Expanding Pathways to a Data Science Career by Developing a Certification in Data Science and Analytics

所有行业的企业和组织都在越来越多地寻找在决策中使用数据的方法。 这种向数据驱动型决策的转变正在为数据科学和分析专业人员创造不断增长的劳动力需求。 在2018年的一份报告中，美国劳工统计局预测，到2026年，数据科学和分析领域的工作岗位将增长34%。 然而，到目前为止，很少有两年制的机构提供数据分析课程，可以让学生为数据科学和分析的入门级职位做好准备。 为了创造进入数据科学和分析职业的新途径，该项目打算建立一个基于大学学分的数据分析证书。 为了实现这一目标，它还旨在提高学院高质量数据科学教学的能力，并扩大数据科学的参与，重点是妇女的参与。 除了有可能提高新泽西数据科学劳动力的能力和质量外，该项目还可能为其他有兴趣建立新数据科学项目的机构提供模型。该项目的主要目标是开发一个15学分的数据科学证书，将R，Tableau，Python和SQL等技术集成到课程中。 在美国，基于社区大学的数据科学课程似乎不到20个，而这一证书被认为是大纽约/新泽西大都市区任何社区大学的第一个。 该课程将由一个行业咨询委员会提供信息，并实施国家对数据科学教育的建议，包括教授统计思维，将真实的数据与背景和目的相结合，以及使用基于项目的学习。 该项目旨在通过与学院的STEM俱乐部，R-Ladies Global和教师发展合作，招募女性进入该领域。 由此产生的认证将使学生准备进入劳动力市场作为数据分析专业人员，或转移到四年制课程，在那里他们可以获得中高级数据科学家职位所需的高级证书。 该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Businesses and organizations across all industry sectors are increasingly looking for ways to use data in their decision making. This shift to data-driven decision making is creating a growing workforce demand for Data Science and Analytics professionals. In a 2018 report, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that jobs in data science and analytics will grow 34% by 2026. However, thus far, very few two-year institutions offer data analytics programs that could prepare students for entry-level positions in data science and analytics. To create new pathways into data science and analytics careers, this project intends to establish a college credit-based certificate in data analytics. In concert with this goal, it also aims to increase the College’s capacity for high quality data science instruction and to broaden participation in data science, with a focus on inclusion of women. In addition to its potential to increase the capacity and quality of the data science workforce in New Jersey, the project may also provide a model for other institutions that are interested in building new data science programs. The major goal of the project is to develop a 15-credit data science certificate that integrates technology such as R, Tableau, Python, and SQL into the curriculum. Less than 20 community college-based data science programs appear to exist in the US, and this certificate is believed to be the first at any community college in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The curriculum will be informed by an industry advisory committee and implement national recommendations for data science education, including teaching statistics thinking, integrating real data with a context and a purpose, and using project-based learning. The project intends to recruit women into the field through collaboration with the College’s Women in STEM Club, R-Ladies Global, and faculty development. The resulting certification will prepare students to enter the workforce as data analytics professionals, or to transfer to four-year programs where they can acquire the advanced credentials needed for mid- to high-level data scientist positions. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.