The lead data scientist, head of data science, and actuary at Distinguished Programs in New York City, Perry Beaumont, PhD, has been involved in the finance and technology fields for more than two decades. Beyond his work at Distinguished Programs, Dr. Perry Beaumont teaches at Columbia University.
Data science is a complex field that involves the gathering and analysis of data to reach a conclusion. Data scientists rely on several techniques, including machine learning and statistics. Due to the highly technical nature of data science, becoming an in-demand data scientist takes some effort.
Most data scientists are well educated. About 90 percent of employed data scientists have a master’s degree, while approximately 44 percent have a PhD. For this reason, individuals who want to be competitive in the field should get a master’s degree at the minimum.
Additionally, master’s degrees are best earned in data or related fields. Bachelor’s degrees can be a bit more flexible. Many data scientists have bachelor’s degrees in fields such as computer science, physics, or math. Data scientists also need computer programming skills, good communication skills, and knowledge of statistics.
Perry Beaumont 