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Program Overview
If you’re the kind of person who thinks the best way to make a decision is to see what the numbers say, you’ll find a home in Madison College’s Data and Analytics Specialist associate degree program.
With a Data and Analytics Specialist associate degree from Madison College, you will have practical, applicable skills in data engineering and analytics to find meaningful work in this rapidly growing specialty and thrive in most technical workplaces.
Whether you’re looking to start, advance or change your career, this program will give you the training to help you reach your goals. No advanced skills needed—just basic computer knowledge and a passion for learning.
Data and Analytics Program Goals
In the Data and Analytics Specialist program, you’ll learn to gather, manage, analyze and visualize data, using programming and machine learning. You’ll also develop the latest in data-related cloud-based skills, such as hosting databases.
What Skills Do I Need?
We’ll teach you the technical skills used in engineering data, but a successful Data and Analytics Specialist is also:
A Critical Thinker
You like puzzles and logic games in which you need to see how all the pieces fit together. Your mind works in Venn diagrams, pie charts and graphs. You don’t easily jump to conclusions, so you like to do research using observable facts.
Detail Oriented
Data wrangling asks you to see both individual numbers and the big picture. Math doesn’t scare you and you know the power a misplaced decimal point can have. Attention to detail and a patient disposition help Data and Analytics Specialist students and professionals work smoothly and well.
Curious
The world of technology changes quickly. To stay on top of the latest advancements, be prepared to continue your education beyond the degree through professional advancement, online user groups and industry publications.
A Good Communicator
You’ll need to be able to communicate, verbally and in writing, in both technical and simple terms, how data interacts and what it has to say. Team meetings and collaboration are a regular part of the job, so people in this field must not only be good with computers but also with people.
The associate degree curriculum is designed to help you hone these skills.
Real-world, Hands-on Learning
Data and Analytics Specialist classes are held in Madison College’s state-of-the-art online lab environment to simulate the infrastructures various industries and tech companies actually use. That same lab is available to you 24/7 from any computer. All you need is an internet connection to do your work from anywhere.
Madison College IT program students start coding on Day One.
Data and Analytics Specialist students get hands-on training to develop valuable skills sought by employers, including Python programming, relational database technologies and data-related cloud experience. Core classes teach technical skills in the following:
First Year
You’ll learn the fundamentals of data systems.
- Python programming
- Data design and programming
- Cloud resource development and deployment
Second Year
Building on your first-year knowledge, you’ll now learn how to read the story data tells.
- Machine learning
- Data visualization
- Data-informed decisions
- Analyze and communicate real-world findings
Final Semester Internship
In addition to coursework, you will complete an internship with one of our industry partners. If you are already working full-time, you will have the option of a project. With this real-world opportunity, upon graduation you will have not only the knowledge but also the experience to enter the workforce with the confidence that employers notice.
Flexible Course Offerings
Students in the Data and Analytics Specialist program can attend full or part time.
The core classes unique to the Data and Analytics Specialist program are offered only in person and during the day.
Data and Analytics Specialist classes are offered at our Madison Truax campus.
If you start this program in the spring semester, it may take 5 semesters to complete and classes are only offered in the daytime.
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
First SemesterSecond SemesterThird SemesterElective3 creditsFourth SemesterElective3 creditsRecommended Electives -
Admission
To Apply
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.
Application Dates
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 31, 2025
Spring 2026
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is January 15, 2026
Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
- High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED completion
- College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
- Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
- Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
- Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your IT-Data and Analytics Specialist career.
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Career Outcomes
Data and Analytics Associate Degree Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Data and Analytics Specialist program are prepared to:
- Prepare data for more extensive analysis through data engineering (ETL) by writing moderately complex Python scripts.
- Discover and quantify trends in data by using industry-standard tools or writing moderately complex Python scripts.
- Solve common analytics tasks through machine learning.
- Recommend basic business solutions through a complete understanding of the data analytics life cycle.
- Communicate status and findings through professional charts and dashboards.
- Manage and store data based on usage (e.g., data lakes, relational, warehouse), both in the cloud and on-premises.
- Migrate data between data stores using Python scripts and industry-standard tools, both in the cloud and on-premises.
Data and Analytics Careers
Madison College Data and Analytics Specialist graduates are prepared to apply for employment as a Data Analyst, Data Wrangler or Data Engineer.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2024 Number of Program Graduates 2 Number of Surveys Sent 2 Number of Surveys Returned 2 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 2 Percent Available for Employment 100.0% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.0% Available for Employment
2024 Graduates Employed 2 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 2 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 100.0% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0.0% Employed - No Response 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2024 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.5 Number of Satisfaction Responses 2 Very Satisfied (4) 1 Percent Very Satisfied 50.0% Satisfied (3) 1 Percent Satisfied 50.0% Unsatisfied (2) 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2024 Number of Primary Reason Responses 2 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2024 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 2 Before Enrollment 0 Percent Before Enrollment 0.0% While Attending the College 1 Percent While Attending the College 50.0% After Training at the College 1 Percent After Training at the College 50.0% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2024 Number of Employment Location Responses 2 In College District 2 Percent In College District 100.0% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.0% Outside of Wisconsin 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% Salary Trend 2024 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 2 Average Monthly Wage $4,821 Average Hourly Wage $28.03 Average Work Hours per Week 40.0 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count Average Hourly Wage Average Work Hours per Week -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions CLEAResult Program Coordinator TDS Sr Data Analyst * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
