Data Science Certificate of Achievement

The Certificate of Achievement in Data Science Associate is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills required for a variety of entry level positions in the field of Data Science. This program is at a higher technical level than the Data Analysis CA, and those completing would be entering analyst/engineers’ jobs in Data Analytics and Data Science area. The program includes foundation courses in data analysis, data visualization and machine learning. Career/Transfer Opportunities Career opportunities include the following: Computer System Analyst, Data Analyst, Database Architects, Data Scientist,  Research Analysts.

Of the 5 core courses, here are the estimated enrollments.

CIS007, 10 sections per year, total enrollment: 300

CIS051, 4 sections per year, total enrollment: 100

CIS052, 1-2 sections per year, total enrollment: 20-50

CIS053, 2 sections per year, total enrollment: 50

Some of the students in these classes are transfer bound or may seek other certificate or degrees.  Estimated number of Certificate of Achievement in Data Science Associate awarded annually is: 20

The Certificate of Achievement in Data Science Associate is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills required for a variety of entry level positions in the field of Data Science. The program includes foundation courses in data analysis, data visualization and machine learning.

The Mission College Certificate of Achievement in Data Science consists of 5 core courses totaling 20 Units of credit. The student will study Python, an Introductory course in Data Analysis, Data Visualization, and Introductory Course in Machine Learning, and a capstone course providing the Foundations of Data Science.    

This certificate will not compete with other degrees or programs at our college.  Some of the courses are transferrable to UC and CSU. 

This certificate is an interdisciplinary certificate with courses from Math and CSIT departments. This certificate will provide students with the technical skills needed in an entry level position in the field of Data Science.

This program is separate from the Data Analysis program, which is a certificate at a lower technical level, for entry level jobs primarily data technicians in data analysis area and was created primarily for the students in the year-up program (Though it is open for all students)

Data Science is at a higher technical level, for analyst/engineers’ jobs in Data Analytics and Data Science area.

Most community colleges in the bay area and around California offer certificate programs in different focused areas of Computer Information Systems. Data Science is an emergent area and the market demands are high.  According to LMI report from Centers of Excellence (attached), "Based on all available data, there appears to be an “undersupply” of Data Analytics workers compared to the demand for this cluster of occupations in the Bay region. There is a projected annual gap of about 3,556 students in the Bay region.  Several colleges in area are considering programs in "Data Analysis" or "Data Science" programs. To our knowledge there will be no issue of overlap within our region due to high market demand.

And to our knowledge, no other college in the Service Area has a similar program at this time. Collaboration on programs like this has been discussed during the Silicon Valley Subregional Meetings where we were just awarded received a Strengthening Community Colleges Grant with 5 colleges participating: Mission, Evergreen Valley, De Anza, Foothill, and Ohlone. We have every expectation that the growing and/or emerging fields of Data Science. Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual/Augmented Reality will figure prominently in our work with this grant. Randy Bryant, Angel Fuentes, Chris Allen, Rose -Margaret Itua, and myself will find this Certificate of Achievement a foundational piece of our collaborative work.