A big question that tends to come up when talking to students about Data science is, "do I need a master’s degree to become a data scientist?" The answer is maybe, you do not need a master’s degree specifically in data science, but you will likely need at least a master’s degree if you plan to progress further in your career.
Education Level to Advanced in Data Science
There appears to be a wide variety of answers to whether you need an advanced degree to get a Data Science job. Here, I review and explore the educational level, as discussed by Robert Half, Burtch Works, and Indeed.
As you begin your data science career, Robert Half and Indeed agree that you should have at least a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field, boot camp certification, or internship experience. However, if you are looking for a senior-level position or advancing your data science career, you will need more advanced skills, including having at least a master’s degree.
Many organizations look to hire a data scientist with an advanced degree. Having a Ph.D. can provide a candidate with an edge during the hiring process, but a master’s or Ph.D. may or may not be required depending on the role. According to Robert Half:
And while a Ph.D. or other advanced degree may not be essential to get hired for an entry-level data scientist role, it is likely to become more important as you look to advance in your data science career.
Burtch Works performed a study on data science and predictive analytics professionals released in August of 2020. During this study, Burtch Works looked at the Education levels of data scientists entering the field. One notable point discussed in this study was the decline in business degrees. Data scientists are not getting as many MBAs and Business Analytic degrees, which can indicate that they may not see the value of such degrees as quantitatively focused degrees. Instead of opting for MBA, candidates are strengthening their credentials with Engineering degrees.
The study discusses that data scientists tend to be highly educated individuals. In their survey, 91% of data scientists have at least a master’s degree, and 48% have PhDs. It is common for data scientists to have a strong educational background in mathematics/statistics, computer science, and natural sciences, such as physics and engineering.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the studies suggest that you can begin your career with a bachelor’s degree or data science boot camp, but to advance further, you should consider an advanced STEM degree. The requirements will vary from job to job and company to company. My suggestion is to find a niche area that you enjoy in data science and focus on developing your skills in that area.
What are your thoughts on advanced degrees in data science?
Additional Reading
- The Must-Have Skills You Need to Become a Data Scientist by Linda Burtch, Managing Director at Burtch Works
- The Burtch Works Study Salaries of Data Scientists & Predictive Analytics Professionals from August 2020
- 4 Reasons Not to Get a Master’s in Data Science by Meta S. Brown on Forbes
- The Role of Academia in Data Science Education by Rafael A. Irizarry on Harvard Data Science Review
- Want to Be a Data Scientist? Here’s What You Need to Know by Robert Half
- Data Scientist by Indeed
- Data Science Job Description by Glassdoor
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