Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with teaching yourself R and data science, enrolling in a few popular online courses and practicing here on R-exercises… But how about a real degree?
The University of Illinois is offering an online Master degree in Computer Science / Data Science (MCS-DS). The program starts in January, and the application deadline is only a few days away (15 Oct.). You will build expertise in four core areas of computer science—data visualization, machine learning, data mining, and cloud computing—while learning key skills in statistics and information science.
The MCS-DS is a non-thesis degree that requires 32 credit hours of coursework. Students can complete the eight courses required for the MCS-DS at their own pace, in as little as one year or up to five years. Students receive lectures through the Coursera platform, but are advised and assessed by Illinois faculty and teaching assistants on the rigorous set of assignments, projects, and exams required for university degree credit.
Of course, a real degree implies real tuition costs as well (~$21,000). Is this a worthwhile investment? You have to judge for yourself, but keep in mind that a computer science Master’s degree will earn you a starting salary of $72,071 on average, according to this recent survey.
Want to know more? Visit the official program website, scroll down and fill out the online form to request info. (Please note, R-exercises earns a small commission if you fill out and submit this form, which helps us to keep R-exercises free).
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