Start Your Data Scientist Career

Data scientists collect, analyze, and decipher data to identify insights that help organizations improve their decision making. Learn how to get started in this high-paying, in-demand profession* with these entry-level data science resources.

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Data scientist presents her findings in a meeting
Status: Featured

What Is a Data Scientist? Salary, Skills, and How to Become One

A data scientist uses data to understand and explain the phenomena around them. With the deluge of big data in our increasingly digital world, data scientists often help organisations make better decisions.

February 8, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A data scientist wearing glasses and a striped shirt working in front of several computer monitors.
Status: Featured

How to Become an Data Scientist Without a Degree

Learn about how to become a data scientist without a degree, including ways to develop the necessary skills and other important steps to take.

April 2, 2024

Article

[Video Thumbnail] 7 Must-Have Data Science Skills
Status: Featured

7 Must-Have Skills for Becoming a Data Scientist [VIDEO]

Dreaming of a career in data science? It's a hot field with high demand and even higher salaries, but it requires a unique blend of technical expertise and soft skills.

January 23, 2025

Article

[Featured Image] Two data scientists work together on a desktop computer.

Data Science in Business Guide: Benefits, Uses, and More

Explore the benefits of using data science in business. Learn about certifications you can achieve in data science and how to apply them to your business.

November 7, 2022

Article

[Featured image] Data scientist displays charts and graphs that visually represent data on a computer screen

7 Skills Every Data Scientist Should Have

The essential skills that you should have if you’re thinking about a career as a data scientist.

October 20, 2022

Article

[FEATURED IMAGE] Two data science professionals perform their data science jobs, looking at a desktop computer in an office.

Data Science Jobs: Resources and Career Guide

Learn about jobs in data science and find resources for your next career move.

July 22, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] Two data scientists work together on a desktop computer.

Data Science in Business Guide: Benefits, Uses, and More

Explore the benefits of using data science in business. Learn about certifications you can achieve in data science and how to apply them to your business.

November 7, 2022

Article

[Featured image] Data scientist displays charts and graphs that visually represent data on a computer screen

7 Skills Every Data Scientist Should Have

The essential skills that you should have if you’re thinking about a career as a data scientist.

October 20, 2022

Article

Build foundational data science skills

Status: AI skills

IBM

Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, SQL, Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Jupyter, Data Literacy, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Mining, Data Cleansing, Matplotlib, Data Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Pandas (Python Package), Professional Networking

Build toward a degree

4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
142K reviews

Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

IBM

Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Automation, Web Scraping, Python Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Import/Export, Scripting, Data Structures, Data Processing, Data Collection, Application Programming Interface (API), Pandas (Python Package), Programming Principles, NumPy, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming

4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
41K reviews

Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Microsoft

Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Presentation, Power BI, Data Ethics, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Modeling, Data Governance, Extract, Transform, Load, Interactive Data Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Data Architecture, Correlation Analysis, Data Cleansing, Data Transformation, Database Design, Statistical Visualization

4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
59 reviews

Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

[Featured Image] A data scientist degree student studies on a laptop.

8 Jobs You Can Get with a Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science

There are many opportunities worth exploring once you’ve graduated with your bachelor’s degree in data science.

June 30, 2022

Article

[Feature image] Person examining data on two separate devices.

Data Science vs. Machine Learning: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between data science and machine learning? Which potential career path is right for you? Find out more here.

June 6, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A woman sits at a computer and does some work for her data science internship.

How to Land a Data Science Internship: Your 2025 Guide

You can gain professional experience with a data science internship. Learn more about what you can do to find one with this guide.

April 28, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A data science student in a blue shirt and holding goggles works on a computer.

Data Science Major: What You Need to Know Before Declaring

The rise of big data has created more demand for data science careers and degrees. If you’re considering a data science major, find out what you need to know before declaring.

April 26, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A man and woman discuss data on a chart.

What Is Statistical Modeling?

Statistical modeling is like a formal depiction of a theory. It is typically described as the mathematical relationship between random and non-random variables.

April 25, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A man works on a laptop at an office table.

What Is Data Wrangling? Definition, Steps, and Why It Matters

Data wrangling is an important piece of the data analysis process. Learn what it is and why it matters.

March 8, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A woman works at a computer.

How to Choose a Data Science Boot Camp

A data science boot camp is an intensive and immersive program designed to prepare you for a job in the field of data science. Some programs take only a few months, and they can help you prepare for some of the most in-demand jobs in the US.

February 22, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A man stands outside a building holding a to-go coffee and listening to a podcast on his phone.

17 Data Science Podcasts to Listen to in 2025

Find your next data science listen from this list of current podcasts.

June 30, 2021

Article

[Featured image] A data analyst wearing a yellow tank top and eyeglasses sits in front of a laptop in an office writing a statistical analysis program.

Python or R for Data Analysis: Which Should You Learn?

Is it better to learn R or Python for a career as a data analyst? Learn more about how to choose the best statistical programming language for your career goals.

April 16, 2021

Article

[FEATURED IMAGE] Two data science professionals perform their data science jobs, looking at a desktop computer in an office.

Data Science Jobs: Resources and Career Guide

Learn about jobs in data science and find resources for your next career move.

July 22, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A data scientist degree student studies on a laptop.

8 Jobs You Can Get with a Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science

There are many opportunities worth exploring once you’ve graduated with your bachelor’s degree in data science.

June 30, 2022

Article

[Feature image] Person examining data on two separate devices.

Data Science vs. Machine Learning: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between data science and machine learning? Which potential career path is right for you? Find out more here.

June 6, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A woman sits at a computer and does some work for her data science internship.

How to Land a Data Science Internship: Your 2025 Guide

You can gain professional experience with a data science internship. Learn more about what you can do to find one with this guide.

April 28, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A data science student in a blue shirt and holding goggles works on a computer.

Data Science Major: What You Need to Know Before Declaring

The rise of big data has created more demand for data science careers and degrees. If you’re considering a data science major, find out what you need to know before declaring.

April 26, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A man and woman discuss data on a chart.

What Is Statistical Modeling?

Statistical modeling is like a formal depiction of a theory. It is typically described as the mathematical relationship between random and non-random variables.

April 25, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A man works on a laptop at an office table.

What Is Data Wrangling? Definition, Steps, and Why It Matters

Data wrangling is an important piece of the data analysis process. Learn what it is and why it matters.

March 8, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A woman works at a computer.

How to Choose a Data Science Boot Camp

A data science boot camp is an intensive and immersive program designed to prepare you for a job in the field of data science. Some programs take only a few months, and they can help you prepare for some of the most in-demand jobs in the US.

February 22, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A man stands outside a building holding a to-go coffee and listening to a podcast on his phone.

17 Data Science Podcasts to Listen to in 2025

Find your next data science listen from this list of current podcasts.

June 30, 2021

Article

[Featured image] A data analyst wearing a yellow tank top and eyeglasses sits in front of a laptop in an office writing a statistical analysis program.

Python or R for Data Analysis: Which Should You Learn?

Is it better to learn R or Python for a career as a data analyst? Learn more about how to choose the best statistical programming language for your career goals.

April 16, 2021

Article

Data scientists use a variety of techniques – from straightforward statistics to cutting-edge machine learning – to answer novel questions and equip organizations with actionable insights that improve their decision-making. As a data scientist, you’ll use your knowledge of data concepts, tools, and structures to pose original research questions, build high-quality data sets, uncover trends and patterns, and communicate your insights to key stakeholders.

Learn more about Coursera and discover additional resources you can use to build foundational data science skills and expand your understanding of this fast-growing, in-demand* field: 

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*US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Data Scientists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm.” Accessed February 2, 2024.