Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding and communicating data in a way that informs, compels, or reassures is a core personal and professional skill for anyone who wants to be a successful member of the 21st century community. We believe, and we will help students learn how and why, data stories should surprise, provide a new, more convincing explanation for time-worn ideas, and propose a course of action. These skills can be applied directly to careers in data storytelling and data science but are also essential in a variety of other professions, including communications, public relations, journalism, academia, STEM, and business.

We use a four-step learning approach in this program. For each content area students will first engage in active reading of selected articles. Next, students will be asked to reflect on what they learned by posting to a course discussion board. Students will then practice the concepts learned in a quiz. Finally, students will have the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge learned by crafting written assignments in which they analyze data and use it to weave stories.

This means that there are no due dates, and students can choose how much or how little time to spend on course readings, discussions, and assignments each week. This is intended to provide students with the flexibility needed to make the course work for their individual circumstances. In addition, the course won’t be actively driven by the instructor. Students will find everything they need to understand the course content, discuss, and evaluate their learning within the Brightspace page. However, a learning manager and the course creator will periodically monitor the course and will be available if any students need assistance.

This course is similar to a standard 3 credit hour class, meaning that students should expect to spend 8-9 hours per week to complete the full certificate program (all four courses: Data Storytelling 101, Causal Data Stories, Narrative Visualization, and Data Storytelling as an Ethical Choice) in 16 weeks. However, because the course is self-paced, students can decide how much time to allocate to the readings and assignments each week. Students purchasing courses individually will have 12 weeks to complete each course; students who purchase the full certificate will have access for a full year.

There are no prerequisites for the Data Storytelling program, though familiarity with basic statistics is encouraged.

Credit courses are usually taken to work towards a degree program. Non-credit courses are taken for personal or professional interest and do not usually offer college credit.

However, there is a noncredit to credit pathway for students who complete the full certificate program (all four courses: Data Storytelling 101, Causal Data Stories, Narrative Visualization, and Data Storytelling as an Ethical Choice).

Upon satisfactory completion of the full certificate program (all four courses: Data Storytelling 101, Causal Data Stories, Narrative Visualization, and Data Storytelling as an Ethical Choice), students will have the option to apply 3 credits for this course to Purdue University’s Online Master of Science in Communication. For more information about this program, see here

No. This program is open enrollment, meaning that students can enroll at any time and that course access begins the date of enrollment.

The full certificate (all four courses: Data Storytelling 101, Causal Data Stories, Narrative Visualization, and Data Storytelling as an Ethical Choice) can be purchased for $1,000. Causal Data Stories, Narrative Visualization, or Data Storytelling as an Ethical Choice can also be purchased individually for $350. Data Storytelling 101 is a free course that will be included with the purchase of any paid course and must be completed first.

Students who enroll in the full certificate program (all four courses: Data Storytelling 101, Causal Data Stories, Narrative Visualization, and Data Storytelling as an Ethical Choice) will have a year of access to course content.

Students will have twelve weeks of access to each course that is purchased individually and a year of access if all four courses are purchased.

While a Purdue student in a non-degree seeking program is not eligible for federal student aid there are other funding options that may be available to you.

Financial assistance may be available from alternative loan programs. There are many private commercial education loan options available to assist students in meeting college costs. You can obtain more information about alternative loans here