Complete MATH-180 and CMIT-135
Upcoming Start Dates
Spring term A begins. Application deadline passed.
Spring term B begins. Apply by Feb. 27.
Explore Data Science
Learn how to work with Big Data to gain insight and solve problems, and enter the in-demand data science field with a credential employers will respect with Champlain's data science certificate online program. Whether you’re looking for a program to help you gain entry to this cutting-edge field or want to enhance your current role with a data science credential, an online data science certificate can bridge your aspirations with your career pursuits.
Build Your Career Future
We understand how important it is for busy working adults to gain knowledge and expertise quickly, which is why our data science courses online cover key concepts and tools, including Python, data visualizations, big data, statistical analysis, data sets and are applicable to the workplace from day one. Whether you've already earned an undergraduate degree or you're currently pursuing your bachelor's degree, an online data science certificate is a great way to earn a credential in the field, get your resume noticed, and demonstrate proficiency in a focused area of knowledge to help you guide informed business decisions leading to improved business performance.
Program Curriculum
Champlain's online data science courses encompass the top skills needed by today's IT professionals.
This course introduces students to basic statistics for data literacy. With a focus on exploring real-world data, students will interpret numerical information and utilize the tools necessary to complete the entire statistical process: designing a study; gathering, organizing, and analyzing sample data; and making inferences about a population. Students will demonstrate data-driven decision-making and effective communication of numerical data.
From day one, students in this course are problem solving, first in terms of algorithmic design and then as early as week two via programming in the latest version of Python, using PyCharm. Students begin by writing a program to have a conversation, having strings and numbers as input, and advance, by week seven, to building a working password saver program, capable of looking up, adding (and encrypting), and storing passwords.
Data analysis is a challenging, interdisciplinary process that requires an understanding of how data is generated, analyzed, interpreted, and presented. In this course students explore introductory data analysis techniques using relevant languages and tools to extract meaning from data to produce and inform solutions.
Prerequisites
Python is a programming language with broad appeal because of its accessibility, community, sponsorship and utility. In this course students learn additional Python programming concepts and further develop their skills. Students progress from lists and basic structures to Object Oriented Programming, including objects, classes, encapsulation, abstraction modularity, memory management, inheritance and polymorphism. Students also learn advanced Python language features such as iterators and generators, along with error and exception handling.
Prerequisites
Complete CMIT-135
Advanced data analysis requires data to be retrieved, sorted, filtered, and more using relevant languages and tools. In this course students explore advanced data analysis techniques such as joining and manipulating tables, and constructing queries and sub-queries. Students also learn to evaluate the results and quality of analyses, and communicate outcomes effectively.
Prerequisites
Complete DATA-200 and CMIT-235
Data mining is a multidisciplinary field focused on discovering patterns and associations in data. In this course students gain proficiency in supervised data mining techniques for building prediction models including decision trees, random decision forests, bootstrapping, training and testing using multi-fold cross validation and using entropy measures for weighting features. Students also learn to use unsupervised data mining techniques such as clustering and association analysis.
Prerequisites
Complete DATA-200
Additional Program Details
Graduates of the undergraduate-level online data science certificate program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- Analyze, design, implement, and test Python applications developed to a coding standard and/or industry best practices.
- Generate, collect, store, clean, transform, and manipulate data.
- Analyze data using multiple methods, languages, and tools to extract meaning from data and formulate problem-specific solutions.
- Organize data-driven results, and appropriately and effectively present solutions.
- Differentiate supervised and unsupervised learning methods, and use prediction and clustering algorithms and association analysis to discover patterns and associations in data.
Champlain College Online's computer science faculty, led by Department Chair Richard Pickering, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s IT systems professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the world of information technology, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Tuition & Costs
Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25
$335
per credit
$1,005*
per course
$290**
per credit for Champlain alumni or associate degree graduates from any college or university
$250
per credit for military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150
One-time graduation fee
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Starts Summer 2024, not retroactive
See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here
Affordability and Paying For Your Education
We provide a number of options to make your online education affordable, including preferred tuition for alumni, associate degree graduates, community college graduates, and military.
Gain New Skills With a Certificate
Computer and information technology occupations are projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all new occupations.*
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020
Top Reasons to Pursue a Certificate
- Enter a new field
- Build new skills
- Gain knowledge on your way toward a degree
- Differentiate your resume
- Earn a credential
Why Champlain
Champlain Community
"I was living in Mexico during my program, and there was a major earthquake. My advisor heard about it and called me the next day to find out how I was. It's that kind of personal touch that really makes Champlain special."
Rosi Smith
Bachelor's Degree in Integrated Studies
Executive Assistant & Project Coordinator, U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland
Academic Excellence and Recognition
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community
Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science
Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
Meet the Program Director
Daniel Selicaro, MS
Program Director, Technology and Assistant Professor
Oversees
- Computer Science (BS)
- Software Development (AS, BS)
- Web Design & Development (AS, BS)
- Software Engineering and Project Management (MS)
About
Daniel Selicaro is an Assistant Professor and Program Director for Technology at Champlain College Online. He oversees bachelor degree programs for Software Development, Web Design and Development, and Computer Science, as well as the graduate program in Software Engineering and Project Management.
Dan has been at Champlain College since 2007, and has been teaching web design and development for Champlain since 2015. He began his career in print journalism as a newspaper reporter, and was the news editor for Upside magazine and the Red Herring magazine in California. After moving back to the East Coast, he worked on digital marketing at Champlain College, and was an active part of two redevelopments of the College website, champlain.edu, before he took a role in the Information Systems department.
Outside of Champlain, Dan runs his own website development company, and is on the board of directors for several local organizations — including as marketing chair at the Fellowship of the Wheel mountain biking club, the Green Mountain Montessori School, and the Essex United Soccer Club. He is an avid mountain biker, and loves to spend his time adventuring in Vermont with his two young children.
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