CCM Launches Data Science Certificate Program -- Fast Growing Job Sector
Published on April 14, 2020
Receives National Science Foundation Grant to Support Program
County College of Morris has received a $235,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support the launch of its new Data Science Certificate Program, which is geared towards growing employment opportunities for data scientists.
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor's 2018 projections indicate data science analytic jobs -- which involve managing, analyzing and interpreting large sets of data -- will grow by 34 percent by 2026, much faster than the average for most other industries.
The CCM Data Analytics Certificate will consist of five courses for a total of 15 credits that could be completed over the course of two semesters. Students will learn R, Tableau, Python and SQL. The first course, Introduction to Data Science, will be offered this fall.
Kelly Fitzpatrick, assistant professor of mathematics at CCM, is spearheading this initiative to provide a pathway to data science careers for Morris County residents. Prior to teaching at CCM, Fitzpatrick worked in hedge fund management with Trigon Investment Advisors. Other experience includes derivatives and equity strategy at MLC International and global risk management at Lehman Brothers.
Businesses across all industry sectors, small and large, are looking for ways to leverage the era of big-data to make strategic, marketing, sales and other operational decisions, said Fitzpatrick. This grant is a fantastic opportunity to offer students cutting-edge courses for in-demand careers and for the college to be recognized at the national level for advancement in data science education.
The NSF grant includes funding to support the Women in STEM club at the college, networking and supplemental learning activities for students in the program, and professional development opportunities for faculty.
Individuals interested in the program, first must apply to the college. Applications can be submitted online at www.ccm.edu/admissions/.