Data Science Courses: Online vs. In-Person – Which is Right for You?
Data Science is one of the fastest-growing fields in every industry. Whether it’s a small enterprise or a multinational company, every business values the importance of data and how it can help them grow incredibly. With the increasing importance of big data in companies, the demand for skilled data science professionals is also rising.
As a result, data science has become a lucrative career option with immense growth potential. The best way to start building a career in data science is by enrolling in a data science course. With plenty of online and offline course options, it seems challenging to choose the right one.
Let us help you make the right decision by comparing online and in-person courses based on several factors. Before that, you must understand the basics of data science and how you can build a bright future in this field.
What is Data Science?
Data Science is the study of large amounts of data to extract essential information, which can be used to create meaningful business insights. It combines scientific computing, systems, statistics, programming, and AI algorithms to find unseen patterns and identify new growth opportunities for a business.
What Makes Data Science a Lucrative Career Option?
Data is everywhere and to evaluate this data, every company needs skilled professionals. Analysis of such big data requires specific algorithms that only data science can provide. As data scientists play a significant role in the growth of a business, they are highly valued in their companies. It is also one of the highest-paying jobs in the market these days.
Data Science is a versatile field, i.e., it has applications in almost every industry. From healthcare to finance, baking, e-commerce, and other sectors, you can work with any industry that suits your interests. According to Glassdoor, the demand for data science professionals will rise by 28% per year by 2026. This gives you a significant reason to build a career in data science.
Online vs Offline Data Science Courses: Which One is Right for You
| Factor of Comparison | Online Courses | In-Person Courses |
|---|---|---|
|
Accessibility |
You can access an online course anytime from anywhere in the world using internet connection. |
You need to be physically present in the classroom |
|
Cost |
Online courses are cheaper. These reduce the infrastructure cost for institutes and travel costs for the students. |
Offline courses are much more expensive |
|
Learning Styles |
Many online programs give you the option to choose live online classes or self-paced learning at your convenience. |
In offline courses, you don’t get any option for self-paced learning. |
|
Flexibility |
With online programs, you get the flexibility to maintain a proper balance of study with your job or family. |
Offline data courses don’t provide you with such flexibility. |
Whether it’s flexibility, learning options, or anything, Online Courses seem to have the upper hand here. You can access these courses from anywhere in the world, but in-person programs require you to be present at a specific location. Offline data science courses are preferred by many just because they offer active learning.
But if you are employed and want to expand your career horizon, live online classes will provide a better work-life balance. With online data science courses, you can use recorded lectures or attend online live classes to complete your certification.
Live classes allow you to interact with the faculty and get real-time doubt resolution. Moreover, you can connect with data science students from different cities and build a strong network.Other advantages of online courses are that they are cost-effective and give you a better work-life balance.
How To Become a Data Scientist in India?
To become a data scientist in India, you should have a background in mathematics, statistics, computer science, economics, etc. You can plan for a bachelor’s degree in any of these fields to build your career as a data scientist. If you are already a graduate, check if you fulfil the prerequisites for a data science course.
The background might not matter a lot, but you should at least be comfortable with learning these subjects. To get a job in data science, you will need to have these skills:
You can start your journey by enrolling in a data science online course or diploma program. Make sure that the course covers all the necessary syllabi and focuses on practical knowledge. Even if you are already working as a data analyst or data scientist, you can take more advanced courses for faster professional growth.
Data Science Online Courses by Edvancer
Edvancer offers three types of data science courses online:
Both courses are available online and give you the option to choose one of the two learning styles. You can either opt for live online classes or a self-paced learning program, depending on your availability and comfort. Along with 150 hours of theoretical lectures, you get to work on practical projects for additional 150 hours.
These courses provide you with comprehensive coverage of data science, including Machine Learning in Python, Deep Learning, Data Analysis in SQL, Data Visualisation in Tableau, and Business Analytics in R.
Develop a Data Science Career
Online data scientist courses are the best way to start your career in this rapidly evolving and growing field. But if you are about to complete your graduation and want to pursue data science as a full career option, you also have the option of data science degree programs.
Edvancer in collaboration with UPES offers a PG program in Data Science. The course gives you the full benefits of a full-time PG course. However, the course is completely online and comes with 150 hours of practical assignments on real-time industrial projects.
FAQs
1. What are the benefits of taking a data science course online?Taking an online data science course can have various advantages as listed below:
Though online courses should be preferred for data science, there are a few benefits associated with in-person courses as well:
To decide which type of data science course is right for you, you can consider different factors, such as your preferred learning style, the cost of the course, flexibility, etc. Online programs always provide you with more options and flexibility.
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