Program for those who want to start exploring this in-demand tech career.

An Overview of Coding Dojo’s Data Science Part-Time Online Program

Coding Dojo’s part-time Data Science course is a practical, in-depth online program that teaches the fundamentals of data science and machine learning in Python. Students will learn how to retrieve and modify data using in-demand programming languages, such as Python and SQL, to better understand the data science process from beginning to end. Students can choose either a 12-week or 16-week version of the course. 

The course is beginner-friendly and does not require any technical experience, although it may be helpful for students to have some prior programming knowledge. Experience with Excel, Tableau, or Power BI is also a plus, but not required. This part-time course is ideal for people already working in the field of data science and want to expand their skill level. It is also a good starting point for those who are interested in a new career in data science.

“If I were to describe data science in one sentence, it is the use of data to solve business problems and make informed and efficient decisions,” said Noelle Brown, a Coding Dojo instructor. This is an important theme of this bootcamp’s data science program.

Coding Dojo Data Science Course Curriculum

A two-week optional pre-work program covering coding and Python essentials is available for students who require more preparation before the course begins.

The main data science course is organized by stack, with each stack being four weeks long. You can choose a 12-week or 16-week option. Students spend about 20 hours per week on this course. 

From Week 1 to Week 4, students learn data science fundamentals. This includes Python foundations needed for data science, manipulating and understanding data, foundations of data modeling, and additional topics, such as how to use Python to create high-quality graphs to implement key statistical techniques. At the end of Week 4, students focus on hands-on assignments and create a project to showcase what they’ve learned so far.

The curriculum from Week 5 to Week 8 covers machine learning. Students explore the various concepts of a machine learning project, and tree-based, logistic regression, and gradient boosting algorithms. There are also weekly exercises that include using various technologies like Matplotlib, Pandas, and Scikit-learn. 

From Week 9 to Week 12, students tackle advanced types of machine learning. Clustering methods, and how to use in-demand programming languages, such as SQL and Python are all covered during this time. Students also spend several hours per week studying additional topics that include deep, hands-on learning techniques, and when to use them. 

Weeks 13 to 16, should you choose the 16-week course, covers data enrichment. Students will spend time learning ETL (Extract, Transfer & Load), get additional practice with SQL, dive deeper into statistical models and learn how to choose the best possible model depending on the problem you set out to solve. 

Students in the 16-week program will also complete a group project. These additional weeks of material will help students feel more confident with their skills and add a group project to their portfolio that they can highlight during subsequent interviews.

Coding Dojo Data Science Course Outcomes

By the end of the course, the students will have a comprehensive understanding of the following:

• The end-to-end data science process, which includes data prep, data analysis, and data visualization
• How to retrieve and manipulate data using different types of programs and programming languages, such as Python and SQL
• The importance of machine learning and the growth of the industry, including the strengths and weaknesses of various machine learning algorithms
• The data science process as it is applied in the workplace and how it is used to make informed and efficient decisions
• How to use methodologies and tools to solve real-world problems in business and academia
• A portfolio of projects that demonstrate their new data science skills to potential employers

Coding Dojo Data Science Course Cost

The cost of tuition can vary depending on the payment options you choose. For example, the tuition cost is $8,745 if you pay in full and $8,995 if you choose to pay in installments. The 12-week course starts at $8,745, and the 16-week option starts at $10,745. The cost of tuition can also be covered by scholarships and financial assistance payment plans which are also available.

How Coding Dojo Helps Students Start a Career in Data Science

Access to career services begins on Day 1 of the course and is available to all Coding Dojo students. The career services team will work with students one-on-one and give customized counseling and detailed feedback to provide them with the necessary professional assistance to achieve their career goals. Students are also given job search support and guidance through resume development, networking strategies, and mock interview practices regarding various tech jobs. 

Coding Dojo’s student services team is always available, and students have lifetime access to job support. Even years after completing a course, graduates might ask for job assistance and salary or contract negotiation advice. 

Graduates of the part-time data course are equipped with the skills needed to apply for the following roles: 

• Junior data scientist
• Data engineer
• Machine learning engineer
• Big data analytics consultant
• Data analyst

Several Coding Dojo graduates have successfully managed to enter the field of data science despite coming from other industries. Among them is Ye Zhang. She worked as a quality management coordinator in healthcare and wanted to gain data analysis experience to advance her career.

After attending an info session on the course, she decided to pursue Coding Dojo’s 12-week part-time Data Science program while holding down a full-time job and caring for her young child. Ye enjoyed the entire experience and especially appreciated the additional resources that her instructor recommended. 

Ye also shared that part of the program included optional office hours twice a week with the instructor while the teaching assistant was available to the students anytime they had any questions or concerns. She shared, “The program provided a great foundation which allowed me to gain online access to their learning platform and quickly find the most useful resources and learn more in-depth information if I wanted to go deeper on a topic.”

Her data science instructor provided guidance and detailed feedback for interview preparation regarding jobs in the technology industry. Moreover, her mentor assisted her with how to showcase her project portfolio and other platforms she could use, such as GitHub, and how to create her websites. After going through many interviews and receiving a couple of job offers, she is now happily working as a data analyst in the healthcare field.

Is Coding Dojo’s Data Science Course Right for Me?

Coding Dojo’s Data Science course is ideal for people interested in exploring data science and the many skills and roles it encompasses. If you like working in the background and enjoy deciphering the process behind specific tasks, you will find this course exciting. 

Those who are detail-oriented, inquisitive, and have fun learning in-demand programming languages and advanced topics will also find value in this course. If you like puzzles, patterns, and solving problems, this course may also be right for you. 

Start a Data Science Career with Coding Dojo

There is a growing need for data scientists and people with specialized data science skills. Coding Dojo’s Data Science Part-Time Online Program is a great starting point for anyone interested in gaining in-demand data science skills that can be applied to their current role. It’s also an effective stepping stone toward a new career path.

To learn more about Coding Dojo’s Data Science Part-Time Online Program, download a free course packet here. If you want to learn more about this school, read our Coding Dojo review where we give you the lowdown on career services, curriculum, and instructors.