Northern Oklahoma College is offering courses that can lead to careers in several of the top paying jobs.Thing of a career change? Want to work from home? Hear about great job opportunities like Data Analyst, Marketing Analyst, Business Analyst, etc. which are consistently being listed in the top paying jobs, but don’t know exactly how to get started?These and other critical in-demand jobs require experience in the area of data analytics. Think for a moment, how does a company determine when to do maintenance on a large piece of equipment? Or, how does a business decide how much to order based upon current trends? Or, how many parts per batch need to be inspected to determine if the batch is going to meet the required specifications? These all fall under the topic of data analytics. In our current world, data is gathered, but it has to be maintained and analyzed for it to do any good.Over the past two years, at the request of local industry partners and utilizing funding from a Department of Education Grant, Northern Oklahoma College has been developing introductory courses in data analytics. The purpose of these courses is to meet the needs of local employers and individuals gain experience in this area. Dr. Wood-Black, Division Chair of Engineering, Physical Science, and Process Technology, says that “understanding the data for particular applications is critical to making sound repair and maintenance decisions on equipment for our processing industries. Data analytics skills are used in a variety of ways including decisions about when and how much fertilizer or pesticide to apply.” She indicated that we see the results of data analytics all around us particularly when we are viewing infographics. Understanding and having a background in this fast-growing area means that individuals are more employable and make better decisions in a wide variety of areas. Thus, the development of the four-course series, in which students will learn the basics of data analytics. Dr. Wood-Black says that the program is designed so that a student can take all four courses, online, and complete them within one year. And, the first course Introduction to Data Analytics is being offered during the late 8 session. The Late 8 session begins March 11.
