What is data science?

Data science is an area of expertise focused on gaining information from data. Using programming skills, scientific methods, algorithms, and more, data scientists analyze data to form actionable insights.

How can I learn data science?

You’ll need to learn a programming language such as Python or R and master the principles of math and statistics. Knowledge of data analysis methods and data science tools is also essential. There are many ways to learn data science. As well as formal means of education, such as a degree or university study, there are plenty of other resources to help you learn at your own pace. As well as online courses and tutorials, there are books, videos, and more.

What skills are required for data science?

As well as knowledge of mathematics and statistics, data scientists need programming skills in languages such as Python, R, and SQL. Additionally, data science requires the ability to work with large data sets, knowledge of data visualization, data wrangling, and database management. Skills in machine learning and deep learning can also be useful.

What can I use data science for?

In a professional capacity, almost every industry can use data science to some degree. Healthcare organizations use data science to detect and cure diseases, while finance companies use it to detect and prevent fraud. All kinds of industries use data science for marketing, such as building recommendation systems and analyzing customer churn.

Is data science a good career?

Yes, data science is among the fastest-growing sectors in the US and worldwide. It’s also one of the best-paid careers out there. According to data from Payscale, experience data scientists earn an average of $97,609 and have a satisfaction rating of four stars out of five in the US.

Is it difficult to become a data scientist?

There are a few things to consider here. First, data science degrees can be competitive to get onto, often requiring consistently high grades. Similarly, many of the skills required for data science require a lot of study and patience. It can take several months to master all of the necessary basics, as well as a lot of practical experience to secure an entry-level position.

Does data science require coding?

Yes, you’ll need some coding experience in languages such as Python, R, SQL, Java, and C/C++. However, due to its relatively simple syntax, Python programming language is often the preferred choice among newcomers.

How long does it take to become a data scientist?

For a person with no prior coding experience and/or mathematical background, it can typically take 7 to 12 months of intensive studies to be at the level of an entry-level data scientist. However, it is important to remember that learning only the theoretical basis of data science may not make you a real data scientist.

What topics can I study within data science?

Once you’ve mastered the foundations of data science, you can then specialize in a variety of areas, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data analysis, business analytics and intelligence, data mining, and more.

Data, AI, and Cloud Courses | DataCamp

Data, AI, and Cloud Courses

Master skills that matter

Browse Courses

191 CoursesSee matching Projects

Course

Visualizing Time Series Data in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.6+
411

Visualize seasonality, trends and other patterns in your time series data.

Data Visualization

Course

Designing Machine Learning Workflows in Python

AdvancedSkill Level
4.4+
410

Learn to build pipelines that stand the test of time.

Machine Learning

Course

Monte Carlo Simulations in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.4+
406

Learn to design and run your own Monte Carlo simulations using Python!

Probability & Statistics

Course

Improving Your Data Visualizations in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
383

Learn to construct compelling and attractive visualizations that help communicate results efficiently and effectively.

Data Visualization

Course

Supply Chain Analytics in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
379

Leverage the power of Python and PuLP to optimize supply chains.

Exploratory Data Analysis

Course

Introduction to Network Analysis in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
374

This course will equip you with the skills to analyze, visualize, and make sense of networks using the NetworkX library.

Probability & Statistics

Course

Statistical Simulation in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.7+
365

Learn to solve increasingly complex problems using simulations to generate and analyze data.

Probability & Statistics

Course

Case Study: Building Software in Python

AdvancedSkill Level
4.6+
364

Build real-world applications with Python—practice using OOP and software engineering principles to write clean and maintainable code.

Software Development

Course

Python for Spreadsheet Users

BasicSkill Level
4.7+
361

Use your knowledge of common spreadsheet functions and techniques to explore Python!

Software Development

Course

Market Basket Analysis in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.6+
356

Explore association rules in market basket analysis with Python by bookstore data and creating movie recommendations.

Machine Learning

Course

Introduction to Python in Power BI

IntermediateSkill Level
4.6+
355

Learn how to use Python scripts in Power BI for data prep, visualizations, and calculating correlation coefficients.

Data Manipulation

Course

Intermediate Predictive Analytics in Python

BasicSkill Level
4.6+
354

Learn how to prepare and organize your data for predictive analytics.

Machine Learning

Course

Statistical Thinking in Python (Part 2)

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
347

Learn to perform the two key tasks in statistical inference: parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.

Probability & Statistics

Course

Analyzing Financial Statements in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.1+
343

Learn to analyze financial statements using Python. Compute ratios, assess financial health, handle missing values, and present your analysis.

Applied Finance

Course

Monitoring Machine Learning in Python

AdvancedSkill Level
4.6+
337

This course covers everything you need to know to build a basic machine learning monitoring system in Python

Machine Learning

Course

GARCH Models in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.7+
314

Learn about GARCH Models, how to implement them and calibrate them on financial data from stocks to foreign exchange.

Applied Finance

Course

Foundations of Inference in Python

AdvancedSkill Level
4.6+
299

Get hands-on experience making sound conclusions based on data in this four-hour course on statistical inference in Python.

Probability & Statistics

Course

Dealing with Missing Data in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
298

Learn how to identify, analyze, remove and impute missing data in Python.

Data Manipulation

Course

Practicing Machine Learning Interview Questions in Python

AdvancedSkill Level
4.4+
298

Sharpen your knowledge and prepare for your next interview by practicing Python machine learning interview questions.

Machine Learning

Course

Foundations of Probability in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.4+
291

Learn fundamental probability concepts like random variables, mean and variance, probability distributions, and conditional probabilities.

Probability & Statistics

Course

Customer Segmentation in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
286

Learn how to segment customers in Python.

Data Manipulation

Course

Customer Analytics and A/B Testing in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.2+
270

Learn how to use Python to create, run, and analyze A/B tests to make proactive business decisions.

Probability & Statistics

Course

Marketing Analytics: Predicting Customer Churn in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.6+
269

Learn how to use Python to analyze customer churn and build a model to predict it.

Exploratory Data Analysis

Course

Building Recommendation Engines in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
256

Learn to build recommendation engines in Python using machine learning techniques.

Machine Learning

Course

Analyzing IoT Data in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.6+
237

Learn how to import, clean and manipulate IoT data in Python to make it ready for machine learning.

Data Manipulation

Course

Machine Learning for Marketing in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.5+
235

From customer lifetime value, predicting churn to segmentation - learn and implement Machine Learning use cases for Marketing in Python.

Machine Learning

Course

Working with DeepSeek in Python

BasicSkill Level
4.4+
231

Discover what all of the DeepSeek hype was really about! Build applications using DeepSeeks R1 and V3 models.

Artificial Intelligence

Course

Analyzing US Census Data in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.4+
223

Learn to use the Census API to work with demographic and socioeconomic data.

Exploratory Data Analysis

Course

Analyzing Social Media Data in Python

IntermediateSkill Level
4.2+
211

In this course, youll learn how to collect Twitter data and analyze Twitter text, networks, and geographical origin.

Data Manipulation

Course

Python for R Users

IntermediateSkill Level
4.7+
199

This course is for R users who want to get up to speed with Python!

Software Development

Browse Courses

Visualizing Time Series Data in Python

Designing Machine Learning Workflows in Python

Monte Carlo Simulations in Python

Improving Your Data Visualizations in Python

Supply Chain Analytics in Python

Introduction to Network Analysis in Python

Statistical Simulation in Python

Case Study: Building Software in Python

Python for Spreadsheet Users

Market Basket Analysis in Python

Introduction to Python in Power BI

Intermediate Predictive Analytics in Python

Statistical Thinking in Python (Part 2)

Analyzing Financial Statements in Python

Monitoring Machine Learning in Python

GARCH Models in Python

Foundations of Inference in Python

Dealing with Missing Data in Python

Practicing Machine Learning Interview Questions in Python

Foundations of Probability in Python

Customer Segmentation in Python

Customer Analytics and A/B Testing in Python

Marketing Analytics: Predicting Customer Churn in Python

Building Recommendation Engines in Python

Analyzing IoT Data in Python

Machine Learning for Marketing in Python

Working with DeepSeek in Python

Analyzing US Census Data in Python

Analyzing Social Media Data in Python

Python for R Users

FAQs

How can I learn data science?

What skills are required for data science?

What can I use data science for?

Is data science a good career?

Is it difficult to become a data scientist?

Does data science require coding?

How long does it take to become a data scientist?

What topics can I study within data science?