Data Science Certificate of Achievement

Data Science, with its many applications, is a field of study that draws heavily from the foundational concepts in statistics and machine learning and uses programming to explain or predict outcomes from data. Data Science principles and achievements are omnipresent, dynamic, and ever-changing. The curriculum offered in the Certificate of Achievement is Data Science is designed both for those who are preparing to transfer to a four-year university to complete their Bachelor’s in Data Science, Business Administration, Computer Science, Computer Network Systems Engineering, Hospitality Management, Mathematics, Political Science, Philosophy, or a related field as well those who are currently in the work force and would like to get the Certificate to validate skill building. To earn the Certificate of Achievement in Data Science, students must complete between 15 - 16 specified units.

Restrictions on number of students allowed per classroom due to social distancing required by COVID-19 protocols will limit students to only 15 per class for the 2021-2022 year, though it is unknown how long those protocols will be required.This will limit the number of students who complete the program in the first year to 15 or fewer.

Post COVID 19:

Given that there are over 20 students enrolled in CS M10DS, which is the new Introduction to Data Science course, and we are in the midst of a pandemic, it is reasonable to project that once we market the program, there will be at least 25 students annually eligible to earn this certificate, with a lot of potential for growth.

Data Science is the marriage of statistics and machine learning, with the goal of using data to explain or predict outcomes. Data Science does not just use concepts and tools from mathematics and computer science, but it is also important for the data scientist to be able to communicate effectively as well as being cognizant of any ethical issues that may arise during the data science process.

Data Science is among one the fastest growing fields that has many important skills that are necessary for success in today's marketplace such as statistics, programming, machine learning, "Big Data," and cloud-based tools.

The Certificate of Achievement in Data Science is designed to prepare students in one of two ways. First, it is designed to prepare students who are transferring in Mathematics, Computer Science/Computer Network Systems Engineering, Social Science, Hospitality Management, or Business Administration to have the ability to apply the fundamental concepts of Data Science to their majors. Second, it is also designed to teach Data Science skills to those who are currently in the workforce. In addition to three core courses in Computer Science and Mathematics that all of the Data Science COA students must take, each student chooses a particular emphasis. The Emphases are in Mathematics, Computer Science, Social Science, Hospitality Management, and Business Administration. Thus, the attainment of this certificate will certify that the students have successfully completed foundational Data Science course work via the core courses as well as the opportunity to apply these ideas to a particular areas of interest. This Certificate is truly a cross-curricular program that follows a Contextualized Teaching and Learning (CTL) model where the foundational academic leaning objects of the core courses are purposefully linked to concrete applications in the emphasis courses.

Recently a number of local universities have created Data Science majors and so we are in the process of creating an Associate’s in Science (AS) Degree in Data Science. While this new Data Science Associate’s degree will fill an important niche for our students at Moorpark College, other students will want to supplemental their major by getting the Data Science Certificate or for those that already have a degree, they will want to earn a Certificate to get the requisite skills to excel in the workforce. Ergo, the Certificate of Achievement in Data Science will serve as a formal recognition of the students’ achievements in completing a rigors Data Science curriculum. Additionally, this Certificate can also be viewed as a stepping stone to earning an AS in Data Science, once that degree is approved.

Students completing this certificate program will be well prepared to apply the methods of Data Science to their major fields and/or to their current job. Our CTE Program and the Career Transfer Center have connections with a number of local employers such as Naval Base Ventura County, Pharmaceuticals, and Insurance. That being said, smaller companies and firms also need the expertise of Data Scientists as we have determined when meeting with our Advisory Committee.

A unique aspect of the Data Science COA is that it combines a solid Data Science foundation for all of its students as well as allowing the students to choose a particular emphasis. This makes the program very flexible and lets students tailor the Certificate to their academic or professional needs. Given that this program uses the CTL model, this will guarantee that those that earn this Certificate will be able to use their theoretical knowledge of Data Science and apply it to real Data Science problems, whether they arise at a four year institution or on the job.

To earn the Certificate of Achievement in Data Science, students must complete between 15 - 16 specified units.

The Certificate of Achievement in Data Science directly supports the mission, vision, and values of Moorpark College. According to the mission statement: “Moorpark College empowers its diverse community of learners to complete their goals for academic transfer, basic skills, and career education.” The certificate has the twin goals of both helping students transfer and skill build, which is two of the three stated in the mission statement. The Data Science Certificate is also in alignment with three of our college’s vision statements where we promise to “help our students explore, identify, and expediently fulfill their transfer and career goals; prepare our students for fulfilling careers and promote economic and social mobility; and provide equitable, accessible and clearly mapped curriculum.” Furthermore, the curriculum offered in this certificate program also upholds the values of our college in terms of integrity, equity and success.

We will continue to update our Data Science curriculum to be sure that it is aligned with the curricular needs of our transfer institutions and that it also adequately addresses the emerging trends in the application of Data Science in the work force in order to be sure that our graduates have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information, knowledge, and skill sets.