Can an MCA student crack a Data Science job?

The fast-evolving technological landscape demands continual upskilling of students and working professionals alike. A Master in Computer Applications (MCA) helps fill the skill gap in your portfolio, entitling you to high-paying job roles in IT and other related industries. One such domain is Data Science, which has increasingly gained popularity in recent years, owing to technological innovations in the gathering, analysis, and interpretation of data. With its growing popularity as a top career option, an important question arises – Is an MCA for a Data Science job an ideal degree choice? Let’s try answering this question in this blog. 

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Key skills required for Data Science

A career in data science requires some specific skills, which are outlined below. Pursuing an MCA degree can help earn these skills, enabling students to take up rewarding job roles in Data Science. Some of the most in-demand MCA skills for Data Science include:

• Machine Learning: A sub-division of AI that revolves around building algorithms that can perform tasks without being programmed. This skill is helpful in Data Science as it facilitates deriving valuable insights from raw data.

• Data Visualization: This is one of the most important skills that Data Scientists must have as it enables them to interpret large, complex numerical data using visual aids such as graphs, charts, and maps and communicate them in an easy-to-understand language. 

• Programming: Languages such as R and Python are most commonly used in Data Science and are in high demand. Data Scientists use their coding skills with these languages to enable interaction with computers and give appropriate commands to them.

• Big Data: Data Scientists are required to generate valuable insights from large sets of data and use them to make improvements in developing products, retaining customers, and identifying newer business opportunities.

• Effective Communication: A Data Scientist is not just involved in data extraction but is also expected to translate that information in a simple, comprehensible manner to the organization or concerned stakeholders. This is why it becomes extremely important for them to be able to effectively communicate their data findings with people who may not have the same technical know-how.

• Analytical Abilities: Data Scientists must be able to analyze large sets of data that are complex and numeric-heavy and derive useful insights from them for further use. For this, they must have good analytical skills to be able to carefully research and analyze all types of data.

• Decision-making: After carefully analyzing data and interpreting results from them, Data Scientists must be able to decide the best way forward for the overall improvement of the product or achievement of organizational goals.

• Data Intuition: It is not always possible to derive useful results from huge and complex data sets. This is where Data Scientists must have the desired skill to dig up insights from non-apparent data sets and be able to determine the exact findings from a huge repository of information.

An MCA degree imparts the necessary skills in Machine Learning, Statistical Modeling, Deep Learning, Data Analysis, Programming, and Data Visualization. All these skills that are a vital component of MCA eligibility for Data Science can help graduates find lucrative career opportunities in the field, some of which are detailed in the next section.

Career opportunities in data science for MCA students

Graduating with an MCA degree opens up career pathways for students in the newly evolving field of Data Science. Some of the top Data science career options for MCA students are listed below with their corresponding approx annual salaries:

1. Quantitative Analyst: Also popularly referred to as quants, Quantitative Analysts help organizations make informed financial decisions by using statistical modeling strategies and techniques. 

Average annual salary (approx): INR 17,47,871 per annum

2. Machine Learning Engineer: They are responsible for designing Machine Learning (ML) systems, documenting ML processes, conducting and running ML tests, and studying data science prototypes.

Average annual salary (approx): INR 10,22,496 per annum

3. Data Scientist: They extract useful insights from large data sets by taking help from their knowledge of statistics, mathematics, and programming. 

Average annual salary (approx): INR 971,043 per annum

4. Data Engineer: They help design and build systems for gathering, storing, and analyzing data.

Average annual salary (approx): INR 9,50,000 per annum

5. Business Analyst: They are responsible for evaluating the overall performance of an organization and suggesting ways for improvement in certain systems and processes for growth. 

Average annual salary (approx): INR 9 lakh per annum

6. Data Analyst: They gather and perform a thorough analysis of the data collected from different sources. They also use that data to create useful informational resources for the growth of the company.

Average annual salary (approx): INR 6 lakh per annum  

Find more about the top industries you can work in after MCA

Tips for MCA students to crack Data Science jobs

As is evident from the table above, Data Science is a lucrative career option for MCA graduates. Given below are a few helpful tips to land your first job in this field of work:

1. Earn a relevant degree, such as MCA, that can help lay a solid foundation for entry into Data Science.
2. Work on your data analysis skills, including data exploration, cleaning, and visualization.
3. Upskill yourself with the latest big data technological innovations such as Spark and Hadoop.
4. Also learn the popular programming languages and tools that can help, such as R, Python, and SQL.
5. Upgrade your learning curve with Machine Learning algorithms and techniques.
6. Specialize in a particular area of Data Science – Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, and the like.
7. Build a portfolio of impressive projects in the domain that you can showcase in job interviews.

Read more tips for MCA graduates to build an effective resume

Take your career forward with Online Manipal

Now that it is established that MCA is one of the best degree choices for a career in Data Science, take the first step with Manipal University Jaipur which offers MCA courses in 100% online mode on the Online Manipal platform. With added convenience and flexibility, pursuing an MCA from Manipal University Jaipur is one of the best options to learn as you work. 

The program is designed to help students gain deeper insights into advanced programming languages, Artificial Intelligence, computer applications, and deep learning. They are equipped with a strong base of practical skills and computer science principles, suited for working in varied roles in the IT sector. Several technology companies, educational institutions, government organizations, and research laboratories offer job prospects to MCA graduates. 

Learn more about what are the career prospects for BCA+MCA graduates

Conclusion

Data Science is a fast-evolving career and rather rewarding as well. An online MCA degree can be the perfect gateway to enter the field and step up your career ladder. The degree is ideal for students and working professionals alike. With the comfort of pursuing it online on the Online Manipal platform, Manipal University Jaipur makes the degree easily accessible to all and opens up a wide array of Data Science opportunities for MCA graduates.  

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