The field of Data Science is rapidly growing. Employers need people to analyze data to help make better business decisions about their services. There are many new advancements in Data Science including disease prediction, healthcare treatment recommendations, optimizing travel routes, identifying fraud, match making, lowering incarceration rates, improving education outcomes, athletic performance optimization, sales predictions, customer behaviors, and advertising effectiveness. Google Analytics is a pioneer in the Data Science industry where they collect millions of data points per minute, then process, and immediately redirect online advertising to online customers that expressed an interest in a product.   Data Science tools can process, chart, and graph results quickly to help make decisions and get a competitive advantage, gain insight about customers, products, or services, and improve outcomes of business decisions. Every major corporation and industry will have data scientists that use algorithms and statistics, data programming, and data analysis to guide decision making and adapt to industry trends.

The faculty at Moorpark College recognized the demand and established a new program to meet the need. This fall Moorpark College is offering a multidisciplinary Data Science program for the first time. Kudos to lead faculty member Brendan Purdy, Moorpark College professor Ed Garcia, and Dean of Student Learning Robert Cabral for navigating through all the requirements to get the program approved and up and running.

No other community colleges in the immediate area offer a program in data science and California State Universities have limited options in data science. Now, students in Ventura County will be able to study data science and be prepared to complete certifications available through Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services to go straight into the workforce or transfer to complete their bachelor’s degree. The program is offered in an in-person/on-line hybrid format and much support is available to help students succeed. A unique feature of the program is that while foundational classes are required in areas like data management and statistics there are other classes that allow students to focus on applying data science to fields like hospitality, business administration, social science, and computer science. By being able to narrow the focus that students choose to study, the program should be more meaningful and engaging for students. The new data science program at Moorpark College will lead generations of students to great careers in an industry and pays a very high living wage.