CPA program or Business Admin - Marketing program to bridge into Seneca's Data Science degree?
So upon reviewing the Honours Bacehlor of Data Science & Analytics (DSA), I see there are two pathways that can be taken to get into the degree program in semester 5. You can either complete the Seneca Computer Programming and Analysis (CPA), or do the Business Admin - Marketing (BAO) program. You need a minimum 3.0 GPA to be considered. Both programs offer co-op.
Now it would be fair to say that the Businss program would be easy AF vs. the CPA program, especially for those not coming from a technical background. It would be an easy GPA booster with courses in business development, data management, finance, and marketing studies. Pretty much a guaruntee into the DSA degree unless you're lazy AF. The end goal is the degree, and I noticed some of the courses in the DSA degree are geared towards Data Management, and Business Intelligence. The BAO does have an introductory course into statistical analysis and Database Administration as well. I would have to learn programming independently on my own time.
Now alternatively, I see the benefit of having a solid foundational start with CPA when it comes to in depth study and training into programming. C, Java, C++, ASP.NET and Scripting. It would be challenging but benefical to know. It will make grasping Data Science much easier.
In the area of data science the programming languages and software used are: Python, Java, R, Jupyter, Excel, MatLAB, and Databases.
Can any well meaning CPA students give some advice here..?
2 Replies
By no means I am an expert in this question, but if you do want to get into data science, I would recommend against Seneca degree.
I have done my co-op at Scotiabank, and all of the actual data science interns were from universities. Only a couple of them were from UofT data science master's program. The rest were CompSci or Mathematics majors minoring in finance, or any similar kind of combination (like double majors - CompSci/BBA). I would say that in general any degree received in college doesn't sound the same in that field as any sciency degree from universities. It would have been different for simple data analyst roles, but that's definitely not as interesting as data science. To elaborate even further, it even matters which university. Some universities get definitely more favour than others.
This is just 1 example, but it feels like it would be the case in any big company. Too much depends on data scientists. And yeah, good knowledge of ML algorithms and Python ML libraries is a prereq for even intern data science roles. I don't know anyone in that role who didn't major in something very math-heavy.
@elenstein Sorry I am responding to your answer so late. I just now checked up on this question. THANK YOU. You present some very valid points.
It seems the ultimately a computer science degree with a specialization in data science, or math, or a minor in business analytics would weigh much heavier leverage @elenstein