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Coursera Data Science: Is It Worth It?

Are you tired of your job? Well, one of the options for you to choose from to change that is Coursera Data Science specialization. If you’re one of the people who have been toying with the idea of trying out working in the data science field, this will be great news for you.

Coursera offers a very inclusive specialization that will cater to all your data science knowledge needs. So, if you’re a newbie to data science and would like to figure out what it is and how to apply it, don’t hesitate to take this course!

I’m sure just me telling you that you should might not fully convince you. Simply for that reason, I’ll introduce you to the topic of data science as well as present the reasons why this course is a great choice. 

So, without further ado, let’s get into the article!

What Is Data Science?

If you’re a long-term data science enthusiast, you’re very welcome to skip this part of the article. I’m sure that there will be a lot of people who have already been acquainted with data science before looking up this course, but the chances are that you might not be. 

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However, you shouldn’t worry about that! I’ll provide a quick introduction to what it is, and also, the Coursera Data Science course starts with the very basics, so even if you have no prior knowledge, it’ll all be covered in the specialization course for you. 

So, what is data science? 

Well, to define it in the easiest way possible, it’s a science that has to do with data gathering and analysis. However, this definition doesn’t tell you anything about what data science is. For me, to fully comprehend the subject, it took some time and some extensive reading. Therefore, one simple sentence doesn’t do it justice. 

By definition, “Data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from many structural and unstructured data,” according to my beloved Wikipedia

While if you know anything about data science, you could argue that the definition is incomplete and it’s a vast field that can’t be defined in one sentence, I’d like to keep it simple and let the Coursera John Hopkins Data Science course do its job in explaining.

Coursera data science: man working on data on computer 

However, if you need further explanation on what data scientists do, or you would simply like to get to know more about how to become a data scientist, make sure to check out our article written for the purpose of explaining it. 

If you need some extra motivation, I’d advise you to check out our article Data Scientist Salary Revealed. Reading that might help to make up your mind, whether investing in learning about data science is worth it  or not if you’re looking to do it for a change of career. 

Coursera Data Science Specialization (Enroll Here)

Coursera data science: Data Science specialization

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Offered by: Johns Hopkins University
  • Duration: Approximately 11 months 
  • Price: Free
  • Certificate: Yes (paid)
  • Level: Beginner
  • Where to apply? Here

Now, let’s get to the part that you came here for. Let’s talk about the Coursera data science course and what it has to offer for you. While learning that so many people have taken this course and were satisfied with it might spark your interest, it’s only normal to want more information on the course.

So, let’s see the advantages of the Coursera Data Science specialization!

Advantages of the Coursera Data Science Course

I wouldn’t recommend this course if I didn’t certainly believe that this Coursera Data Science specialization is among the top choices for you. 

Naturally, I was able to find lots of advantages worth-mentioning. When taking a course, you care about lots of topics, be it the contents of the course, how it is presented, and so many more different aspects which can make or break the course.

So, let’s see the list of advantages. 

Building Portfolio

The first thing that caught my eye when seeing the course is that it offers a chance to build up your portfolio. While taking a course provides knowledge, if you choose to get Coursera Johns Hopkins Data Science certification, you’ll also have a certificate, but sometimes that’s not enough to convince an employer.

That’s why this course provides an opportunity for you to build up your portfolio and actually have your own works to show to your potential employer. Also, it’s important to note that when working on your portfolio, you’ll be able to use real-world data.

Coursera data science: data scientist's portfolio.

That gives your work some credibility. While practicing with data created for the purpose of learning to manage it is great if you’re only looking for experience, having worked with real-life data may appear more reliable. So, if that’s what you’re looking for in a course, don’t hesitate to take this Coursera data science course. 

The Price

Another great perk of this course is that it won’t cost you a penny to take it. Yes, you read it right. This course is totally free to take and learn from. At first, when discovering Coursera, I was a bit skeptical. I’ve been looking for the catch for months now. Guess what? I still haven’t found it. It seems like there is no catch

Coursera courses are free to take. You can educate yourself on so many different topics by the top online course providers. Coursera John Hopkins Data Science course is not an exception. The education world is your oyster with Coursera. You should use it as much as you can.

Despite the fact that you may take the courses for free, you have the chance to support Coursera by paying for the course. You get great benefits in return. It’s definitely worth it. 

The most valuable thing you can get if you choose to pay is the Coursera Johns Hopkins Data Science certification. If you’re looking to put your newly learned knowledge to use by applying to a data scientist position, the certificate will be a great resource to have. 

While some may believe you even if you only showed your portfolio, it would be much more convincing if you attached a certificate of training. Diplomas and certificates mean a lot in our current society, and Coursera certificates are among the most reputable ones. 

Coursera data science: man signing a certificate.

What if you’re doing it for your own pleasure and only see it as a hobby? Even if you’re applying to work in a totally unrelated field or are simply looking for a raise or promotion, proof of your skills is still a great thing to have. 

You can never know when your company will need someone skilled in data science and trust me, the salary you can get is rather high

I still understand that you might think it would be of no use for you to prove that you have data scientist skills. Maybe you’re a teacher or a firefighter who loves their job and aren’t looking for a change. However, showing to your employer that you’re constantly learning something new and are improving is a great asset

It doesn’t matter which additional skills you have as long as you can prove that you’re a hard-working, enthusiastic person who values self-improvement. So, why not choose the Coursera Johns Hopkins Data Science certification?

Beginner Level

One more great thing about this course is that it’s aimed at beginners. I know how hard it is to be completely new to the field, without any experience and no idea where to get reputable resources for your field of interest.

When you’re more advanced, it’s a lot easier to find resources as you know which ones are reputable, and you’re likely to have a community to ask for study tips from

However, when you’re just starting out, googling “data science,” you simply end up with generic articles about what it is. That can definitely be frustrating

Coursera has you covered. If you’re a complete beginner, who doesn’t know where to start, you should start with the Coursera Data Science course. It takes you through everything from the very beginning to the more advanced topics. 

So, even if you don’t know anything about the Coursera Data Science course, or data science in general, you can still apply. This is great news for those who don’t know where to start learning data science. 

Accessible for Different Language Speakers

Yet another great perk of this Coursera John Hopkins Data Science specialization is that it, like many other Coursera courses, is available in a plethora of languages.

You must now be curious if you’re reading this article, that means you speak English. Well, yeah, but you might still benefit from learning about such a complex topic in your native language. 

So, if you’re not a native English speaker, you shouldn’t be afraid of the advanced profession-specific vocabulary that will be used in the courses, as you might have the ability to see the subtitles in your native language. 

Coursera data science: movie with subtitles.

Props to Coursera for making it accessible to people who may struggle with the English language. 

Disadvantages of the Coursera Data Science Course

No course is fully perfect. While to me, this course seems to be the closest to being perfect from all the Data science courses, it still has some shortcomings. So, let’s see what some people would see as a con of this course.

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The Duration

It took me a while to decide whether to put it on the advantages or the disadvantages list. While the longer duration might be a perk simply because it gives you enough time and materials to fully grasp the concept, it might not seem like it to some

If you want to get Coursera Johns Hopkins Data Science certification, you will have to dedicate around 11 months of your life to that. The estimated time you would have to dedicate in the 11 months is 7 hours a week to complete the course. So, it’s not like all you’ll have to do for the 11 months is study data science. 

There will be plenty of time left for other things you’ll need to do, and if you choose to learn daily, you’ll only have to dedicate an hour every day. However, I understand that it might still seem like a lot. Learning, even for an hour a day, takes determination and discipline, which might not be that easy to keep up for 11 months. 

Coursera data science: a woman looking at her watch.

What might cheer you up is that the specialization goes through a few different courses. Therefore the information presented there is ever-changing, meaning that you won’t easily get bored. 

Either way, I would suggest to first assess your motivation and whether you’ll be able to stay on track for 11 months. If you think it might be too hardcore for you, you can always take some of the shorter data science courses on Coursera, but they will not likely prepare you as well as this Coursera specialization would. 

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Conclusions

Coursera Data Science course by John Hopkins University is something that wannabe data scientists must hear a lot about. It’s an extremely popular course and in my opinion, for very good reasons. This course has great advantages compared to many other courses.

Some of them being that it’s a Coursera course, meaning that it’s free to take. Also, it offers a possibility to build up your portfolio by using real-world data. What is more, it’s beginner-friendly, meaning that even if you have no prior knowledge in data science, you can still take this course. 

Also, it’s important to note that it’s accessible for those who might not be very confident in their English language skills. There are subtitles in various languages available, making it easier for you to take the course if you’re not a native English speaker.

On the other hand, when choosing whether to take this course, you have to keep in mind that it takes approximately 11 months to complete, meaning that it’s quite a big commitment.

If, after reading all this, you’re convinced that this Coursera Data Science specialization is for you, don’t hesitate to check it out!

However, maybe you realized that it might be a bit of a too big commitment. You still have other choices. Head to Coursera, simply type in “Data Science” and choose a course which will suit you better. 


Scientific References

About Article's Experts & Analysts

By Aaron S.

Editor-In-Chief

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era. W...
Aaron S. Editor-In-Chief
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.

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Leave your honest feedback

Leave your genuine opinion & help thousands of people to choose the best online learning platform. All feedback, either positive or negative, are accepted as long as they’re honest. We do not publish biased feedback or spam. So if you want to share your experience, opinion or give advice - the scene is yours!


Recent User Reviews

Leona Mckay

Aug 25, 2024

non-english

Appreciate the accesibility for non-english speakers!

farhan Ho

Oct 12, 2024

Beginner stage

I really think that with this 11 months specialization I can achieve at least a beginner stage of data science

Abigayle

Sep 03, 2024

alternatives

Do you know any alternatives on maybe some other platforms that would be shorter?

Sahara B

Oct 27, 2024

data analaysis

should I look for a different course if I'm more into data analysis?

huda francis

Aug 07, 2024

FREE??

Actually free for a whole specialization?? It's 11 months omg

Klein Calvin

Sep 02, 2024

Do one course first

do one course first to familiarize yourself with coursera and see if you like the way it's taught

daisy flower

Oct 08, 2024

Great money

these guys make great money, make sure you check the courses and start learning ;)

Nada New

Oct 13, 2024

hard to motivate yourself

I think if you want to do this course you really have to dedicate yourself, however I find it hard to be motivated to study this for a whole 11 months

courteney Edwards

Nov 01, 2024

programming skills

do I need to have programming skills before joining?

Ibrahim P

Oct 06, 2024

John Hopkins

John Hopkins is very reputable, so I'm sure this course would be great

FAQ

Is Coursera Data Science Specialization any good?

Yes, the John Hopkins Coursera Data Science specialization is highly valued by many learners. It has great perks such as being free to take, giving you the opportunity to build up your portfolio, being beginner-friendly, and many more. So, if you’d like to take this course don’t hesitate and do it!

Are Coursera courses free to take?

Yes, Coursera courses are generally free to take. However, if you want to get a certificate, you’ll need to pay for it. The certificate is really worth the investment, as it provides you with proof of your accomplishments. 

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