In an ever-evolving, fast-paced and tech-driven world, data science has become a cornerstone of innovation, decision-making and problem solving across industries. As we increasingly rely on data to steer businesses, governments and societies, skills in data science are in high demand.
The Data Sciences Institute (DSI) is helping meet an increasing demand for these skills with its Data Sciences Certificate program, with the program’s first cohort of students set to graduate this spring.
“Without prior knowledge about data science, the knowledge and skills I've learned from this program are invaluable,” says Yongran Yan, a research technician with the University Health Network.
“In addition to learning knowledge from our instructors, the guest speakers coming from different fields in the industry have provided me with insights on the potential applications of data science. As a cancer researcher, I am also excited to see how my data science skills will help me explore more aspects of my research topic.”
The certificate program provides flexibility, allowing learners to choose a course to improve their skills in a specific area or earn a full certificate by taking six of the eight courses available. The curriculum ensures learners master core competencies in foundational data science, including SQL, R and Python, while gaining hands-on experience through real-world case studies.
"The DSI Data Science Certificate is a truly exceptional program that combines core courses to establish a solid foundation in data science,” says Professor Rohan Alexander, jointly appointed to the Faculty of Information and the Department of Statistical Sciences in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the program’s academic lead.
“Designed for individuals with no prior expertise in data science, this program empowers students to thrive in data-driven fields. As we celebrate the program and our upcoming graduates, we are confident they will be fully prepared to apply their newly acquired skills and leverage their professional networks to make a significant impact in the industry.”
The certificate also presents the opportunity to learn from private-sector experts during case studies. This year’s program featured Ajit Desai, principal data scientist at the Bank of Canada, Richard Wintle, assistant director at the Centre for Applied Genomics, Hospital for Sick Children, and Zia Babar, director of cloud engineering at PwC Canada. The case study component offers learners valuable insights into the professional world of data science analytics.
Students who have participated recommend the program to beginner and intermediate users.
“I really liked the live coding format and being able to follow along with the instructor, which I think is the best way to learn coding. I really appreciated how well organized and well presented the material was and how supportive the instructor and TA were of students, always taking the time to stay and answer questions after every class,” said another.
DSI will be offering three programming courses in May to July: Introduction to Unix Shell, Git, and GitHub, Introduction to R, and Introduction to Python. All courses require no data science experience, making them accessible to a wide range of students.
The program is open to all. U of T faculty, staff, students, alumni and those appointed at DSI member institutions receive a 10 per cent discount.
Register for the Data Science Institute upskilling courses.