Doctorate in Data Sciences/Analytics

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by graduate, Nov 29, 2015.

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  1. graduate

    graduate Member

    I hold a Masters in Information Systems and a Masters in CS. I'm now looking for an online/ DL with limited residencies Doctorate in Data Sciences/Data Analytics? The closest i found so far is from a school i don't want to be in, colorado tech's online doctorate in CS/Big Data Analytic.

    An other interesting option i found is the PhD in decision Sciences from former Capitol College. I lived in Maryland in past so i know nobody even knows the name at that time(3,4 years ago), so i wonder is there any real option available?
    I'm quite stable in my career but in future i want to focus more on Data Sciences. Secondly I'm paying out of my pocket, so surely can't go beyond 50k range at this time.

    After wasting 2 years in IS, i learnt the hard way that i'm a CS person, so no IT/IS type degrees that filters most of the options like Walden/Capella or Dakota State, I would rather go for a decent(cheap) DBA than DIT if had to go that route. This forum is the best place to start my search, so guys please suggest any?
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Have you looked at overseas schools offering a DL option?
     
  3. graduate

    graduate Member

    Well no, do you suggest some overseas schools that are RA equivalent and that have some course work as well? I'm not sure but i guess Australian universities must be more expensive and UK universities are mainly research based. But that is a good idea, i'll check European universities like Germany, Sweden, Austria as well. If someone has any specific university in mind, please suggest and if anyone doing Captech's decision sciences?
     
  4. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Look at schools in OZ, UK, and SA.
     
  5. graduate

    graduate Member

    Any one with any particular university on top of mind? I found University of Southern Queensland's MS applied science program so far. Any other program?
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Maybe you could reach out to USQ to either (a) refer you to a school with the degree program or (b) whether they'd be willing to work with you to do that degree with them--not such a stretch given they award a master's in it and a PhD would likely be a dissertation-only extension of it.
     
  7. novadar

    novadar Member

    As an Analytics practitioner, I can tell you that the Data Science field is so new that there are no real guideposts to say if such a degree will get you where you want to be. You did not mention if you intend to practice or teach. That will drive much of the decision making.

    From my perspective those who are calling themselves a Data Scientist or have the job title "Data Scientist" are either 1) PhD or Master trained scientists from another field such as Physics, Computational Chemistry or (no surprise) Statistics OR 2) Individuals with deep experience in BI, Data Management (DBA) and Anayltics who have cut their teeth with R, Spark, Hadoop, SQL, and so on.

    I do not consider myself a Data Scientist but I use SQL, Advanced Analytic Packages, and building block Database features daily. I work for company selling Big Data software solutions designed to make data science work more "friendly". A competing firm is trying to get their really smart software to do the same. These advances will change the current Data Science landscape considerably.

    Back to your situation, in many respects the title does not matter. If you can show you have the skills and can move beyond the fluff (there are lots of folks who talk a mean data science talk but cannot put a Bitmap Index on Database table or perform a market-basket analysis) you will get work. You can learn those skills via short paid courses or the good-ole bootstrap method.

    Good luck.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 30, 2015
  8. major56

    major56 Active Member

    University of East London: Professional Doctorate in Data Science (D.DataSc)

    Data Science - UEL

    “The course comprises six taught modules and a research thesis and is available to study full-time or part-time.

    Each taught module is based on a week of intensive attendance at the Docklands campus, usually at the beginning of each term.

    For your professional doctorate, on completion of the taught modules you will undertake a supervised period of research.

    Our definition of Data Science is the science, engineering and practice of extracting value from data that impacts business, governance and society,”
     
  9. graduate

    graduate Member

    Novadar, thumbs up for your detailed reply. You really nailed it. Here is my story,

    I'm a programmer with the two main languages i worked/working with as C++ & Java. I worked a little in financial sector as a poor man's quantitative developer where i realized that had i knew Statistics/Financial Mathematics, I would have been a real quant getting 300k at minimum at some hedge fund, infact i knew one guy who takes in millions, but that may be too optimistic. Anyways then i left the financial sector and joined technology sector.

    In terms of databases i worked as an SQL developer in past as well, In BI and Data Management, fortunately where i work, they use AbInitio and SAP tools, so i'm learning these integration tools as well. I thought my diversity gives me advantage to enter in this new field, and you are right a cloudra's CCDH is more than enough to get into this area. What i'm targeting is a pure Data Scientist role in longer run, some one working on predictive analytics or machine learning sort of stuff and i thought data science is too hot not to target :) The problem is mid career professionals with family and kids, i can't afford to just quit the job and join some Ivy to become data scientist and in DL learning as i said within US haven't found any feasible option yet.
     
  10. novadar

    novadar Member

    I think that with a solid Doctorate in any field with strong quantitative analysis you could secure a Data Scientist position. My PhD is in IT Management so it's not 'scientific enough'. I also enjoy being on the Sales Engineering side where the goals are very simple -- Sell More!

    You are totally right about Quants, I had no idea those positions could be so lucrative. #HindsightIs2020 But honestly many of those folks in Quant roles on Wall Street do not have PhDs. You will find the PhD Data Scientists in firms with highly specialized technical staff such as Semiconductor Development, Advanced Technology, Software Engineering, or firms that are devoted to pure eCommerce/Social Media (think Amazon, Facebook, Groupon). In "normal" business a Masters and Data Science skills should be more than enough to get you the job.

    Others have laid out potentially viable overseas options but its hard to say if the payoff will be there for you. There is absolutely no harm in going for a higher degree if you have the finances for it to not strain your budget. With a family this can be very tough, I have always put my family first but a decision like this needs to be made by you and your spouse. Also keep in mind that even the pursuit of a goal like this can lead to unexpected doors opening for you so you may end up in a great spot vastly different than your initial goal.
     
  11. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Capitol Technology University may not be well known in the D.C. area, but it's a regionally accredited school that should be perfectly serviceable. Put another way, if a relatively unknown school in Maryland won't do, why would a relatively unknown school in another country be better?
     
  12. major56

    major56 Active Member

    With the VERY limited distance /online doctorate program availability in this area of interest—wouldn’t a M.S. or even brand name graduate certificate in data science, (e.g., https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academics/professional-graduate-certificates/data-science-certificate), business, predictive, and/or quantitative analytics, business intelligence, etc. be a viable option too? As you’re already aware … there are numerous online graduate programs available in these particular and combination discipline areas—ranging all the way from premier university brands to the run-of-the-mill in name recognition.
    Where to get a Data Science Degree Online
     
  13. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Usually, you need people with Doctorate in Computer Science is for the job at Doctorate level. However, soon schools will develop into Data Science as specific Doctorate degree. Such as Cyber Security, Telecommunications, and etc.... many years ago, these area were leading by Doctorate in Computer Science and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering.
     
  14. graduate

    graduate Member

    SteveFoerster - Your point is absolutely valid, that is why i short listed Capitol Tech, moreover it looks different, i mean i'm not a business person but being a techie, decision sciences look more appealing than a DBA :)

    Major56 - I thought its better to take a step forward finally, I should have done my 2nd masters in analytics, but i just wasn't clear enough about my future goals at that time. Secondly somewhere deep inside I believe on what novadar mentioned that it may open some unexpected doors somewhere. So I would rather go for a Phd/DPS/DM/DBA in slightly different field than a Masters in Analytics. See its a long term sort of loosely coupled plan, i'm not in any urgent need of switching my career to analytics at this time.

    TEKMAN
    you are spot on, CS would still be the mother of all tech degrees at least for next 2 decades, but the problem is similar Data Science and CS, both have limited online options which does make sense, considering the rigor and commitment required for them.
     

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