The sexiest job of the 21st century

A decade after the Harvard Business Review declared that data science is the “sexiest job of the 21st century,” data scientists are now more globally in demand than ever. Postings for data scientists on Indeed rose by 256% in 2019 —  and as the job becomes more institutionalised, the technology it relies on continues to develop, and AI grows increasingly popular in business, the field of data science is predicted to grow more than almost any other field by 2029. 

What is a data scientist?

The rise of the data scientist is a direct result of the fact that companies are now wrestling with unprecedented volumes and varieties of information. What data scientists do is bring structure to these large quantities of formless data and make analysis possible. They must then communicate their discoveries to executives and product managers, who use the data scientists’ findings to guide their new business directions. 

What skills does a data analyst need?

Ten years ago, coding was generally considered to be the most common job requirement for a data scientist, but recent developments in the field of data science (i.e. the institutionalisation of data science among firms, increasing automation) have made this somewhat less essential. Now, HBR sees that the key focus of the job is shifting toward predictive modelling and the ability to translate business issues and requirements into models. 

Of course, however, these still aren’t the only two skills that a good data scientist should have. One of the biggest reasons why data scientists are so highly sought after is the powerful and rare combination of their skills; as put by Davenport and Patil, the authors of the original HBR article, the data scientist is a “hybrid of data hacker, analyst, communicator, and trusted adviser.” But the dominant trait among data scientists, based on the authors’ observations, is an intense curiosity — “a desire to go beneath the surface of a problem, find the questions at its heart, and distill them into a very clear set of hypotheses that can be tested.” This usually calls for the kind of associative thinking that characterizes most creative scientists in any field. 

Since there aren’t a lot of people with their combination of skills and background, data scientists are difficult and expensive to hire; the median salary for an experienced data scientist in California is now approaching $200,000. Several data scientists working at start-ups also reported that they demanded and were given large stock option packages.

INSOFE: A new, more practical way to study data science

As a result of the growing demand for data scientists, there has also been a huge rise in data science programs. Whereas there were effectively no data science degree programs back in 2012, there are now hundreds of degree programs in data science or the related fields of analytics and AI across the globe. Located in India is one of the world’s most sought-after data science institutes: the International School of Engineering (INSOFE).

Consistently ranking alongside global universities like Stanford and Columbia, INSOFE has produced data scientists who are now working at companies ranging from dynamic startups to Fortune 500 companies. In partnership with Case Western Reserve University, INSOFE is offering three dual specialisation master’s degree programs. Each one provides a rigorous curriculum based in data sciences and is designed to help graduates stand out in their field. Students can start their program face-to-face in India before moving to the US to take up any of the three options. All students in any of the three programs will get to collaborate with people in two different countries, in two niche fields and receive hands-on, practical training from world-renowned professors with extensive industry experience:

M.S in Mechanical Engineering with a dual specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics 

• Gain expertise in Mathematics, Physics, and Artificial Intelligence that will be useful when working in ever-changing, chaotic environments with nonlinear and dynamic systems
• Contribute to various R&D projects that combine AI with your mechanical domain skills
• Examine real-world business problems through the combined lens of mechanical engieering and data science

M.S in Biomedical Engineering with a dual specialisation in Digital Health Analytics

• Contribute to various R&D projects that combine AI with your biomedical domain skills
• Examine biomedical problems through a data science lens
• Gain expertise in two of the most in-demand fields that have a projected growth rate of 5% over the next one decade

M.S in Civil Engineering with a dual specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

• Specialise in structural, geotechnical, environmental engineering, or engineering mechanics at Case Western Reserve University
• Contribute to various R&D projects that combine AI with your civil engineering domain skills
• Gain expertise in sustainable Civil Engineering practices, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence that will be useful when working in ever-changing, chaotic environments
• Examine real-world business problems through the combined lens of civil engineering and data science

Each of the programs has 30 credits, which will be split equally between INSOFE and Case Western Reserve University. Students can start their program face-to-face in India before travelling to the US to complete the rest of the degree requirements in Case Western Reserve. 

Direct enrolment to Case School of Engineering will cost $63,570 — but going through INSOFE will cost only $47,677. Students will receive a $15,000 scholarship that will be directly applied to your tuition fees if they get admission through INSOFE. Indian students are also entitled to get 100% loan assistance. 

Interested in studying data science with INSOFE and Case Western Reserve Uiversity? Contact our recruitment experts at GSP to learn more about the opportunities we have in store for you