As we are bombarded with DS (data science) this and DS that, it is difficult to figure out what that means. There really is no Data Science degree, or at least there wasn’t until a couple of years ago, now Berkeley will certainly sell you a masters for $60k, I do not know anyone who has gone through it, but I know people who have inquired and now cannot get the aggressive phone calls to stop. The program does look sound, but I am afraid they slung the degree together to meet an immediate need, not one that could go toe to toe with an actual data scientist. DS and machine learning is still approaching the peak of the Gartner hype cycle, what that means to me be very wary of those trying to separate you from your money offering the promise of DS nirvana.

So, what’s the point? Beware and question everything. I left Microsoft for the purpose of taking a two to three year sabbatical to fill in the academic gaps I have. I am doing it the Hard way, I am taking stats, advanced stats, many graduate level classes and lots of research. I am using Harvard Extension school for now, they have more than enough to keep me entertained, they do have a DS Graduate certificate that can be done in four classes, what they don’t mention is that a significant background in stats and programming web is encouraged as a prerequisite. For instance, one of the requirements was CS-171 which I am not sure they will be offering publically in the future, but this was mixed with the regular Harvard folks. I was required to learn CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and JQuery in the first weeks of the class so I could do the D3 exercises. I have a critique of the class I will publish one day, but know the class is known to take 30+ hours a week. This is a true DS visualization class, graphics in Excel is not, Tableau, maybe.

Which gets me to the point of todays blog, what is a data scientist, what skills do they need, what skills are required. The short answer is, it depends. The irony is most data scientist that I have met with a PhD in either Visualization, Stats, math, computer science, Physics, bioinformatics, (you name it) can serve in the role of Data Science if they have a strong data and statistics background, and many of them have trouble calling themselves data scientists. You heard it, many of the titled data scientist I have worked with don’t like to be called data scientist because they do not feel they meet the requirements of the perceived role. Which begs the question, what are the perceived skills of the role?

There are a few infographics floating around that discuss the skills of the Data folk. My favorite to date is the one DataCamp has published, look at it on your own, I am not going to plagiarize someone else’s work, but look at the eight job titles and descriptions of skills, what is common among all of them? SQL is expected for all eight, and R for five of roles. Keeping in mind that this is the generic title of SQL, not just MS SQL Server. So it would seem that having SQL and R you can be the bridge to many functional roles.

For the 30,000 foot view of skills required to be an actual DS, and as you will notice a requirement for half the other skills as well, see the Modern Data Scientist infographic. I think this is the best version of the requirements for the role, it is not technology specific, but is knowledge specific. I like this infographic because you can apply this regardless if you are an MS shop or more open source. I personally think the most SQL Server experts already have mastered Domain Knowledge and Soft Skill, though occasionally we may have issues with the collaborative, especially on Mondays. But our goal, me and you is not to master all four pillars of data science, that is what is called the Data Science Unicorn, few can do it, you really need to be in school until you are forty to master it. The goal is to be a master at one of these, awesome at a second pillar and somewhat functional with the other two pillars. I am constantly surprised at how few data scientist can program, even in T-SQL, they just get by if at all. I will cover some of that in a later blog, there is a reason it happens that way, but all the more opportunity for the SQL experts, we have one entire pillar already mastered, and are at least one quarter way through another.

I will say this though, the one thing you will not escape on this endeavor is Statistics, and Probability. You are going to have to suck it up, take a refresher, or take it for the first time. The boundaries only exist in your mind, Edx.org, MIT open courseware have all you need to get you started. If you want some pressure take one through a local university. The reason I like Harvard Extension is that there are no entrance boundaries, if you want to take Stat-104, you pay for it and then log in and take it. Some classes are offered on campus, some are with the really smart kids that got it through the front door, unlike me. Harvard Extension is considered the Back door to Harvard, I don’t really care, I’ve been doing this too long to care about the credentials, and quite frankly I was glad to find door at all.

Shep