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I am content to share with you another degree program that is similar to the Computer Science Degree Program that we talked about earlier. This program is offered by the Open Source Society University and is completely free.
This bones/data science The curriculum is designed for those who are motivated and interested in exploring the world of Data Science at their own pace. The program provides a comprehensive Bachelor’s degree program in Data Science, using courses from the world’s best universities. Best of all, there is no financial burden for those enrolling in this program.
The curriculum includes all the necessary and optional courses you need to master data science and prepare for your professional life. The data science curriculum focuses on the theory, mathematics, algorithms, statistics, and tools of data science. Here is a complete list of topics we will cover in this program:
- Introduction to Data Science: Understand the foundations and scope of data science.
- Introduction to Computer Science: Vital for beginners; people familiar with a programming language can skip this step.
- Programming courses:
- Python for everyone
- Introduction to Computer Science and Programming with Python
- Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science
- Data structures and algorithms: Taught in Java (Java Programming, Algorithms, Parts I and II).
- Database: From the basics of database management to MongoDB for developers.
- Mathematics: Including differential and integral calculus of one variable, linear algebra, and differential and integral calculus of several variables.
- Statistics and probability: Courses cover descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
- Data science tools and methods: Data science tools, data science methodology, data processing.
- Machine Learning/Data Mining: The range of courses includes introductory and specialized topics such as process mining.
⚠️Disclaimer
This program does not award an official degree upon completion. It is a curriculum based on freely available resources, including videos, code samples, and quizzes. There is no formal enrollment required; all materials and guidance are available through a designated GitHub repository https://github.com/ossu/data-science. This program is designed to provide an extensive learning experience similar to a Data Science degree; however, it is unofficial and does not award academic accreditation or recognition from educational institutions.
1. Duration and planning
You can complete the program in 2 years if you study for about 20 hours per week. To facilitate you plan, employ this sheet to estimate your end date. Simply enter your start date and weekly study hours in the Timeline worksheet. You can track your progress by updating the Curriculum Data worksheet with the completion date for each course.
2. Order of classes
You need to understand that some courses can be taken simultaneously, while others need to be taken one after another. You can view the chart provided to understand the order of topics and courses.


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3. Tracking progress
Create a Trello account and copy the provided data board to your account. You can find instructions on how to do this here Here. Then, as you progress through the courses, move cards to the “In Progress” or “Done” columns.
4. Selection of programming languages
Python, R, and SQL are the main programming languages used in the data science community. The curriculum covers all three of these languages, but it is critical to note that the focus should be on understanding the core concepts, not just the language itself. These core concepts must be thoroughly understood in order to be applied using any programming tool.
5. Prerequisites
The prerequisite for this course is basic knowledge of mathematics and statistics at high school level.
While enrolling in a free data science bachelor’s degree program is a great place to start, it’s critical to remember that it’s just the beginning. Becoming a highly coveted “super data scientist” takes more than just coursework. It requires dedication to expanding your knowledge through specialized topics, actively engaging in projects, and gaining hands-on experience through internships. You need to be willing to build your career step by step, laying a solid foundation with each fresh skill and experience.
By following this structured and focused program, you are setting yourself on a path to mastering Data Science. Remember, the journey to becoming a proficient data scientist is as critical as the destination. Embrace and enjoy the learning process, as each step brings you closer to achieving your career goals in this electrifying and ever-evolving field.
Abid Ali Awan (@1abidaliawan) is a certified data science professional who loves building machine learning models. He currently focuses on content creation and writing technical blogs on machine learning and data science technologies. Abid has a Masters in Technology Management and a Bachelors in Telecommunication Engineering. His vision is to build an AI product using Graph Neural Network for students struggling with mental illness.
