What Can You Do With a Master's in Data Science?

If you are considering pursuing a master’s in data science, you might be wondering, what can you do with it?

Data science is a multidisciplinary field that extracts insights and knowledge from large and complex sets of data. It combines elements of statistics, mathematics, and computer science, along with domain and industry expertise.
See also What Is a Master’s in Data Science Degree?

Data Science can be used to solve problems and answer critical questions in any industry or business. The MS in Data Science program prepares students to curate, analyze, and make relevant discoveries from any kind of data.

Data Science is a field that impacts every organization, which means the potential and opportunity for careers in data are endless. We are in an information age, where data is king and organizations that aren't leveraging and utilizing data will be left behind by their competition—making data analysis skills useful to everyone.

– Catie Williams, Bellevue University Data Science Program Director

Common Career Paths for Data Science Degree Graduates

The foundation of data science lies in mathematics, statistics, and programming. While no experience in data science or computing is required, it would be helpful to have some background in math, computing, and statistics. So even if the major you completed in a bachelor’s degree program was not in the technology field, you can learn everything you need to know about information processing and programming in Bellevue University’s Master of Science in Data Science degree.

The ideal data science student seeks to develop their technical and professional skills in modeling and analyzing data sets. You will become qualified to work at entry- to mid-level or higher positions depending upon your experience, in roles that require:

• Gathering, organizing, interpreting, and communicating insights gathered from data
• Developing meaningful, actionable findings based on those insights
• Creating software and using mathematical modeling to support software
• Translating insights across domains, techniques, and industries

You'll master the full data science lifecycle—learning how to collect, clean, model, and interpret data using today’s most in-demand tools. Along the way, you’ll build expertise in analytics, visualization, computer science, and applied statistics—bringing your natural curiosity to life in meaningful, practical ways.

Graduates of the program are prepared for high-growth roles such as:

• Data Scientist
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Data Analyst
• Business Intelligence Developer
• AI Specialist
• Data Engineer

Discover careers that might best suit your personal goals by taking a career assessment through Bellevue University Career Services.

Industries That Value a Data Science Degree

Employers around the world are inundated with massive amounts of data and need skilled employees to glean insights from that data. Many industries actively seek professionals with data science degrees, recognizing their ability to drive strategic decision-making and business success. Some of the top industries that value a data science degree include:

• Finance and banking
• Marketing and advertising
• Healthcare
• E-Commerce
• Laboratory science, pharma and medicine
• Technology sector
• Government, education and military
• Supply chain and logistics

Skills You’ll Develop in a Master’s in Data Science Program

What skills will you learn? A master’s in data science program consists of foundational courses in data science, data preparation, data modeling, and applied data science. You will develop technical and professional skills to help solve problems and discover insights into the industry through modeling and analyzing data sets of any size.

The power of data science lies in its ability to extract meaningful information from data and use it to drive informed decision-making. By analyzing large volumes of data, data scientists can identify trends, discover hidden patterns, make predictions, and gain valuable insights that help organizations make data-driven decisions. To do this, data scientists need to learn to use these tools and techniques:

• Python programming language
• R programming language
• Frequentist and Bayesian statistics
• Grouping
• Merging and filtering data sets
• Predictive analytics through techniques like data mining

In addition to these critical skills, data scientists learn and practice how to translate, present, and visualize various complex topics for non-technical audiences such as stakeholders, and how to scale up all of these skills using Big Data.

By honing these skills, Master’s in Data Science graduates are well-prepared to influence business outcomes and drive organizational success.

Organizations are collecting large data sets, and knowing how to use this data is beneficial in many engineering applications. From engineering, data science, and cybersecurity to federal contracting and human capital management, we can provide services that best optimize our talents and what we have learned from Bellevue University.

– Daniel Carbajal, MS Data Science, MS Cybersecurity, Bellevue University

Further Education or Certifications

Beyond a Master’s in Data Science, you may want to enhance your professional expertise with additional certifications or education, depending on your career goals. (Specific industry-recognized examinations and prerequisites may apply.)

Some popular credentials include:

• Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) CAP can enhance your credibility and demonstrate your expertise in the field
• Certificate of Completion in IT Project Management
• Education, training, or certificates in data visualization tools like Tableau, Microsoft PowerBI, or Matplotlib
• Certificates in Data Analytics with Google and AI
• Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP®) Certification

Continuing education in the form of courses or certificates and professional development helps you as a data science graduate stay competitive and adapt to evolving industry and business trends.

Discover Where a Master’s in Data Science Can Take You

Ready to turn your curiosity into career power? This program is built for professionals who want to solve real-world problems with data—and gain the skills to lead as a Data Scientist, Data Engineer, or Analytics Manager in any industry.

If you’re ready to elevate your career and expand your professional opportunities, pursuing a Master’s in Data Science could be the next step toward achieving your goals.

Start your Master’s in Data Science at Bellevue University today.

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