Your data science career starts here.

Python, the much-loved, popular programming language, is the starting block to kickstart your data science career. In this three-segment specialization you will learn to code in Python and SQL and complete a capstone project that incorporates your new skills.

The curriculum is designed by Udacity, our online global education partner, and it comes to life in a live-online classroom setting led by our industry expert instructors.

You can choose between learning styles—an instructor-led online program that includes set online classes to discuss curriculum, share experiences, and work with other students or a self-paced, online program.

Job Outlook

Most U.S. companies plan to add data science positions. By 2020, openings for data science and analysts are projected to grow 15%. Hundreds of thousands of people are needed to fill those jobs. A Gallup study predicted that by 2021, 69% of employers expected that candidates with data science skills would be given preference for jobs in their organizations. Yet only 23% of college and university leaders say their graduates will have those skills by 2021.

Specialization Takeaways

By the end of this program you will understand:

• SQL fundamentals such as JOINs, Aggregations, and Subqueries.
• How to use SQL to answer complex business problems.
• Python programming fundamentals such as data structures, variables, loops, and functions.
• How to work with data using libraries like NumPy and Pandas.
• Version control and how to share your work with other people in the data science industry.

We recommend that students dedicate about 10 hours each week to complete the four-month program.

A Month-to-Month Subscription Program

How much can you complete in a month?

Most students take four months to complete this specialization. If you want to take a break, you can pause and pick up where you left off. You have up to six months to complete this program

You can choose to pay upfront or month-to-month. If you choose the month-to-month option, please remember to enroll in each new session for the upcoming month to prevent a pause in your access to materials. You will have access to the curriculum on the first of the month through the last day of the month. There is no prorated access to the curriculum, so, please sign up early to get the full month.

Learn more about the month-to-month subscription plan.

In Partnership with Udacity

The curriculum for this program is designed by Udacity, a global online learning platform. By choosing to participate in this joint UCSC Silicon Valley Extension–Udacity program, you will benefit from an enriched learning experience.

UCSC SILICON VALLEY-UDACITY STUDENT BENEFITS

• Top University of California/Udacity technical curriculum.
• A certificate of completion from UC Santa Cruz, an accredited university with a global reputation and a 50+-year history of exceptional professional training.
• A UCSC Silicon Valley-branded digital badge to show off your acquired skills on LinkedIn and verify them with employers.
• 12 continuing education units (CEUs).
• An Experiential Learning Soft Skills curriculum to strengthen your critical interpersonal skills for the job market.
• One-on-one career counseling session and workshops with one of our workforce partners for those who are eligible.
• Online job search tools and recruitment partners, including access to a tailored experience with an online career community network of employers and universities. Also, a 24/7 online resume-building tool that leverages data science, machine learning, and natural language processing to provide you with instant personalized feedback on your resume based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices.
• Engagement with the UC Santa Cruz community through live, topical webinars and career-related events.

The curriculum is provided in sequence, but you may progress at your own pace.

Introduction to SQL

Learn SQL fundamentals such as JOINs, Aggregations, and Subqueries. Learn how to use SQL to answer complex business problems.

Investigate a Database

You’ll work with PostgreSQL, a relational database, and complete the entire data analysis process—from posing a question and running appropriate SQL queries to sharing your findings.

Introduction to Python Programming

Learn Python programming fundamentals such as data structures, variables, loops, and functions. Learn to work with data using libraries like NumPy and Pandas.

Project: Explore US Bikeshare Data

You will use Python to answer analytical questions about bikeshare trip data collected from three US cities. You will write code to collect the data, compute descriptive statistics, and create an interactive experience in the terminal that presents the answers to your questions.

Upon completion, you will receive:

• A certificate of completion from UC Santa Cruz
• A UCSC Silicon Valley-branded digital badge.
• 12 continuing education units (CEUs).
• Access to a self-paced, soft skills course to strengthen your critical interpersonal skills for the job market.
• One-on-one career counseling session and workshops with one of our workforce partners for those who are eligible.
• Online job search tools and recruitment partners, including access to a tailored experience with an online career community network of employers and universities. Also, a 24/7 online resume-building tool that leverages data science, machine learning, and natural language processing to provide you with instant personalized feedback on your resume based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices.
• A Udacity Nanodegree certificate.

There are no prerequisites for this course.