Statistical Computing or Data Mining?

[Li Cai]

Hello all,

I am in the process of selecting courses for next semester. Now I am deciding between statistical computing and data mining. The course descriptions are below. Which class do you think is more useful/better prepares me for an MFE? Thanks in advance!

Data Mining - Concepts, techniques, and systems of data warehousing and data mining. Design and implementation of data warehouse and on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems; data mining concepts, methods, systems, implementations, and applications.

Statistical Computing - Examines statistical packages, numerical analysis for linear and nonlinear models, graphics, and random number generation and Monte Carlo methods.

 

[DominiConnor]

Both have value and are close enough that it should be driven by your current skills and ambitions.
If you have a heavy maths background Data mining could be great to give you coverage in an area you are weak but could prosper in.

Conversely Statistics will help someone with an strong software background more.

But in general I'd go for Statistical Computing but would not say it was unwise to do Data Mining.

 

[Li Cai]

Both have value and are close enough that it should be driven by your current skills and ambitions.
If you have a heavy maths background Data mining could be great to give you coverage in an area you are weak but could prosper in.

Conversely Statistics will help someone with an strong software background more.

But in general I'd go for Statistical Computing but would not say it was unwise to do Data Mining.

Thanks for your reply. I am leaning towards statistical computing as well.