Certificate Overview
Data Science
The Data Science Certificate is also available online. The School of Continuing Studies has partnered with University of Waterloo - WatSPEED to offer courses in this certificate in an online format. These courses are listed below under Required courses. Registration into the online courses is done through the University of Waterloo. Courses completed online will earn a joint University of Toronto SCS and University of Waterloo - WatSPEED certificate.
About the certificate
Organizations today need professionals who can extract and analyze extremely large amounts of data - Big Data - and present useful insights to business leaders. If you're one of them, or would like to be, this certificate program is for you. You'll come away with the kind of deep analytical skills and abilities that organizations and recruiters value. Work with industry experts on advanced statistical modelling, machine learning and natural language processing. You'll cover content essential for the toolbox of a predictive analytics professional, including neural networks and deep learning; programming languages and software used in data extraction and analysis; and data security, compliance and privacy issues. The course content covers the 7 domains of INFORMS' Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification. You'll also learn how to represent data visually to help decision-makers understand your findings. Whether you work in operations, business intelligence or marketing communications, are a recent math or science graduate, or want to change or advance your career, this certificate will open up the in-demand field of Big Data. This certificate is offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
What you'll learn
- Explore the evolution of data science and predictive analytics.
- Know statistical concepts and techniques including regression, correlation and clustering.
- Apply data management systems and technologies that reflect concern for security and privacy.
- Adopt techniques and technologies including data mining, neural network mapping and machine learning.
- Represent big data findings visually to aid decision-makers.
Required Courses
Choose one (1) of the following two courses:
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3250
Foundations of Data Science
- Winter - 25
- In Class
- St. George Campus
1199If you want to work in the growing field of data science, and have some prior knowledge and experience of basic programming, this course is for you. You’ll learn how to help organizations leverage the increasing variety and volume of data they own or can find on the Internet. You’ll explore the evolution of the fields of data science and predictive analytics. You’ll learn up-to-date techniques for data retrieval, preparation, analysis and visualization. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll build critical programming skills you can use in subsequent courses in the certificate program.
The Data Science courses are also offered online in partnership with University of Waterloo - WatSPEED.
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3583
Foundations of Data Science - ONLINE
If you want to work in the growing field of data science, and have some prior knowledge and experience of basic programming, this course is for you. You’ll learn how to help organizations leverage the increasing variety and volume of data they own or can find on the Internet. You’ll explore the evolution of the fields of data science and predictive analytics. You’ll learn up-to-date techniques for data retrieval, preparation, analysis and visualization. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll build critical programming skills you can use in subsequent courses in the certificate program.
AND one (1) of the following two courses:
-
3251
Statistics for Data Science
- Winter - 25
- In Class
- St. George Campus
1199Build on the skills you learned in 3250 Foundations of Data Science and get the grounding in basic statistics you need to successfully complete your data science fundamentals certificate. In this course, you’ll explore probability and descriptive statistics, cover data analysis from both a classical and contemporary viewpoint and learn to extract insight from datasets. You’ll get a math notation refresher, learn to form hypotheses, design experiments that collect valid data, and test your hypotheses using statistical techniques. The course content covers part of the body of knowledge of INFORMS’ Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification.
The Data Science courses are also offered online in partnership with University of Waterloo - WatSPEED.
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3584
Statistics for Data Science - ONLINE
Build on the skills you learned in Data Science 1: Foundations of Data Science and get the grounding in basic statistics you need to successfully complete your Data Science Certificate. In this course, you’ll explore probability and descriptive statistics, cover data analysis from both a classical and contemporary viewpoint and learn to extract insight from datasets. You’ll get a math notation refresher, learn to form hypotheses, design experiments that collect valid data, and test your hypotheses using statistical techniques. The course content covers part of the body of knowledge of INFORMS’ Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification.
AND one (1) of the following two courses:
-
3253
Machine Learning
- Winter - 25
- In Class
- Online
- St. George Campus
1199This course will equip you with the fundamental machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and techniques for mining and analyzing data, and extracting insights for data-driven decision making. You will learn how to formulate a ML/AI problem, prepare data, build and optimize predictive models using a wide range of algorithms and evaluate the performance of those models. Throughout the course you will use Scikit-learn and TensorFlow hands-on to build applications that learn from data.
The Data Science courses are also offered online in partnership with University of Waterloo - WatSPEED.
3586 Machine Learning - ONLINE
Note: If you wish to apply the 3586 Machine Learning - ONLINE completed at University of Waterloo - WatSPEED towards the Certificate in Artificial Intelligence at School of Continuing Studies, please follow the Prior Learning Application form on SCS website.
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3586
Machine Learning - ONLINE
This course will equip you with the basic machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) tools for mining and analyzing datasets, and extracting insights for decision making. You will learn how to identify correlations and patterns in datasets, build predictive models using machine learning and AI software and evaluate the performance of those models.
AND one (1) of the following two courses:
-
3252
Big Data Management Systems & Tools
- Winter - 25
- In Class
- St. George Campus
1199Big Data involves massive data volumes and diverse data types. Modern organizations need people who can help implement the tools they need to deal with these huge data sets. In this course, you’ll learn the technology of Big Data and build in-demand skills. You’ll get hands-on experience using up-to-date database management systems and tools. Get in on the explosion in new NoSQL technologies and Big Data tools including Hadoop, Spark, Cassandra and Kafka.
The Data Science courses are also offered online in partnership with University of Waterloo - WatSPEED.
-
3585
Big Data Management Systems & Tools - ONLINE
Big Data involves massive data volumes and diverse data types. Modern organizations need people who can help implement the tools they need to deal with these huge data sets.. In this course, you’ll learn the technology of Big Data and build in-demand skills. You’ll get hands-on experience using up-to-date database management systems and tools. Get in on the explosion in new NoSQL technologies and Big Data tools including Hadoop, Spark, Cassandra and Kafka.
In place of 3250, you may instead choose both of the following:
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3250A
Using Python I: Organize and Analyze Data
- Winter - 25
- Online
559To succeed in today’s competitive business environment, organizations must not only collect reams of data but glean the most useful insights from this information. In this five-session micro course, you’ll learn to use Python to organize and analyze data and tell compelling stories your customers and stakeholders understand. You’ll plan your own analytics project, using Python to import data, organize it into a data frame and analyze it correctly. You’ll emerge well equipped to apply these methods at work and become a better business storyteller.
Within 4-6 weeks of successfully completing this course, you will receive your micro-credential indicating achievement of the outlined learning outcomes and competencies/skills. Micro-credentials are tamper proof, verifiable, blockchain-based and 100% digital. They can be shared on social media, including LinkedIn and Facebook, embedded in websites or downloaded as PDFs.
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3250B
Using Python II: Clean, Predict and Inform
- Winter - 25
- In Class
- Online
- St. George Campus
559If you already know how to use Python to organize and analyze data, this second-level micro course is for you. You’ll learn to apply data cleansing techniques and inferential statistical methods. You’ll develop a clearer understanding of how predictive models can support more informed business decisions, and create one using the insights you pulled. You’ll explore the fascinating world of data visualization and machine learning and emerge with greater confidence in the stories you tell and the data they’re based on.
Within 4-6 weeks of successfully completing this course, you will receive your micro-credential indicating achievement of the outlined learning outcomes and competencies/skills. Micro-credentials are tamper proof, verifiable, blockchain-based and 100% digital. They can be shared on social media, including LinkedIn and Facebook, embedded in websites or downloaded as PDFs.