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IT Data Analytics

Examine data and generate reports and visualizations to uncover patterns and trends that benefit business decision making.

Six people gather around a meeting room table.
Start Date:
September
Typical Length:
2 Years
Credential:
Diploma

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Overview

Recent advances in technology have given rise to the opportunity for businesses to better understand and report on the data being collected in the workplace.  Data analytics is fast becoming the way a business sets themselves apart from their competition. Machine Learning, predictive analytics, descriptive statistics, big data and improved reporting tools are uncovering new business opportunities, and changing the way decisions are made within organisations.

The IT Data Analytics program provides you with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to understand, visualize and manage data. You learn to make sense of information so that impactful, accurate and timely business decisions can be made.

Graduates with data analytics skills are in high demand and can look forward to exciting and fulfilling careers in many fields.

Work experience

  • Field experience is a mandatory credit course, providing you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills outside of the classroom.
    • Opportunities are typically unpaid and last approximately 5 weeks.
  • This program is eligible for an optional cooperative education (co-op) credit course between year one and two.
    • Co-op provides an opportunity for paid, full-time employment in a field related to your program.
    • Co-op takes place in third term and must be a minimum of 12 weeks and 420 hours.
    • Our co-op program follows Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) guidelines.
  • Transportation, accommodations and other costs related to work experience are your responsibility.
  • For more information, visit work experience opportunities.

Choose NSCC

  • You benefit from faculty who bring years of experience to the classroom.
  • Courses are designed to give you a well-rounded experience that parallels industry workplaces.
  • You gain practical experience and apply your skills during work terms.

Other info

September 2025

Campus Full time/part time Delivery Availability
Institute of Technology Campus
Halifax
Full time Blended
Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.
Seats available

Admission requirements

Program requirements

  • Portfolio development – As part of your studies at NSCC, you develop a portfolio of your work; the portfolio captures your achievements and profiles your skills to employers.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are for the 2024-25 academic year. Program costs and fees (textbooks, supplies, etc.) are additional.

Tuition (Domestic):
$3,620
Tuition (International):
$11,690

Tuition, fees and program costs

In addition to annual tuition, there are program costs (books, tools, etc.) and student fees for College services, health and dental plans, your student association and parking.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

Career options

Graduates of this program could work in the following positions:

  • Data analysts
  • Database administrators
  • Data analytics specialists
  • Data interpretation analysts
  • Data architects
  • Data engineers
  • Business analysts

Future study options

Courses may include

These are some of the courses offered in this program. It is not a complete list and courses are subject to change in advance of the academic year.

Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits
If you have previous learning (course, employment, etc...) that's relevant to your program, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.

DBAS 1007 - Data Fundamentals
This course introduces students to the concept of a database management system and its role in the IT infrastructure of any business. Students will use a database management system to develop a database and use this database to store and manipulate data. Students will also be asked to interpret database diagrams and create database objects based on their meaning.

DBAS 2030 - Introduction to Statistics for Data Analytics
This course introduces students to fundamental concepts of statistics and data management including probability and probability distributions. Measures of dispersion, central tendency, confidence intervals, sampling methods, linear regression, test for normality and variable correlation are included and students are introduced to the statistical tool R Studio. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be developed using the R scripting language.

DBAS 2035 - Introduction to Machine Learning
This course introduces students to machine learning, a set of tools for predictive analytics and understanding complex datasets. The course presents the application of machine learning using many methods such as Supervised and Unsupervised Learning. The course concentrates more on the applications of the methods and less on the mathematical details.

DBAS 2104 - Business Analysis Essentials
This course teaches the fundamental business processes that govern the operation of any business. The focus is on the tools and methodologies used by business analysts to gather information regarding those operational processes and how the gathered information is used to support strategic and tactical decision-making in the business. This fundamental understanding of the business and analysis is then used by the learners to accurately interpret the detailed business requirements that drive design and implementation of supporting IT products and services. Extensive use is made of real world case studies from the local area, including guest lectures from local business analysts. Tools and software used in the course will be chosen according to current local industry standards.

DBAS 3017 - User Experience Techniques for Data
This course introduces learners to the application of Usability rules for User Interface Design. Learners will study the existing standards of practice in User Interface Design to create interfaces that have been scientifically proven to create more satisfying and effective experiences for users that interact with information systems. Concepts include User Control and Freedom, System Level Awareness, Consistency, Error Control, Flexibility and Aesthetics. Learners will explore career paths within the Information Technology industry and the related training offered at NSCC.

DBAS 3018 - Data Movement and Integration
The course is designed to familiarize learners with the process and methodologies used to discover, analyze, cleanse, integrate and provide large and potentially volatile datasets from heterogeneous data sources to complex processing environments. Progression of skill in this course is done in the end-to-end context of the ETL process within an encompassing Data Governance structure. Enterprises that have adopted a modern data architecture including noSQL platforms must reconcile data management realities when they bring existing and new data from disparate platforms under management. Learners will investigate, discover and identify data sources based on analyzed client requirements, link to those data, perform cleansing, perform any necessary transformations, accurately integrate and load the data to its end platform. Due to the fact that in production, data programmers may be applying all or any component of the ETL process, a variety of platforms will be used ranging from command line ANSI standard SQL to comprehensive ETL suites. Every platform choice in the course will reflect current local industry standards.

DBAS 3019 - Business Data Modelling
This course builds on a general understanding of business analyst principles. Learners will focus on business process models and how to analyze data to improve business efficiency. The integration of business standards and maintenance of the lifecycle are also addressed.

DBAS 3085 - Data Security
This course focuses on the concerns around security in the age of big data. Learners will identify the best practices required to equip an organization for potential data breaches or threats, address roles and responsibilities regarding regulation and examine the requirements for the data lifecycle of an organization.

DBAS 3090 - Applied Data Analytics
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to evidence-based decision-making in the world of data. Students will become big data literate and proficient in the data environments of social media tracking, web analytics, sales, customer and marketing information. Data analytic solutions explored will involve hands-on experience using current local industry standard tools.

ICOM 2701 - Professional Practice for IT I
This course exposes students to tools and process that support professional continuous improvement. This course builds the foundations for professional habits and methodologies that help graduates remain current and relevant in an ever-evolving profession.

ICOM 2702 - Professional Practice for IT II
This course develops the skills, attitudes, processes and habits required to successfully prepare for a variety of interview scenarios and the associated presentation techniques. Emphasis is on the development of a professional portfolio and the part that personal marketing plays in gaining successful, relevant employment.

ICOM 2703 - Professional Practice for IT III
This course provides students with the skills and knowledge to curate a personal, professional portfolio in readiness for employment in the IT industry. In addition, students will practice and prepare for numerous interview situations and scenarios by honing the skills and techniques previously acquired.

INET 3700 - Server Operating Systems and Scripting
This course focuses on the skills needed to manage an operating system and automate the management of the same operating system. Learners will be able to configure, maintain and troubleshoot the operating system using industry standard toolsets and be able to automate simple management tasks in various platforms. The significant learning of the course will be focused in the command line interface of the operating system.

INFT 3000 - Capstone
Learners acquire hands-on experience on a group project applying much of the material learned throughout their program. Throughout this course, learners will apply their skills to prepare and deliver technical documentation and presentations using various media platforms.

INFT 4100 - Work Experience
This course is a summative experience in the context of a real-world organization. Students will apply learning in an authentic professional IT working environment and gain hands-on industry related skills and knowledge.

ISEC 3050 - Ethics and Law in Data Analytics
This course will explore what it means to use analytics ethically and how to think about its ethical implications. The approach is from the perspective of professionals who lead analytics-oriented teams or organizations, and whose success depends on the ability to recognize the ethical issues at stake and resolve these to the satisfaction of multiple stakeholders. This course provides an overview of current emerging Canadian legislation affecting information technology and management, with a focus on the intersection of these legal principles with business ethics. Learners will practice thinking through and processing legal problems consistent with ethical norms and analyze business risk, taking into consideration ethical issues, to arrive at business decisions.

MOBI 3002 - Mobile Application Development - Android
In this course students will develop mobile software applications that run on the Android platform. Students will use the Android Studio development platform to write, debug, and test software applications. Students will develop these apps by stepping through various phases, such as graphical interface design considerations, the SDK/API interface, device capability, debugging, simulation and testing.

NETW 1027 - Introduction to Networking and Security
This course is focused on supporting network connected devices covering troubleshooting and maintaining connectivity from a client perspective.

OSYS 1000 - Operating Systems - Linux
This course introduces the skills and knowledge that will enable the student to install, configure, maintain and troubleshoot a current UNIX based operating system (OS) in standalone workstation mode.

OSYS 1200 - Introduction to Windows Administration
This course is an introductory course to familiarize the student with key topics in managing a Windows client operating system.

PROG 1400 - Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
This course is an introduction to the essentials of object oriented programming (OOP). This course provides an explanation of the paradigm on which OOP is based, and how it affects programming strategies and solutions.

PROG 1700 - Logic and Programming
This course introduces the fundamentals of logic and computer programming and their role in the creation of software solutions for any problem. Logic is used to break down complex problems into manageable tasks to allow for comprehensive problem-solving using computer code. This course covers the process of creating logical designs and implementing them as programmatic code to build computer software programs.

PROG 2700 - Client Side Programming
This course builds on the concepts covered in Introduction to HTML by adding functionality to static web pages through client side programming and CSS pre-processors / libraries. A heavy focus is placed on developing without the use of large JS frameworks/libraries. Foundational data sending and retrieval will also be explored using JSON data formats.

SAFE 1000 - Introduction to WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
This course offers learners basic overview of WHMIS principles and establishes a solid foundation to support workplace-specific training on the safe storage and handling of controlled/hazardous products. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive basic WHMIS certification.

SAFE 1001 - Introduction to NS OH&S Act
This course offers students an introduction to the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act of Nova Scotia, which is required by any person employed in a Nova Scotia workplace. This is a generic, introductory course that provides basic knowledge of the Act for students and is considered to be the basis from which more specific training can be given.

WEBD 1000 - Website Development
This course provides an introduction to website development. Emphasis will be placed on development processes, usability, and adhering to current industry standards.

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