by Angela Guess

The Kogod School of Business at American University recently put together an infographic comparing careers in business analytics with careers in Data Science. Phil Simon writes, “Not too long ago, The Harvard Business Review dubbed data scientist ‘the sexiest job of the 21st century.’ What’s more, McKinsey reported that the United States alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 by 2018. In short, interest is exploding. Brass tacks: These days, analytics and data science are all the rage, but why now? Many reasons spring to mind. Credit the rise of Big Data and its proselytizers—i.e., the likes of Nate Silver, Moneyball pioneer Billy Beane, and powerful, data gobbling companies such as Netflix, Google, and Facebook.”

He goes on, “If it seems like the geeks have inherited the earth, you’re right. These days, data-oriented practices are even challenging orthodoxies in game shows such as Jeopardy! This is great news if you’re studying analytics—or thinking about it… There’s no shortage of myths at play here, but let’s cut through the hype. What exactly is a data scientist anyway? How does one differ from a business analyst? For answers to some of these questions, check out the infographic below.”

Photo credit: onlinebusiness.american.edu