What Is A Data Science Bootcamp? How Are They Different From Data Science Certificate Programs?

11 min readApr 15, 2021

Data scientists, who process and interpret vast volumes of data in order to discover useful information, have been an increasingly significant aspect of management teams in recent years. This helps to understand why the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 15% rise in demand for qualified data scientists over the next ten years. Individuals who complete a data science bootcamp or a Certificate program will help them break into this in-demand sector while still increasing their profits. What’s the difference between a bootcamp and a diploma scheme, though? After reading this report, you will be able to decide which program better fits your needs.

What is a Data Science Bootcamp?

A bootcamp is a modern approach to your IT education, an intensive, short-term, frequently immersive experience created to offer all the skills required to start a career in their chosen specialty to aspiring IT professionals.

Data science is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates statistics and computer science. The aim of data science is to extract insightful and meaningful information from databases that are often too broad for conventional analytics to handle. Anything from decoding dynamic genomic architectures to reading handwriting to optimizing a marketing campaign falls under this category.

Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp

In NYC, Brooklyn, Washington, DC, Houston, Austin, Seattle, Chicago, Denver, and online, Flatiron School provides immersive on-campus and online programs in software engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity. Via comprehensive, market-aligned curricula and the guidance of experienced professors and personal career mentors, Flatiron School’s immersive courses strive to propel students into rewarding careers as software developers, computer scientists, and cybersecurity engineers. Flatiron teaches students to think and build like software engineers and data scientists through test-driven laboratories and portfolio projects.

General Assembly’s Data Science Bootcamp

The General Assembly provides full-time and part-time classes, seminars, and programs in person and online. There is a program for any data science ability you can think of in the full course list. Courses range from one-week intensives to full-time immersive 10- to 13-month classes, but students will have no trouble finding something that suits their timetable and budget. The General Assembly has a program for students, whether they are a young graduate looking to make a career change or a seasoned data scientist looking to improve their skillset.

Springboard’s Data Science Bootcamp

Springboard’s part-time bootcamps prepare students for jobs in as little as 6–9 months, and from the comfort of their homes. Thousands of students have benefited from Springboard’s expert-curated curricula and one-on-one mentoring. Springboard’s self-paced courses enable students to learn job-ready skills that they can demonstrate in a capstone or portfolio project that is industry-worthy. Students are supported in the journey by their industry mentor, as well as Springboard’s resident advisors and the wider student/alumni community.

How long does it take to complete the Data Science Bootcamp?

Usually, data science bootcamps can be completed in 3–6 months. This duration may vary depending on the courses offered, the mode (Part-Time / Full-Time) students enrolled, and also how many hours they invest in the study.

Duration of Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp

The flatiron school’s data science bootcamp is offered both online and in-person. The online program can be completed in 5 months if enrolled full-time. With a part-time program students can complete all the courses in 10 months.

Duration of General Assembly’s Data Science Bootcamp

This full-time online program can be completed in 12 weeks.

Duration of Springboard’s Data Science Bootcamp

This fully online program can be completed in 24 weeks by investing 20 hours/week.

What do you learn In a Data Science bootcamp?

What do you learn from Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp?

This online data science training curriculum covers everything from Python to Machine Learning, giving students the scope and depth they need to become well-rounded data scientists. Students can also learn how to practice new approaches as their careers advance.

Every module will bring students to a new topic that expands on the previous section’s learnings while giving them ample time to dig deep into and topic for a better understanding of the subject matter.

Courses offered in Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp

Introduction to Data with Python and SQL
Statistics, A/B Testing, and Linear Regression
Machine Learning
Big Data, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing
Data Science Advanced Project

What do you learn from the General Assembly’s Data Science Bootcamp?

Students will gain hands-on experience with the knowledge they’ll need to extract value from complicated data in this program. They learn how to use Python, perform data analysis, and create mathematical models. Then move on to machine learning, where they will use algorithms ranging from decision trees and random forests to natural language processing and neural networks. After that, students will compile a professional-grade portfolio of persuasive stakeholder presentations and data visualizations by tackling five tasks. Students will also use machine-learning algorithms to solve a real-world data problem for your capstone project.

Courses offered in General Assembly’s Online Data Science Bootcamp

Data Science Fundamentals
Exploratory Data Analysis
Classical Statistical Modeling
Machine Learning Models
Advanced Topics and Trends

What do you learn from Springboard’s Data Science Bootcamp?

Working on actual projects developed by business professionals, students can master the data science process, from analytics and data wrangling to specialized subjects like artificial intelligence and data storytelling. You’ll graduate with an interview-ready portfolio and a network of data scientists. And they will be there with students every step of the way — until they’re employed.

Courses offered in Springboard’s Data Science Bootcamp

The Python Data Science Stack
Data Wrangling
The Data Story
Statistical Inference
Machine Learning
Software Engineering for Data Science
Data Science at Scale
Advanced Machine Learning

How much does a Data Science Bootcamp Cost?

The tuition cost associated with data science bootcamp may vary depending on the complexity, mode (Part-Time / Full-Time), and format (Online / In-Person) of the program. Typically the tuition cost can range from $4,000 — $19,000.

Tuition cost of Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp

Total tuition cost — $16,900

Tuition cost of General Assembly’s Data Science Bootcamp

Upfront tuition cost — $15,950

Total tuition part-time — $3,950

Tuition cost of Springboard’s Data Science Bootcamp

Upfront tuition cost — $7,500

What are the career benefits of doing a Bootcamp in Data Science?

Data scientists, who process and interpret vast volumes of data in order to uncover new information, have been an increasingly important aspect of management teams in recent years. This helps to understand why the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% rise in demand for qualified data scientists over the next ten years. Completing a data science bootcamp will assist individuals in breaking into this in-demand sector while still increasing their profits.

For those looking for work in a rapidly rising field, data science bootcamps provide many advantages. Bootcamps are ideal for those who are looking to make a career transition after finishing an accelerated, rigorous data science curriculum because they are simpler and more economical than conventional degree programs due to their intense and concentrated nature.

Mentorship and tutoring are common features of bootcamps, as well as hands-on experience and real-world challenges using industry-relevant resources and technologies. You will learn up-to-date experience and insights into the field and they are often taught by industry experts. Data science bootcamps are also attractive because of their career programs, which typically include networking opportunities, job interview preparation, recruiting workshops, and post-graduation career counseling.

At a startup, a data scientist may be responsible for data architecture, data cleaning, and data interpretation. At a big consultancy company, anyone with the same job description may be helping clients create dashboards for their departments. Regardless, the data job market is rising and maturing, meaning a computer science bootcamp’s hard work pays off: Data Science Analysts earn an average of $80,265, while Senior Data Scientists and Technology Engineers earn an average of $105,909.

What is a Data Science Certificate Program?

Certificate programs usually train students to work or upgrade their professional abilities in a specific industry. It is offered both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It sets you apart from other applicants when an employer sees a certificate on your resume. Often certificate programs offer advanced curriculum in specific areas. So, it is good to have some proficiency in the area that students are applying.

Professional Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University

In business, academia, and government, there is a growing need for professional data science practitioners. The HarvardX Data Science program gives students the expertise and skills they need to solve real-world data processing problems. The software teaches students R programming, code wrangling with dplyr, data analysis with ggplot2, file organization with Unix/Linux, version control with git and GitHub, and reproducible paper preparation with RStudio.

Certificate Program in Data Science from the University of California, Berkeley

data analysts will continue to be in high demand to decipher statistics and discover elusive solutions to complex market issues. Students will learn how to do basic data wrangling, data analysis, mathematical simulation, and machine learning on massive and diverse data sets with this Certificate Program in Data Science.

Students should alert UC Berkeley Extension that they have finished the certificate coursework and request a certificate after they have completed it. The certificate will be mailed to students after their documents have been checked, validated, and accepted (usually within two to three weeks).

How long does it take to complete the Data Science Certificate Program?

The data science certificate program can anywhere between 1 month — 3 years. The program duration will vary depending on the mode (Full-Time / Part-Time / Self-Pace) students enrolled, program complexity and other factors.

Duration of Professional Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University

All the courses in this program are self-paced. So students can complete this certificate at their own convenience. By investing 2–3 hours per week, the program can be completed in 17 months.

Duration of Certificate Program in Data Science from University of California, Berkeley

This program is offered in the live online format. So students can only access live video lectures only when they are available. And students must complete the program within 3 years

What do you learn In Data Science Certificate Programs?

What do you learn from the Professional Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University?

Students can learn fundamental R programming skills, statistical concepts such as probability, inference, and modeling, and how to use them in practice. They can also gain experience with the tidyverse, including data visualization with ggplot2 and data wrangling with dplyr, and also become familiar with essential tools for practicing data scientists such as Unix/Linux, git, and GitHub, and RStudio. Via inspiring real-world case studies, students implement machine learning algorithms and gain in-depth knowledge of basic data science principles.

Courses offered in Professional Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University

Data Science: R Basics
Data Science: Visualization
Data Science: Probability
Data Science: Inference and Modeling
Data Science: Productivity Tools
Data Science: Wrangling
Data Science: Linear Regression
Data Science: Machine Learning
Data Science: Capstone

What do you learn from the Data Science Certificate Program from the University of California, Los Angeles?

For a total of 10 semester units, the curriculum contains one main course, one programming course, one machine learning course, and up to four units of electives (150 hours of instruction). Through this Data Science Certificate Program, you acquire the skills to do sophisticated data wrangling, data analysis, mathematical simulation, and machine learning on data sets that can be very large and complex.

Courses offered in Data Science Certificate Program from University of California, Los Angeles

Programming

Introduction to R: Data Exploration and Visualization
Python for Data Analysis and Scientific Computing
Introduction to Data Science
Introduction to Data Science Using R

Machine Learning

Introduction to Machine Learning Using Python
Machine Learning and Deep Learning With Spark
Practical Machine Learning (With R)
Machine Learning With TensorFlow

Core Courses

Practical Statistics for Data Scientists Using R
Introduction to Big Data
Data Science Principles and Practice Using Python
Data Visualization

Electives

Introduction to Databases
Introduction to SQL

How much does a Data Science Certificate Program Cost?

Tuition cost of Professional Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University

This program offers 9 data science courses and the total cost of the program is $793.

Tuition cost of Data Science Certificate Program from University of California, Los Angeles

This fully online program cost $3,980 for standard format and $4,700 for intensive format

Tuition cost of Certificate Program in Data Science from University of California, Berkeley

Each course is priced separately, and students must pay the course fee when they enroll. The certificate is expected to cost $5,100.

What are the career benefits of doing a Certificate Program in Data Science?

Data science is a broad term that encompasses a variety of tasks such as data analysis, statistical analysis, machine learning, and even basic computer science. This could be a very lucrative and thrilling career path for you if you are familiar with the new technologies on the market and are comfortable with statistics and figures. There are different directions you can take depending on what career you are involved in. Others can make more use of your talents than others, so it’s still a good idea to weigh all of your choices before settling on a course.

A certificate in data science offers professionals a competitive advantage over their peers. If you’re either a student or a graduate, this is a chance to study data science and comfortably move into the wide world of data science.

Which one should I take? Data Science Bootcamp vs Data Science Certificate Program

In order to choose between a data science bootcamp and a data science certificate, you need to consider a lot of parameters. If you are switching your career to data science and you don’t have any prior experience in the data science field, then possibly bootcamps are the best option for you. Data science bootcamp equip students with the skill and knowledge that they require in real-world scenarios, so they can confidently apply for data science or any other related jobs. As bootcamps are an intensive program, you will graduate in less time. So, these programs are also the best choice If you are in hurry.

On the other hand, data science certificate programs are mostly designed for working professionals, meaning that, people who take these programs are most probably professionals with 2–3 years of experience. So, if you already have some basic knowledge in data science or in programming languages then you can take a certificate program. Since the data science certificate program offers an advanced curriculum, it is recommended that students have some 2–3 years of experience (This is not always the case). Some data science certificate programs also train students for a license. Data Science certificates also boost students’ job opportunities and also help students to switch careers. And completing a certificate program in data science requires a lot of dedication and time commitment.

Now that you know what is the difference between a data science bootcamp and a certificate program and at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which one is best for you. So choose wisely.

Data Science Bootcamp vs Data Science Certificate