“On Oct. 29, mission operators sent a series of commands to NASA’s Voyager 2

10 min readNov 29, 2020

And while a Ph.D. or other advanced degree may not be essential to get hired for an entry-level data scientist role, it is likely to become more important as you look to advance in your data science career.

“Deep Space Station 43 (DSS-43) was constructed in 1969 to 1973 as a 64-metre diameter antenna. The 64-metre antenna was more than six times as sensitive as DSS-42, the original 26-metre at the Complex. Therefore DSS-43 could communicate with spacecraft at greater distances from Earth as the signal became weaker,” the Deep Space Network describes.

Burtch Works performed a study on data science and predictive analytics professionals released in August of 2020. During this study, Burtch Works looked at the education levels of data scientists entering the field. One notable point discussed in this study was the decline in business degrees. Data scientists are not getting as many MBAs and Business Analytic degrees, which can indicate that they may not see the value of such degrees as quantitatively focused degrees. Instead of opting for MBA, candidates are strengthening their credentials with Engineering degrees.

You know why Hampton is on this list? Because if you get this school confused with Howard University, you might catch a beatdown in the most scholarly, talented-tenthly way possible. This is “the real HU,” as far as alums are concerned. Don’t get it twisted. Them’s the rules.

As you begin your data science career, Robert Half and Indeed agree that you should have at least a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field, boot camp certification, or internship experience. However, if you are looking for a senior-level position or advancing your data science career, you will need more advanced skills, including having at least a master’s degree.

Want to see some furniture move? Insult FAMU when you’re hanging out with its alums. This school is based in the land of Florida men and Florida women, so there’s already the osmosis of insanely raucous human behavior. These students and alumni are just a different breed — and they’ve got more pride in their band than any other school out there.

Last year, after winning his first-ever Oscar, Spike Lee jumped onto Samuel L. Jackson like a little genius toddler. It was a legendary moment, but also a reminder that Morehouse alums will rep wherever, whenever, without a care in the world. Morehouse men have all sorts of slogans and catchphrases and codes and recitals like they’re The Rock back in the Attitude Era. That Morehouse pride simply hits different.

When I met Magnus, he didn’t seem anything like a person whose success had gone to his head. He wasn’t overly cocky or confident, he just genuinely enjoyed talking about chess. It wasn’t until I actually saw what he could do that he seemed like anything other than an ordinary person.

Just outside Canberra, Australia, NASA’s Deep Space Station 43 (DSS43) radio telescope is the only instrument in the world with a transmitter capable of sending commands to the distant spacecraft. However, scientific and health data was still received from Voyager 2 by other radio telescopes during this time.

It’s like that famous quote that says “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Many dream about living up to their talents, but for those who’ve already done it, the dream is in the doing itself.
Over the years, I’ve come to learn that about those whom I’ve observed experience any level of success. For those who truly enjoy what they do, these activities just don’t seem like work to them. Competition or being in the spotlight can be stressful, sure, but it also brings out their very best.
There appears to be a wide variety of answers to whether you need an advanced degree to get a data science job. Here, I review and explore the educational level, as discussed by Robert Half, Burtch Works, and Indeed.

A big question that tends to come up when talking to students about data science is, “do I need a master’s degree to become a data scientist?” The answer is maybe, you do not need a master’s degree specifically in data science, but you will likely need at least a master’s degree if you plan to progress further in your career.

The study discusses that data scientists tend to be highly educated individuals. In their survey, 91% of data scientists have at least a master’s degree, and 48% have PhDs. It is common for data scientists to have a strong educational background in mathematics/statistics, computer science, and natural sciences, such as physics and engineering.

A vegan, a New Yorker, a J. Cole fan, and a Howard alum all walk into a bar — which person identifies themself quickest? We’re gonna go with the latter, who is most likely wearing a hoodie with the name of his or her alma mater stitched or screen-printed across the front. If you’re ever in a gathering with at least two people who attended the Mecca, you’re guaranteed to hear the call-and-response cry of “H-U! You know!” echo from the window to the damn wall. These alums are quick to inform you about their monumental homecoming celebrations, the famous alumni who’ve become legends in their own right, and the storied Black greek frats and sororities that were founded on their campus. And now that they can claim a possible future VP in Kamala Harris? Let’s just assume there’s gonna be a lot of “H-U!” chanting over the next few years. (Sorry, Hampton!)

I don’t take afternoons like the one I spent with Magnus for granted. There’s nothing quite like getting to witness a world-class performer operate first-hand. It’s a spectacle to behold in terms of raw human potential.All in all, the studies suggest that you can begin your career with a bachelor’s degree or data science boot camp, but to advance further, you should consider an advanced STEM degree. The requirements will vary from job to job and company to company. My suggestion is to find a niche area that you enjoy in data science and focus on developing your skills in that area.

Many organizations look to hire a data scientist with an advanced degree. Having a Ph.D. can provide a candidate with an edge during the hiring process, but a master’s or Ph.D. may or may not be required depending on the role. According to Robert Half:

Honorable mentions here should definitely go to Spelman, North Carolina A&T, Southern, and Grambling, as they were all fighting for this last spot. Yet JSU came through in the clutch like Dame Lillard, thanks to the recent news that NFL legend Deion Sanders has been tapped as the school’s new head football coach. These days? You can’t tell anyone from Jackson shit. They already had the Sonic Boom marching band, but adding Primetime to their ranks? Oh, they’re insufferable as hell right now.A vegan, a New Yorker, a J. Cole fan, and a Howard alum all walk into a bar — which person identifies themself quickest? We’re gonna go with the latter, who is most likely wearing a hoodie with the name of his or her alma mater stitched or screen-printed across the front. If you’re ever in a gathering with at least two people who attended the Mecca, you’re guaranteed to hear the call-and-response cry of “H-U! You know!” echo from the window to the damn wall. These alums are quick to inform you about their monumental homecoming celebrations, the famous alumni who’ve become legends in their own right, and the storied Black greek frats and sororities that were founded on their campus. And now that they can claim a possible future VP in Kamala Harris? Let’s just assume there’s gonna be a lot of “H-U!” chanting over the next few years. (Sorry, Hampton!)

“On Oct. 29, mission operators sent a series of commands to NASA’s Voyager 2

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