Data drives our modern economy and has an outsized impact on everything we do. In the age of big data, every online search or transaction contributes to large-scale insights that drive decision-making at the executive level.
Data analytics helps ensure this data is properly inspected and modeled to produce high-level insights that are both accurate and actionable. This field is full of potential, but the nuances of data can be difficult to understand. Therein lies the value of the targeted training a data analytics certificate program can provide.
In this guide, we will reveal the value of a data analytics certificate while helping you answer the question: Is a data analytics certificate worth it? Keep reading to discover what a data analytics certificate program involves and which career opportunities are available to graduates.
What Are Data Analytics Certificates?
A data analytics certificate represents the culmination of a targeted graduate-level program that helps ambitious professionals develop in-demand skills such as prescriptive analytics, data mining and big data management. A data analytics certificate can be earned alongside a Master of Business Administration (MBA), delivering a well-rounded approach to skill development, plus many opportunities to apply data-driven concepts in a business environment.
Spanning four courses and a total of twelve credits, UTC’s data analytics certificate is designed to be completed in at little as two semesters as a part-time graduate student. No matter the timeline, this program produces powerful insights into the expanded role of big data in the modern economy, plus an important toolset for navigating and properly utilizing huge volumes of data in many settings and situations.
Is a Data Analytics Certificate Worth It?
A data analytics certificate program can be valuable in a variety of contexts, which may extend beyond the reach of aspiring data analysts alone. Simply put, analytics skills are highly valued throughout today’s data-driven world, and professionals equipped with these skills are better able to leverage insights to produce impressive results in their field of choice.
A certificate is by no means the only option available for developing data analytics skills, but it’s certainly worth considering. Some students prefer to take a deeper dive via a Master of Science in Data Analytics (MSDA), but others can benefit more from strategically integrating data analytics skills with business acumen. Upon completion of the certificate, students can apply to UTC’s MSDA program to continue their analytics studies and potentially use up to 100% of their certificate coursework towards MSDA curriculum requirements. As a result, these certificate graduates could start the MSDA program with 1/3 of the required MSDA coursework already completed.
If you want to build a broad-based skill set that includes not only data analytics but also a variety of technical and leadership concepts, the combination of a data analytics certificate and an MBA may be ideal. Such a combination will provide a powerful overview of the most relevant data analytics topics and reveal how you can apply data strategies in the business world. To that end, we’ve highlighted a few of the most compelling advantages of pursuing a data analytics online certificate:
Enhanced Employability
From project management to healthcare and even small business ownership, the importance of understanding and analyzing big data cannot be overstated. Experts from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) point to data analysis as one of today’s most in-demand skills from the perspective of top recruiters.
These days, employers expect that job candidates will understand not only how to gather and disseminate data but also how to convey their findings in a way that drives connection and innovation. As such, GMAC experts reveal that, in addition to data analysis, recruiters demonstrate a strong preference for job candidates with advanced communication and strategy skills.
A data analytics certificate is important because it delivers the skills employers find compelling and it demonstrates that these skills have been mastered. This certificate can deliver a significant resume boost, especially if accompanied by a highly respected MBA.
Skill Development
A data analytics certificate requires months or even years of hard work. Along the way, you will develop many technical skills, including several of the most cutting-edge competencies that will be required of tomorrow’s top data analysts.
These skills are not easily acquired through self-study; it takes considerable guidance and support to master data mining algorithms predictive modeling, for example. A data analytics certificate provides a reliable blueprint for obtaining these critical skills and applying them through a variety of hands-on learning experiences.
Career Advancement
The fields of data analytics and data science provide plenty of opportunities for advancement, and while some professionals are perfectly happy to maintain the title of “data analyst” for the long run, others may aspire to eventually take on senior roles or management positions. Both should be within reach upon studying at the graduate level, particularly when a data analytics certificate complements a management-oriented degree like an MBA.
A variety of mid-level and executive opportunities blend management and data analytics to great effect. Examples include:
- Data manager
- Data program manager
- IT project manager
- Chief data officer (CDO)
- Chief information officer (CIO)
Many data analytics professionals also move into consulting roles, allowing them to draw on their wealth of data analytics experience as they bring new perspectives to a variety of stakeholders.
Increased Earning Potential
Data analysts and data scientists command strong wages. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) insights reveal that, as of 2022, data scientists earned median wages exceeding six figures per year, with those specializing in “scientific research and development services” reaching median annual wages of $118,620. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum barrier to entry, but graduate credentials can further extend the field’s already impressive earning potential.
Job Security
If any field provides the potential for exceptional job security, it’s data analytics. After all, skilled data analysts are in high demand across all sectors. The strong earning potential highlighted above is a result of this incredible demand, as employers are willing to pay top dollar to ensure they have the best and brightest analytics professionals in their corner.
It stands to reason that employers will make a concerted effort to support and nurture talented analysts to keep them around for the long run. This expectation is backed by insights from the BLS, which reveals an impressive job outlook between 2022 and 2032 of 35 percent. This greatly exceeds the growth rate of just 3 percent expected across all occupations.
7 Careers in Data Analytics
Another key benefit of data analytics? Versatility. While many data analytics certificate graduates go on to find wonderful jobs as data analysts, this is by no means the only type of job available. Below, we’ve highlighted several data analytics careers worth considering:
1. Data Analyst
The modern data analyst or data scientist takes on many responsibilities, but above all else, they are expected to collect, process and disseminate sizable data sets. Data analytics professionals rely on various advanced tools and systems to extract data, with resulting insights then communicated to relevant stakeholders. Attention to detail is an absolute must in this field, but data analysts must also possess technical skills such as data warehousing and statistical analysis.
2. Business Analyst
Similar in many respects to data analytics, business analytics focuses on the practical applications of data, including the business-oriented insights it can produce. Business analytics typically involves a greater focus on corporate performance and efficiency-boosting measures, especially as compared to the more general field of data analytics. According to CIO, this role bridges the gap between IT and business. Essential skills include forecasting and variance analysis.
3. Marketing Analyst
Data drives today’s most noteworthy marketing strategies, and although there remains a strong need for creativity and human connection, data can help marketing teams determine when that connection is lacking or what can be done to overcome marketing deficits. These analysts draw on many sources of data, such as consumer surveys and social media metrics. As they synthesize this data, they can make recommendations to marketing teams and executives.
4. Financial Analyst
Tasked with guiding organizations or individuals as they make key investment decisions, financial analysts command high salaries and enjoy ample opportunities for career growth. This role calls for well-developed quantitative skills, including data analytics capabilities along with general accounting skills such as cost analysis and bank statement reconciliation. Financial analysts work closely with current and historical data but must also possess a thorough understanding of market trends.
5. Healthcare Analyst
The modern healthcare system produces vast amounts of clinical data. With the right analytics strategies, this data can be used to produce better medical outcomes and improved patient satisfaction while also cutting costs. Healthcare analysts help hospitals, clinics and other medical practices make the most of clinical data, often applying insights to specific healthcare concerns such as hospital-acquired infections or patient readmission.
6. Customer Insights Analyst
Success in modern branding and marketing largely depends on how well organizations understand and cater to their core market. This begins with gathering insights about target customers. From surveys to sales trends, many data sources can be used to uncover important trends and patterns which, in turn, may contribute to future branding efforts. Consumer insights analysis can overlap significantly with marketing analytics but with a greater emphasis on the big picture and the overarching vision of the organization.
7. Accounting Analytics Specialist
Accounting analytics exists at the intersection of accounting and data analytics. While these practices often complement one another in standard accounting or data analytics roles, accounting analytics specialists bring a more focused approach to analyzing financial statements. This role involves not only the interpretation of accounting data but also the strategic presentation of such information to executives and other stakeholders.
Can I Get a Job with a Data Analytics Certificate?
If you feel drawn to the career opportunities highlighted above, you will be pleased to discover that a data analytics certificate gives you both the resume boost and the targeted skills you need to succeed in many compelling fields. UTC’s data analytics certificate is a great option; paired with an MBA, this program will help you develop the technical and leadership skills that today’s top employers demand. Reach out today to learn more or to get started with the admissions process.
