Whether in healthcare, government, education, national defense, retail or finance, the need for data scientists is pervasive and growing. Interestingly, these “experts” aren’t always computer scientists or statisticians. Equally important are business analysts that understand the narrative behind the data. Drs. Barbara Hoopes and Naren Ramakrishnan, professors in the online Master of Information Technology Program at Virginia Tech, explain how an interdisciplinary approach is the best way to prepare for a career as a data scientist.