In our increasingly data-driven society, well-equipped data scientists are in growing demand. A degree in data science can open the door to a variety of careers across many desirable industries, places where analytical abilities, mathematical modeling, and computation skills are valued assets. PLNU data science alumni have found success in the workforce through opportunities including actuarial work at Fidelity Investments, model building at SPAWAR, research at General Atomic, and cryptography at the NSA, just to name a few. Other alumni have gone on to graduate programs in mathematics and statistics.
A Bachelor of Science in Data Science can lead to careers in:
- Actuarial science
- Bioinformatics
- Business analytics
- Climate modeling
- Cryptography
- Data analysis
- Data mining
- Decision science
- Economics
- Financial planning
- Fraud detection
- Information security
Why is data science a good choice for a major?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for data science skills will drive a 27.9% rise in employment through 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.
“Along with what I learned through my coursework, being able to closely communicate with my professors proved to be critical in shaping my career path as an actuary. I know I wouldn’t be where I am at today without their help and guidance!"
Griffin Aseltine, Class of 2019
Actuary
The following are examples of positions people with degrees in data science may hold:
Actuary
2020 Median annual salary $111,030
Actuaries’ main responsibility would be to complete complex calculations in order to determine the likelihood of various outcomes related to accidents, illnesses, consumer demand, and investments for an organization or individual employer. Actuaries typically utilize specialized computer software in order to complete their work. They often generate tables, graphs, and reports regarding their findings which are later presented to upper management to help aid their organization’s success.
Data Scientist
2020 Median annual salary $95,000
Data scientists’ main responsibility is to find and organize clean and safe data for companies or individual employers. Data scientists analyze large amounts of complex raw and processed information and then find patterns in said data that will increase their organization’s success rates and help drive strategic business decisions.
Data Analyst
2020 Median annual salary $66,906
Data analysts’ main job is to transform and manipulate large data sets into the form that works best for specific companies or individual employers. Oftentimes, data analysts are also responsible for tracking web analytics and analyzing A/B testing. Data analysts aid in an organization’s decision-making process by creating reports for upper management that effectively and efficiently communicate the trends and insights of their analysis.
Data science as a promising future:
As the world of technology continues to develop at an incredible pace, individuals who have the analytical skills needed to draw conclusions from data will be fiercely desired by any employer. If you’re passionate about mathematics and data analysis, majoring in data science at PLNU will prepare you for a promising future on any path you end up taking.
For more information about careers in data science, please visit:
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