4 College Degrees Jack Ma Says Will Be Valuable In The Future

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA founder Jack Ma recently discussed the ways the world is changing and the implications for the global economy in an interview with CNBC.

Over the next 30 years, technology will evolve in a way that will make millions of jobs obsolete. While the transition will be “painful” for certain workers, those with education and experience in key areas could be handsomely rewarded.

“The world is going to be data,” Ma said. “This is just the beginning of the data period.”

Ma’s not alone in his prediction that companies will be paying top dollar for data scientists for decades to come.

“A basic understanding of data analytics is incredibly important for this next generation of young people,” said Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet, Inc GOOG GOOGL. “That’s the world you’re going into.”

With so many jobs at risk from automation and artificial intelligence, young Americans looking for a career as a data scientist will likely be entering an in-demand and well-paying field that could provide a level of long-term job security that other career paths don’t.

While data scientists come from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds, here are four bachelor’s degrees that can help prepare students for a career in data science.

1. Data Science and Analytics

The number of colleges offering bachelor’s degrees specifically aimed at data science has exploded in recent years as the field has gained more notoriety.

2. Statistics/Mathematics

If your college of choice doesn’t offer a data science degree, getting a degree in statistics or mathematics with a focus on statistics and data science is a good alternative. A 2015 study by Burtch Works found that 28 percent of data scientists have degrees in mathematics/statistics.

3. Engineering

An engineering degree can be a challenging endeavor, but employers know the type of valuable skill set engineers bring to the table. According to the Burtch Works study, 18 percent of data scientists have an education in engineering.

4. Computer Science

The best thing about pursuing a degree in computer science may be that, even if you decide you hate data science, a data science degree prepares you for a wide range of in-demand technology jobs. Roughly 17 percent of data scientists have an educational background in computer science.

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