Forty-four students in Mrs. Amanda Loffler’s Data Science class have earned badges from IBM for completing a Data Science Orientation course.

"In today’s economy, data science is not just a specialized field but a fundamental skill set that drives value creation, innovation, and informed decision-making across industries. Learning about data science is important for CC students because it equips them with valuable skills and knowledge that are increasingly essential in today’s data-driven world,” stated Amanda Loffler, Business Department Chair and DECA Advisor. 

The course is a one-semester elective. This is the first time it has been offered at CC. Students who earn this badge have demonstrated an understanding of why AI, data science, and machine learning are important for the way people do business and research around the world. 

The badge covers the following main topics: 

• Defining Data Science and What Data Scientists Do 
• Data Science Topics (Big Data, Data Mining, Data Cleaning, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, AI)
• Applications and Careers in Data Science

“Students will continue using Coursera this semester and have an opportunity to earn another badge. Students who take additional courses can continue in Coursera and attempt to gain a complete set of badges. There are nine badges in total,” Mrs. Loffler explained.