Individuals currently working in the data science field and aspiring data scientists now have a new option for honing their skills in Big Data and staying current with the rapidly evolving data science field.

Individuals currently working in the data science field and aspiring data scientists now have a new option for honing their skills in Big Data and staying current with the rapidly evolving data science field. The San José State University (SJSU) School of Information (iSchool) is expanding its online certificate program options with a new Certificate in Big Data program.

The nine-unit program includes three required courses focusing on Big Data Technologies, Information Visualization, and Web and Data Mining. According to program coordinator and Assistant Professor Dr. Michelle Chen, the certificate program can help data scientists bridge data analysis and business needs. “Making sense of all the data we’re collecting is imperative. Businesses need talent skilled in managing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting abstract data to inform real-world business decisions,” said Chen.

The career of Data Scientist has received a lot of attention recently, garnering the best job in America in 2016 by Glassdoor, a job and recruiting site. A January 2016 article in Computer World referenced the Glassdoor job rankings, and noted “it’s become painfully clear that data scientists and analytics talent in general are in chronically short supply.”

The iSchool’s Certificate in Big Data program is designed to bring professionals, who have a background in computer science, computer engineering or information science, current with advances in data science. This is a particularly timely and important goal “given that many of the tools data scientists use today are rapidly evolving,” as stated in the Computer World article.

Delivered fully online in the iSchool’s award-winning online learning environment, each course has specific learning outcomes. For example, upon completion of the Web and Data Mining Course, students will be able to evaluate very large data processing using scalable machine learning tools such as MapReduce and Spark, among other important skills. 

The iSchool plans to launch the Certificate in Big Data program in fall 2016, and accept applications twice a year in the fall and spring going forward. Future students are encouraged to sign up on an interest list to be notified when applications open for admission. 

Although the certificate program is new to the iSchool, the subject of Big Data is not. The iSchool offers courses in Big Data Analytics and Management, Information Visualization, and Text and Data Mining for graduate students enrolled in its Master of Library and Information Science online degree program. Chen teaches the Information Visualization course, which covers visualization design principles, multivariate visual representations and visual analytics.

In 2013, SJSU developed an interdisciplinary initiative regarding Big Data, in which Chen is an active participant. Drawing on her own interdisciplinary background, Chen works with colleagues in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Management Information Systems, and Psychology (Human Factors) to develop curriculum and conduct research.