BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing has announced a new online program in data science. The program, which will launch in January, is designed to lead to a Certificate in Data Science that is anticipated to be available by spring, pending approvals by the Indiana University Board of Trustees and Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

“We’re excited to launch one of the first and broadest online data science programs in the nation,” Dean Bobby Schnabel said. “The breadth of the School of Informatics and Computing -- with faculty expertise in computer science, informatics and information/library science -- is ideally suited to creating a successful program in this burgeoning area.”

The program will teach concepts and skills essential for success in this rapidly emerging field: data collection, data management and infrastructure, data analysis, and data visualization. Three-credit courses available in the 12-credit certificate program include:

• Big Data Applications and Analytics
• Cloud Computing for Data Intensive Sciences
• Information Visualization
• Big Data in Drug Discovery, Health and Translational Medicine
• Data Management: Volume, Variety, Velocity, Veracity
• Big Data Software Tools and Project
• Big Data Analysis for Web and Text
• High-Performance Computing

Dean Bobby Schnabel.Photo courtesy of Indiana UniversityThe program provides maximum flexibility for students, who can choose courses based on their interest area and career needs, as well as complete the courses at their own pace. The first four courses will be available for enrollment in January; the rest will be available by August.

“We’ve worked hard to make the program affordable for students, with total fees for the full certificate initially set at approximately $4,500. We feel it provides great value, particularly given the wide range of opportunities in this area,” said Howard Rosenbaum, associate dean for graduate studies and Data Science Program co-director.

The program responds to a high need by employers. According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, by 2018 the U.S. alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills, as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of big data to make effective decisions. Examples of jobs in this field include big data analyst, data solutions architect, and director of data science and analytics.

“Big data can provide a unique competitive advantage to organizations across a range of areas, including tech companies, health care organizations, government and defense, manufacturers and retailers,” said Geoffrey Fox, associate dean for research and co-director of the Data Science Program. “It will take people skilled in data science for those organizations to realize that competitive advantage. We’re pleased to provide an opportunity for individuals to develop these skills in an online environment.”