Women in Data Science: Closing the Gender Gap, One Data Science Master’s Degree at a Time

Women have been positively impacting the field of data science since before there was a name for it. Florence Nightingale, often regarded as the founder of modern nursing, organized a Royal Commission to document the health of the army and analyze the deaths of soldiers. According to History.com, Nightingale translated this data into the now famous “Nightingale Rose Diagram,” which showed “how the Sanitary Commission’s work decreased the death rate and made the complicated data accessible to all.” Any pantheon of early data science pioneers would also have to include Margaret Hamilton, one of the first computer software programmers, and Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who helped incorporate computers into NASA missions. 

Women constitute about half the U.S. workforce, but while they boast a long history of tech contributions, they aren’t proportionately represented in tech industry roles today. Female representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs has grown in recent decades; still, women remain underrepresented in engineering, computer, and physical science occupations. This article explores how women are increasingly bringing their skills, talent, and perspective to these fields, including in data science. It also discusses how you can bolster your prospects as a data science professional by earning a Tufts Online Master of Science in Data Science. 

Benefits of Gender Diversity in Tech 

For some, it may appear evident that a diverse team brings many benefits. Others, well, they may insist on seeing the data. They may wonder whether diversity can impact a field like data science. Aren’t numbers just numbers? Not entirely, it turns out. 

Take the example of a large online retailer that attempted to design a computer program to guide hiring decisions. It used submitted resumes from the previous decade as training data. According to a Deloitte report, “Because most of these resumes came from men, the program taught itself that candidates who were men were preferable to women. While the company realized this tendency early on and never used the program to evaluate candidates, the example highlights how relying on biased data can reinforce inequality.”

As tech companies continue to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI), a diverse workforce interpreting data, testing solutions, and making decisions proves more effective in identifying and removing AI biases. One study found that gender-diverse teams can create performance improvements and exhibit fewer errors. Interestingly, the study concluded that all groups introduce bias to data processes; the best way to reduce error, it determined, is through cross-demographic averaging facilitated by diversity.

Women – who are responsible for 80 percent of purchases and purchase influence – bring a breadth of consumer knowledge to tech roles. Women’s thoughts, input, and innovation can help products and services reach a broader audience. Yet companies often overlook products that cater to their needs. Analysis by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) showed “that if women and men participated equally as entrepreneurs, global GDP could rise by approximately 3% to 6%, boosting the global economy by $2.5 trillion to $5 trillion.” 

Why Pursue a Data Science Career Path?

A 2020 BCG report found that women make up only 15 to 22 percent of data science professionals. More are needed; the industry can benefit from diverse perspectives and talents, and women can also benefit from its varied career opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data science jobs will grow 35 percent by 2032, with a median annual income of ​​$108,020. 

Earning a Master of Science in Data Science, like the one offered online by Tufts University School of Engineering, can prepare you to pursue a fast-growing, high-ranking career path. U.S. News & World Report ranks data scientists as the fourth-best technology job, seventh-best STEM job, and eighth-best job overall. U.S. News also reports that data scientists enjoy higher-than-average advancement opportunities and salary increases while experiencing below-average stress levels at work.

Compelling career opportunities aren’t the only reason to pursue a data science career. There’s also the real-world impact and urgency of having a voice at the table. Data science, machine learning, and AI increasingly affect our modern life—from setting monetary policies to modeling climate change impacts. As Women in Data Science (WiDS) observes, “Data science and its related areas are critically reshaping our world, yet women are still significantly underrepresented: they represent less than 20% of students and less than 10% of decision makers. Numerous studies cite this disparity as having a potentially dire impact on our societies.” 

Resources and Support for Women in Data Science 

As representation in data science grows, a number of resources and organizations actively advance opportunities and provide support for female data science professionals. Some resources are membership-based, but many—like podcasts, publications, and think tanks—are free and accessible to anyone.  

National Center for Women & Information Technology 

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a far-reaching network of leaders focused on advancing innovation by correcting underrepresentation in computing. NCWIT equips and unites more than 1,500 organizations nationwide to increase the influential and meaningful participation of girls and women in computing, particularly in terms of innovation and development. NCWIT offers resources and programs to support women already in and entering the workforce. 

Women in Data Science Worldwide (WiDS)

WiDS launched at Stanford University in 2015 with a one-day technical conference and soon after began offering conferences, workshops, research, and more worldwide, thanks to volunteer efforts. The organization hopes to reach 30 percent representation for women in education, innovation, and leadership by 2030. WiDS believes that achieving a 30 percent representation of women marks a critical threshold for fostering a more inclusive culture, serving as a tipping point for reaching equal participation and ultimately reducing biases in data-driven decision-making.

Women in Data

A global network, Women in Data has over 70,000 members in more than 60 countries and chapters in 60 cities. It works to empower women in data careers. As with WiDS, Women in Data aims to achieve 30 percent female representation in data and AI careers and reach 10 million lives by 2030. The organization connects women to data stories, professional interviews, and the latest trends in the world of data through its blog and podcast.

Women in Tech

​Headquartered in Paris, Women in Tech has chapters in 48 countries across six continents and a membership of over 200,000 individuals. It focuses on bridging the gender gap and empowering women to embrace technology. With advocacy at its mission’s core, the global movement hosts a yearly summit to further public diplomacy with ministers, policymakers, and governments. Women in Tech also offers a mentoring program and a dedicated hub where its community can connect and inspire one another.

Girls Who Code

While not geared toward professionals already in the workforce, Girls Who Code offers a great opportunity for women in data science to get involved and support the next generation of girls in tech. Girls Who Code aims to connect with girls worldwide and close the pay gap for entry-level tech jobs. The group has worked with ​​state policymakers to expand computer science classes in middle schools, fund gender inclusion training within professional development, increase exposure to women and other underrepresented minorities in tech, and track and report data on computer science participation. Over half of the girls the organization serves come from historically underrepresented groups.

Start or Grow Your Data Science Career With a Master’s Degree 

As technology continuously advances and reshapes our lives, including diverse voices in decision-making processes becomes vital. A bachelor’s degree serves as the minimum requirement to start a career in data science, but many data scientists earn a master’s or doctoral degree. At the AI company Peak, 57 percent of female data scientists earned a master’s degree as their highest level of education, and 36 percent completed a doctorate. 

Pursuing a master’s degree for a career in data science ​​can help you build the in-demand skills and knowledge you’ll need to lead technical innovation across industries.

Exploring Your Options: The Tufts Master’s of Data Science

The Tufts online Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) program prepares students to unlock the potential of data and solve the world’s most complex problems. Designed for working professionals, students can complete the 100 percent online degree in as little as two years.

Students enrolled in the Tufts program benefit from collaborating with their peers and world-class faculty in project-based research and hands-on course work that allows them to apply their knowledge and hone their skills. 

The Tufts Department of Computer Science, which jointly administers the online MSDS program with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, partners with the Building, Recruiting, and Inclusion for Diversity (BRAID) initiative. This partnership reflects the department’s recognition that diversity is essential to producing future leaders, creating innovative technologies, and serving society.

Next Steps: Apply to the Tufts MSDS Online Program

If you’re a woman in STEM ready to pursue or further your career in data science, consider taking the first step today: start your application to the Tufts MSDS online program. A data science master’s degree will provide the foundation to formulate specific, complex problems; collect, interpret, and organize data to draw conclusions; apply data analysis techniques to determine solutions; and evaluate solutions to identify risks and potential errors. 

New to data science? Tufts offers a Post-Baccalaureate Data Science Certificate program tailored for those seeking a comprehensive foundation in the field. The program prepares you for data science careers and provides the background required to pursue your data science master’s degree. In fact, Tufts offers a combined certificate and data science master’s degree option.

With education from Tufts, you can confidently enter a career path with a fast-growing job outlook and an industry with several organizations geared toward female representation and success in tech. Apply today, or contact the Tufts admissions team if you have questions or need assistance.