Data Science Degree VS Self Teaching VS Coursera/Udemy/Udacity

Рет қаралды 42,502

Күн бұрын

In this video I compare and contrast 3 different ways to getting the education needed to become a Data Scientist: Getting a masters degree, Teaching yourself, or doing a micro degree using an online platform.
Is the time and money required to get a masters degree worth it? When should you consider teaching yourself data science? Can you transition to data science with just online micro degrees from Coursera, Udemy, and Udacity?
I discuss the pros and cons of each including cost, quality, and depth of education. Watch to the end if you want my recommendations for the best path for data science education for people with and without technical backgrounds.
Some of my favorite FREE resources for learning about data science by yourself are linked below:
Introduction to Statistical Learning: faculty.marshall.usc.edu/garet...
Fast AI: www.fast.ai/
OK not free but still good:
www.amazon.com/Hands-Machine-...
Follow me on twitter: @data_mike_j
Check out my blog: minimizeuncertainty.com/
Follow me on LinkedIn: / michael-johnson-5105a053

Пікірлер: 87

@ramonsantiago4573 3 жыл бұрын

I got my first data science job a month ago. I did it completely online through Coursera, books, Codecademy, and Udacity. I studied part-time for 7 months (4 hours a day) and had no previous coding or data experience, If I did it you can too!

@KhoaNguyen-gh2fo 3 жыл бұрын

Great job. Congratulations Ramon

@rajsinhsolanki4419 3 жыл бұрын

Is Udacity worth ?

@ramonsantiago4573 3 жыл бұрын

@@rajsinhsolanki4419 I purchased the data science nana degree on 75% discount, and it was very very good. Personally I don't think it's worth the full price, but if you can get it on discount it's definitely worth it. You spend a lot more time implementing what you've learned with udacity compared to something like Coursera.

@rajsinhsolanki4419 3 жыл бұрын

@@ramonsantiago4573 Ok I will buy it.

@ramonsantiago4573 3 жыл бұрын

@@KT-uz4jq I got my job in the UK. At the time there were very few entry level jobs and a tone of junior/mid level positions.

@adamjansons198 3 жыл бұрын

Great video and very informative! Mike has done a lot of research into the pros and cons of each route into DS. Thanks Mike!

@Vitulli1970 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I think the advice was very reasonable and sound.

@richasha670 2 жыл бұрын

really appreciate you for sharing your experience and thoughts!

@palvimittar3022 2 жыл бұрын

New subscriber! The time u spoke the first word ! Awesome job 👍👍

@karenzhou1083 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your very helpful breakdown of the various options. After hearing your explanation, I believe I might be in the middle. I'll make a decision accordingly.

@Grejegando 3 жыл бұрын

Very useful video and straight to the point. Thank you very much. Can you please upload a video on how to land your first job as a data scientist to those of us with no previous experience or similar background? Thanks again

@timewithruth 3 жыл бұрын

Really helpful video, thank you!

@DevOpsDirective 3 жыл бұрын

Nice comparison! While I never went dove fully into data science, I took a mechanical engineering degree and transitioned into software engineering on some data science projects through a mixture of self-teaching + Coursera courses! (by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller)

@datamike7457 3 жыл бұрын

I ended up learning data science from a combination of all 3. Coursera was and still is an amazing resource!

@ghoushadshafeeq151 3 жыл бұрын

Hi. I'm also a mechanical engineer and I'm aspiring for data science field. Can we get in touch through LinkedIn or any other platform

@imveryhungry112 3 жыл бұрын

This is good information. Thanks man.

@blablak9942 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video it was quite helpful for me to have a better overview on the ways of self education but it’s a huge pity that you don’t upland any videos recently 🥺.

@karinadantas7552 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I have been searching a lot of graduation alternatives. Your tips help me ;)

@datamike7457 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome Karina, good luck on your journey!

@JohnVandivier 3 жыл бұрын

nice talk man. may your subs grow.

@datamike7457 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John!

@imveryhungry112 3 жыл бұрын

Ive decided to go the MOOC route. The reason is, I already have a strong technical and programming background, and my real technical passion is in another programming related field. However, I want to apply data science to that other field. So data science / AI is like a secondary passion to me. I just need to know enough about it, to apply it to my primary technical passion. I feel like PHDs and MSc in AI / data science is for people who want to really try to find brand new methods of doing AI -- such as a new type of advanced Neural Network etc. But I just want to be able to master the current methods and apply them to new domains. So i dont see what a graduate degree would be necessary for that.

@waseemahmed7919 Жыл бұрын

Good info

@ammaribrahim5756 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing analysis.....thanks

@abhishekdandona8014 3 жыл бұрын

I am in data science for 4.5 yrs, my take is that learn it yourself because there is barely anyone out there that knows more than you already do

@mhamadsiwaily2038 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot, really very useful

@RameshAyyamuthu 2 жыл бұрын

Good one. Also could have talked about the requirements for someone in the beginning, mid or end of the career.

@abdelrahmanhisham5070 3 жыл бұрын

Man, you are an amazing person

@taz2392 2 жыл бұрын

I asked a friend who was looking for a data scientist why he listed a degree as a requirement for the job. He had no idea apart from the fact that ‘everybody else was doing it’.

@abdelrahmanhisham5070 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you soooooo much , that helped me alot

@IncredibleStan 3 жыл бұрын

So I have a undergrad in Buisness Admin and I'm getting my MBA this fall. I'm currently taking the Foundations of Data Science Certificate from UC Berkeley on edX and I'm seeing MIT has a micromasters certificate for Data Science as well. I'm looking to go those routes. I currently do IT work for the Army so I have a background in some technical stuff.

@JJDK485 Жыл бұрын

Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve got to live your life first, my friend

@HighBoss 3 жыл бұрын

I'm considering getting into data science but I'm coming from a largely unrelated background (IT support) and without any degree. So far I'm learning using free resources and I'm amazed at the quantity and quality of the learning materials available for this field. Honestly I feel like I could learn everything I could ever need online (short of the learning you can only get on the job of course) and it'd be much much quicker, not to mention cheaper, than pursuing a degree. What gives me pause though, is the transition to actually getting a job. I wonder if any employer would even consider me without a degree and that leaves me trying to decide if I should just go for a data science degree anyway...

@carsonbrown7770 3 жыл бұрын

it’s been 3 months since your comment- what did you decide? thanks!

@cybrdelic 3 жыл бұрын

I got a job as a business analyst through self study coming from warehouse. It can be done

@JJDK485 Жыл бұрын

I reckon you can get a degree in popular easy subjects like business, communications, information systems ect. to meet the minimum requirement for most jobs nowadays (but don’t put yourself in debt, only if you can afford to study). Then when you get to a job interview, use your skills in data science/analytics or coding to leverage. 😊

@sbotros 3 ай бұрын

Hey what do gou thibk about bootcamps for someone who has a degree in engineering bac in 2007 though

@chvhndrtntlr3482 2 жыл бұрын

so how far the skill gap if you become data analyst from non degree path compared to the degree path? I mean, how's the difficulty level to someone that only understand basic math (high school level math), basic coding (high school level coding), and don't know shit about business learn by themselves (through DIY or online course) to become Data Analyst and place a job?

@thatomarymokhothu203 Жыл бұрын

Ohh damn, why did you stop making videos? This was so good and I want more of this content.

@datamike7457 Жыл бұрын

Got busy!!!! I'm glad you enjoyed them!

@waseemahmed7919 Жыл бұрын

very Good contribution

@frankieping912 2 жыл бұрын

Any online courses do you recommend for the beginner who wants to be a data scientist? Is IBM Data Science Certificate ok or other online courses? Thanks.

@datamike7457 2 жыл бұрын

Andrew ngs Coursera class on machine learning is top notch. Fast.ai is another option.

@dsinghr 3 жыл бұрын

Pick up a highly rated program on Udemy and finish it till the end. Then you would know 50% of what software engineers need to know for day to day job. Then read a book, build few projects and apply for jobs . Once you get a job, you will learn the real shit I.e. frameworks and test driven development

@taz2392 2 жыл бұрын

If you look on indeed in the U.K. almost all data science or analysis jobs require a degree. I’m 40 have no degree and thinking if there is even a point going back to uni to do it or just do skilled online courses and hope for the best.

@datamike7457 2 жыл бұрын

So there are still companies with rules against hiring engineers/ data scientists who don't have technical degrees. If you have a degree in engineering or mathematics it's much easier to find a job. If you don't have a bachelor's degree at all it's much harder. I've seen plenty of folks become data scientists with non-technical degrees, e.g. psychology, film, etc...

@macrosales4438 3 жыл бұрын

But will be the whole purpose of all of that if you can’t even get college credit, I understand the economic factor for women that fit the purpose of you can’t really use it as an actual credit score for the certificate where am I missing the point.

@korsasrikanth6611 2 жыл бұрын

#good information about

@chilli3672 2 жыл бұрын

I’m an IT major and I want to get a degree in data science but my higher diploma and bachelor degree took all my money🤡 I seriously need a cheaper option but I wanna make sure I’ll be able to use it (I live in the UAE)

@datamike7457 2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately I don't know much about the data science/machine learning market in the uae.

@rishabvyas2812 3 жыл бұрын

Is it worth doing these degrees from India ? Where will I work ? Can I work in USA ? Insights about visa . Please do reply

@datamike7457 3 жыл бұрын

I'm really not sure about india, my experience is really only with the American market.

@journeysinamerica8763 2 жыл бұрын

You have to take the f1 route . Study for masters in data science. Yes you can work for 3 years easily . Which will cover your education fee and also have a good amount of savings

@retropenguin49 3 жыл бұрын

Great overview, in the end some jobs might require a masters as a minimum to apply especially as you move up in your career. That is where the investment might pay off. But if it’s purely about learning then it can definitely be done online through courses.

@datamike7457 3 жыл бұрын

I've hired dozens of machine learning professionals and I've never once weighed a masters degree over actual experience.

@NoDrizzy630 8 ай бұрын

At Amazon you need a masters to get hired as a data scientist and a bachelors for data analyst

@prabalbhadoria5398 2 жыл бұрын

Degree is just a piece of paper. DO YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL SKILLS ? WHAT IF I GIVE YOU A TASK RIGHT NOW ? WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THAT ? ASK YOURSELF !

@prabalbhadoria5398 2 жыл бұрын

MOOC's are WAYYY better nowadays. The rate of change of tech is increasing every year..

@bryanchambers1964 3 жыл бұрын

I have had a windy road. I started by taking a course in Python on Udemy. That was a waste of time because there were no homework, quizzes, or projects to go with it so I learned nothing. Then theres courses on Coursera, I did a few of those and you may learn much but companies don't care how many of those you did. You need to have an impressive portfolio of front to back end projects. Now I am 5 months into the Udacity Data Science program. Its good but very time consuming. I'm hoping that when I finish I can get a job but its definitely not easy.

@arturocardona140 2 жыл бұрын

Hello from a year later. How are things going for you?

@JJDK485 Жыл бұрын

Can you not imagine a project/brief that you enjoy, and work on it? You’ll be alright, my friend!

@bryanchambers1964 Жыл бұрын

@@arturocardona140 Teaching physics in a college. Maybe not making as much as a data scientist but I don't have to sit in front of a computer all day and I have great vacation time and get to work with young folk.

@tybaltmercutio Жыл бұрын

@@bryanchambers1964 thank you for the reply! Did you go with the teacher route because it was too difficult to land a data science job -even after completing the Udacity course - or was it more like you found your real passion with teaching and there also were some other benefits like holidays? I‘m partially also asking because I‘m also considering enrolling in the Udacity data science nanodegree - potentially before or after taking their AWS ML engineering course.

@bryanchambers1964 Жыл бұрын

@tybaltmercutio I wasn't too far away from landing a data science position but I think I would have to learn some more data engineering and maybe some electical engineering like embedded systems first. So just keep that in mind, you probably need to know enough of what 3-4 bootcamps will cover before a company hires you. I have been teaching physics and science for the past 8 years, physics was what I chose in college so that route ended up working out for me. Just always good to put your eggs in as many baskets as possible. If you do Udacity know that you should reduce your data set so the numbers don't super long to crunch in your final project. Also I think they cut back on mentors so when I was getting stuck toward the end I usually never got a reply when I asked for help on stuff.

@voldefox 3 жыл бұрын

"Degrees in data science range from expensive to extremely expensive" *laughs in European* PS. Because college is free or very cheap almost everywhere in Europe.

@datamike7457 3 жыл бұрын

I have been shocked by how expensive these degrees are. They often assume people's work will pay which certainly isn't the case for many people.