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Individual Course

Data Science for Business

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Course Length

4 weeks

4–5 hours per week

Featuring faculty from:

Harvard Business School

Certificate Price:

$ 1,600

Enroll by Jun 4, 2026

Enroll Now

Certificate Price:

$ 1,600

Enroll by Jun 4, 2026

Enroll Now

Designed for managers, this Harvard Online course provides a hands-on approach for demystifying the data science ecosystem and making you a more conscientious consumer of information.

What is data-driven decision making, and how can a better understanding and use of data impact your business or organization?

Data is only as useful as the insights you can collect.

Data Science for Business will help you appreciate the full benefits of data-driven decision making and teach you the business analytics tools and techniques to effectively understand, visualize, and analyze the data available to you.

Self-Guided

Harvard Online

Industries:

  • Financial Services
  • Technology
  • Retail
  • Consulting
  • Dr. Lutheria P.
  • Aung Z. Y.
  • Elizer

Global Learning Community

  • Learn from real case studies
  • Do it on your own time
  • Get a certificate, add it to your resume
  • Be part of the Harvard Community
Data Science for Business values

Syllabus

Data Science for Business provides a hands-on approach for demystifying the data science ecosystem and making you a more conscientious consumer of information. Learning requirements: There are no prerequisites required to enroll in this course. In order to earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online and Harvard Business School Online, participants must thoughtfully complete all 5 modules, including satisfactory completion of the associated assignments, by stated deadlines.

Download Full Syllabus

Faculty

Industry Experts

Your Instructor

Yael Grushka-Cockayne

Visiting Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and Professor of Business Administration

Yael Grushka-Cockayne is the Altec Styslinger Foundation Bicentennial Chair in Business Administration and Senior Associate Dean for Professional Degree Programs at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and was formerly a Visiting Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and Professor of Business Administration. Her research and teaching activities focus on data science, forecasting, project management, and behavioral decision-making. Her research is published in numerous academic and professional journals, and she is a regular speaker at international conferences in the areas of decision analysis, project management, and management science. In 2014, Grushka-Cockayne was named one of "21 Thought-Leader Professors" in Data Science.

Industry Expert

Temple Fennell

CEO and founder of ATO Pictures, LLC

Temple Fennell is the CEO and founder of ATO Pictures, LLC, a motion pictures finance, production and distribution company that provides U.S. distribution and production funding. Step into Hollywood and explore how this company used data to identify box office success in the entertainment industry.

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Industry Expert

Paul Matherne, MD

Associate Chief Medical Officer for UVA Children's

Paul Matherne, MD is a pediatric cardiologist and the associate chief medical officer for UVA Children's. He will demonstrate how even preemies can benefit from data science in the case of a children’s hospital’s bid to expand the NICU.

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Industry Expert

Susanna Gallani

Assistant Professor Of Business Administration at Harvard Business School

Susanna Gallani is an Assistant Professor Of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. She used data to determine if employees were fully engaged at work and will analyze how data can be used to fine-tune incentive strategies.

Great course designed to provide insight that can be applied on the job. Thank you for providing such high quality and learner centered material! I feel so enlightened and motivated to do more related to data science.

Dr. Lutheria P.

This program has equipped me with valuable insights and practical skills and in-depth critical thinking. Harvard on Digital courses provide the frameworks and methodologies to turn data into insight, technologies into strategy, and opportunities into value and responsibility. These courses are curated to help you develop a data-first mindset, improve your digital strategic thinking, and learn how to navigate, manage, and lead in these environments. Build your confidence to provide practical data insights to improve analysis, communication, and decision-making at your organization.

Aung Z. Y.

Founder/Director

There were moments when the terms are difficult to understand, but thanks to my classmates in this class, I learned gradually until I understood how things work. I thought I knew enough about data analytics at first, but as I worked through this course, I realized I still had a lot to learn and understand, from the simple step-by-step process down to seven methods of analysis. I will use this course as a foundation for both my future academic endeavors in data analytics and for my career.

Elizer

This course broadens and enriches one's perspective by offering an opportunity to interact with and learn from highly accomplished faculty, business leaders and peers from all across the world.

Paul M.

Director

I feel that this course has given extra knowledge and skill to enhance my work output. I have enjoyed learning about the data decision frame work and this is something that I will continue to apply. Visualization of data for me seems to be the most impactful in communication. Whereas data may be challenging to interpret, visuals aid ordinary people to quickly make sense of the data.

K. Richard

Compliance and Internal Controls

Many thanks to the professors and supporting staff at Harvard Online for providing quality academic content that can be taught across the globe and through the dynamics of busy daily life. I am proud to have been able to learn from people with such passion for and stature in their field. My gratitude to the many peers that took some of these courses alongside me; I have learned a great deal from your unique insights and experiences and I hope I have been able to give some of that back.

Lars V.D.G

Data and Analytics Consultant

I decided to enroll in this course because data is a critical digital asset, but its value depends on proper preparation and interpretation to drive informed decisions. This course has equipped me with the skills to work effectively with data, ensuring it makes sense and supports sound decision-making.

Amin F.

This course gave me a clear perspective: data science isn’t just technical—it’s a powerful decision-making tool for managers. It helps structure decisions, guide actions, and build a data-driven culture within the company. A short but highly enriching experience.

James K.

This course definitely paid off 🙌 Upon successful completion of the course, I added this course to my LinkedIn and resume, and I can say that I have become more popular among HR 😎. In addition, I gained confidence in myself as a specialist ☝

Jeannette V.

I decided to enroll in this course because data is a critical digital asset, but its value depends on proper preparation and interpretation to drive informed decisions. This course has equipped me with the skills to work effectively with data, ensuring it makes sense and supports sound decision-making.

Amin

This course helped me see how to turn numbers into insights and insights into action.

Igor P.

Unlock Exclusive Webinar Replays with Your Enrollment

When you enroll in Data Science for Business—or any course in the Harvard on Digital series—you’ll gain access to an exclusive, on-demand library of webinars available only to enrolled Harvard Online learners. Hear from Data Science for Business faculty Yael Grushka-Cockayne in Harnessing AI in Business, learn from Professor Dustin Tingley in Data Science in the AI Era, and explore many more expert-led sessions. Explore all of our enrolled learner and past participant benefits. Explore all of our enrolled learner and past participant benefits.

Learning Path in this topic

Harvard on Digital

These courses are curated to help you develop a data-first mindset, improve your digital strategic thinking, and learn how to navigate, manage, and lead in these environments. 

See learning path

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May 20, 2026 • 4–5 hours per week

Code- and math-free introduction to data science and AI

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Jun 3, 2026 • 4–5 hours per week

Use data to tackle the most pressing social challenges of our time

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Open Innovation

Jul 8, 2026 • 2–4 hours a week

Strategies for solutions to solve your organization’s problems

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Open Innovation

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Past Participant Discounts

Learners who have enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online program can receive a 30% discount, automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment.

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the edX platform are eligible to receive a 30% discount using a discount code. Please check your email for a code or contact us.

Nonprofit, Government, Military, and Education Discounts

Eligibility is determined by a prospective learner’s email address, ending in .org, .gov, .mil, or .edu. Interested learners can apply below for the discount and, if eligible, will receive a promo code to enter when completing payment information to enroll in a Harvard Online program. 

Apply for Discount

FAQs

We offer 30% discounts to past participants of select Harvard Online courses. We also offer discounts on select courses to learners who work in nonprofits, government, military, or education, or are U.S. veterans. You can find more information about current discounts and eligibility on our course policies and discounts page.

Apply for a Discount

Once you've earned your Certificate of Completion, list it on your resume along with the date of completion:

Harvard Online

Certificate in Data Science for Business

[Cohort Start Month and Year]

List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" as follows:

School: Harvard Online

Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program]

Degree: Other; Certificate in Data Science for Business

Field of Study: Leave blank

Grade: Complete

Activities and Societies: Leave blank

For the program description on LinkedIn, please use the following:

Data Science for Business is an online course that focuses on data-driven frameworks for decision-making and includes developing insights from visualizations, identifying data mistakes or missing components, and speaking the language of data science across themes such as forecasting, linear regressions, and machine learning.

Yes! This course is particularly good for those who aren’t data scientists, but who need to work with them as managers, decision-makers, or colleagues.

You are expected to complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely way. This includes completing the modules and fully answering the questions in each module between the course start and end dates so that the cohort can move through the course at a similar pace and benefit from social learning opportunities. ⁠In addition to completing modules and assignments, you are expected to provide feedback on other learners’ reflections and contribute to discussions on the platform.

⁠You can set your own daily or weekly routine and adjust it as needed, but to receive your certificate you must complete all modules and assignments by the stated course end date. Learners who do not complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course. No letter grades are assigned for this course; your participation is evaluated on a complete or incomplete basis.

For detailed information about technology and bandwidth requirements, please see our full Harvard Online FAQs.

Upon successful completion of this program, you will receive a digital Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online. Our team reviews all participant coursework after the final deadline in your course, and, once eligibility is confirmed, your Certified Electronic Credential will be delivered to your email address.

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final deadline in the program.

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