IT Data and Analytics Specialist Associate Degree

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 internet connection to do your work from anywhere. 

Madison College IT program students start coding on Day One.

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 will 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.