The educational program combines content from a variety of online courses and incorporates hands-on labs and challenges. The qualification works in a similar way to their current certificate programs, providing graduates with “a digitally shareable, résumé-worthy credential.”
Courses
The Degree has a total of ten different courses and finishes with a final challenge. We have listed them in their entirety below: Data Science Orientation Course Session: Now – 12 August 2016 | 22 August 2016 – 07 October 2016 Query Relational Data Course Session: Now – 19 August 2016 | 22 August 2016 – 07 October 2016 Analyze and Visualize Data Course Session: 8 July 2016 – 26 August 2016 | 05 September 2016 – 14 October 2016 Understand Statistics Course Session: Now – 15 July 2016 | 25 July 2016 – 02 September 2016 Explore Data with Code Course Session: Now – 22 July 2016 | 01 August 2016 – 09 September 2016 Understand Core Data Science Concepts Course Session: Now – 29 July 2016 | 08 August 2016 – 16 September 2016 Understand Machine Learning Course Session: Now – 05 August 2016 | 15 August 2016 – 23 September 2016 Use Code to Manipulate and Model Data Course Session: Now – 12 August 2016 | 22 August 2016 – 30 September 2016 Develop Intelligent Solutions Course Session: 29 August 2016 – 07 October 2016 | 17 October 2016 – 25 November 2016 Final Project (Data Science Challenge) Course Session: 18 July 2016 – 26 August 2016 | 05 September 2016 – 14 October 2016 Microsoft recommends that you take the courses in this order to help develop skills in the most natural progression. However, they also note that there is complete flexibility should you want to do it differently, so long as the modules are completed within the session dates.
Pricing
Every course can be audited completely free of charge, including the hands-on labs. The only caveat is that to receive credit towards the degree, you need to purchase a Verified Certificate for each of the courses. The orientation certificate costs $25, while “Statistical Thinking For Data Science and Analytics” is $99 and the rest are $49 each. This puts the total cost of the course at $516. Not a terrible price, considering all of the hours of learning included. More information about the courses, including enrollment openings and the various options can be found on the official website.
