How to Become a Data Scientist
You likely experience the work of a data scientist every day without even realizing it. The recommendations section on Netflix or Amazon? Thank a data scientist. The “friend suggestions” and content on social media? Also possible because of a data scientist. It’s one of the fastest-growing fields in today’s digital world. If you’re asking yourself how to become a data scientist, you’re in the right place.
In essence, a data scientist takes large amounts of data and interprets it so businesses can make data-driven decisions. These decisions solve real-world problems, forecast trends, and help companies make smarter choices. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, finance, or tech, there’s never been a better time to get started.
At UT San Antonio Online, you can rest easy knowing you’re getting a great education with our 100% online Graduate Certificate in Data Science. As a STEM program, Data Science is now in UT San Antonio’s innovative new College of AI, Cyber and Computing (CAIIC – pronounced CAKE). And as a UT San Antonio Online student, you’ll learn from the same experienced faculty who teach in-person students at CAIIC.
Now, are you ready to learn how to become a data scientist? In this blog, we’ll walk through what a data scientist does. We’ll also break down how this role differs from a data analyst and outline the key steps to help you grow into a data science career. And of course, we’ll show you how UT San Antonio Online’s flexible, fully online program can support you every step of the way.
What Does a Data Scientist Do Exactly?
Do you like numbers and problem solving? As a data scientist, you’ll use data to understand and explain the world around you. You’ll help organizations make better decisions, which means your expertise will be highly valuable in today’s data-driven job market.
Whether you’re improving customer experiences or helping a company make smarter decisions, your work will have a direct impact. Here are a few examples of what you can expect to do as a data scientist and how UT San Antonio Online’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science will help you get there.
What you’ll do: Use machine learning techniques to improve data quality and product offerings.
How UT San Antonio Online will help prepare you: Practice building predictive models and understanding AI fundamentals through course projects.
What you’ll do: Find patterns and trends in datasets to uncover insights.
How UT San Antonio Online will help prepare you: Learn how to explore and interpret data using Python, R, and statistical techniques taught in the program.
What you’ll do: Communicate recommendations to teams and leadership.
How UT San Antonio Online will help prepare you: You’ll develop your storytelling and data visualization skills using tools like pandas, matplotlib, seaborn; you’ll also build interactive dashboards with bokeh and streamlit. Additionally, you’ll get hands-on experience with PyTorch for deep learning and scikit-learn for machine learning, giving you a strong foundation in the tools used across the industry.
If you want to make a real impact on the world, being a data scientist may be the right fit. Imagine helping reduce hospital readmission rates, optimizing supply chains, or improving customer satisfaction scores in retail. The possibilities are endless. Are you ready to make a difference?
Data Scientist vs. Data Analyst
You may also be wondering “what’s the difference between a data scientist and a data analyst? Aren’t they the same?” It’s a common question, and a fair one. Both roles work with data and are very in-demand right now, but there are key differences.
What is a Data Analyst?
A data analyst examines data that already exists to discover trends and answer specific questions. For example, they might look at last quarter’s sales to figure out which product performed best. Their job is to explain what happened and why.
What is a Data Scientist?
As a data scientist, you’ll go a step further. You’ll use programming, statistics, and machine learning to build models that predict future outcomes. It’ll be your job to predict what customers are likely to buy next or how a marketing campaign may perform.
Difference in a Data Analyst and a Data Scientist
Let’s illustrate the differences between the two positions:
| Task | Data Analyst | Data Scientist |
| Collect and clean data | ✅ | ✅ |
| Analyze trends | ✅ | ✅ |
| Communicate insights | ✅ | ✅ |
| Build predictive models | ❌ | ✅ |
| Use machine learning | ❌ | ✅ |
| Develop algorithms | ❌ | ✅ |
It isn’t uncommon for a data analyst to move into a data scientist role as they grow in their technical skills. If you already work in analytics, you might be closer to a data science role than you think. And if you’re just getting started, that’s okay too. Everyone begins somewhere.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills or advance your career, UT San Antonio offers a range of programs to support your journey. And if you’re looking for flexibility, our 100% online Graduate Certificate in Data Science is designed to help you build the technical foundation you need to move into data science.
Steps to Becoming a Data Scientist
Ok, now you’re ready to take the leap and become a data scientist. Where do you even start? It doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right education, skills, and support, you can build the life you deserve.
This section will walk you through some key information so you can build a strong foundation and confidently walk down this exciting path.
Educational Requirements
You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree to break into data science. Our fully online graduate certificate is a great first step. You’ll blend theory and hands-on technical work, building real-world skills that will be useful in your career. And if you decide you’d like a master’s degree, we have you covered. You can apply this certificate to our 100% online Multidisciplinary Studies master’s or in-person MS in Artificial Intelligence.
To enroll in UT San Antonio Online’s program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. That’s it. Prior experience in data science isn’t required. You’ll learn from expert faculty who have worked in the field of data science. They know what it’s like to start and advance in the field.
Our program is hands-on and career focused. We also review our course offerings regularly so we can update them as needed. In fact, we recently added Generative Artificial Intelligence as an optional class. Gain hands-on experience with APIs, hosting models, and prompt engineering to understand and apply AI tools effectively. You’ll explore key concepts like tokenization, context windows, and embeddings to understand how powerful language models process information.
Skill Requirements
As a data scientist, there are a few technical skills you’ll need. Don’t worry, though. We don’t assume you have these skills yet, so you won’t need experience for UT San Antonio’s 100% online Data Science Graduate Certificate.
Here are some skills you’ll learn in our program:
- Programming: Python, R, and SQL are staples.
- Statistics and Analysis: Learn how to interpret data and apply statistical models.
- Data Visualization: Use tools like Tableau and Excel to present findings.
- Machine Learning: Get introduced to libraries like Scikit-Learn and TensorFlow.
- Generative AI: Word embeddings, latent spaces, language models, finetuning, etc.
Knowing technical skills is important, but you’ll also need to have some soft skills. You’ll grow in your abilities to problem-solve, use critical thinking, and communicate during your courses.
At UT San Antonio Online, you’ll learn all these technical skills, the soft skills, and more.
Gaining Practical Experience
Hands-on experience is crucial. While all your classes will be fully online, you’ll still have immersive projects that help you gain experience.
During your program, you’ll experience:
- Course projects that simulate real-world challenges
- Internship support via UT San Antonio Career Services
- Free Coursera access that allows UT San Antonio students and alumni to explore additional courses and microcredentials
You can also build your portfolio by contributing to open-source projects or tackling personal data challenges. For example, you might analyze public health data, explore environmental trends, or build a predictive model to estimate energy usage in your home.
Networking and Professional Development
You probably know this, but networking opens doors, especially in a field like data science. When you join UT San Antonio, you’ll be part of a huge network of faculty, peers, and data science industry leaders.
The faculty – they’re experts in the field. Your peers? They share your goals and can help encourage you along the way. And the industry leaders can help guide you in your chosen career path.
Whether you’re attending virtual events or participating in online discussions, you’ll be part of a growing community focused on innovation and impact. Through these connections, you may land mentorships, internships, or full-time job opportunities.
You’ll also gain key insights into the latest trends, which is an important part of staying competitive and confident along your journey.
Careers in Data Science
If you’re looking for a field where you can make an impact and have a bright future, data science may be a good fit. In 2024, the median pay was upwards of $112,000 per year. The field is expected to surge over the next several years, too. The projected growth rate is 36%, or about 73,000 new jobs between 2023-2033. For comparison, the average growth rate for all occupations is 4%.
As a data scientist, you can work in nearly any industry. For example:
- Healthcare: Predict patient outcomes, optimize treatment plans
- Finance: Detect fraud, assess risk
- E-commerce: Personalize shopping experiences
- Technology: Improve AI and machine learning models
- Manufacturing: Streamline production processes, reduce waste, and improve quality control
- Quality Assurance (QA): Identify defects early, enhance product reliability, and support continuous improvement
Here are some sample job titles, as well as how UT San Antonio Online will prepare you for those roles:
- Machine Learning Engineer: Get introduced to ML concepts and tools
- Data Scientist: Build predictive models, apply machine learning, and turn complex data into actionable insights.
- Business Intelligence Analyst: Use data to guide strategic decisions
As you can see, the data science field has strong salaries and rapid job growth. You have the opportunity to enjoy stability and opportunity. And with the demand spanning nearly every industry, you’ll have the flexibility to work in a field that aligns with your interests.
How UT San Antonio Online Can Help You Get Started
At UT San Antonio Online, we want you to feel confident to step into this field with the skills you’ve built.
Let’s recap how you can become a data scientist:
- Get the right education – start with UT San Antonio Online’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science.
- Build technical and soft skills – from Python to communication.
- Gain hands-on experience – through projects, internships, and Coursera.
- Network and grow professionally – with contacts you make in classes and at industry events.
Are you ready to turn your curiosity into a career? With the right skills and support, you can help shape the future through data.
Our flexible, 100% online Graduate Certificate in Data Science is your launchpad. Apply today and take the first step toward a career that’s innovative and built for the future.
Pursue a Data Science Certificate at UT San Antonio Online
Earning a Data Science Certificate provides foundational skills for a fulfilling career in a rapidly growing, diverse field. Whether you have a prior background in data science or are new to the industry, a Data Science Certificate can be a great option for expanding your career options and professional growth.
Contact us today to learn more about our Data Science Graduate Certificate program. If you are interested in pursuing a Data Science Certificate, contact the UT San Antonio Online Graduate Enrollment team at 210-458-4400 or [email protected].
