D601 is listed in WGU's program guidebook as Data Storytelling for Diverse Audiences, a three-unit course in the second term of the Master of Science in Data Analytics.
WGU describes it as focusing on communicating observations and patterns to diverse stakeholders, a key aspect of the data analytics life cycle.
The course builds communication and storytelling skills to motivate change and answer business problems, and covers data visualizations, audio representations, interactive dashboards, interpersonal communication and presentation skills. The challenge is shifting from showing everything you found to showing what a particular audience needs.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University |
| Course code | D601 |
| Level | Graduate (MS Data Analytics) |
| Subject area | Data visualization and communication |
| Standard path | Term 2, 3 competency units |
| Typical work | Audience analysis, visual representations and an interactive dashboard |
What D601 Covers
| Competency (WGU wording, summarized) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates how interpersonal skills are applied to communicate effectively | Listening, framing and adapting your delivery |
| Conducts an audience analysis | Identifying needs, knowledge and decisions of each group |
| Communicates data insights to technical and nontechnical audiences | Adjusting depth and vocabulary |
| Creates data representations that offer insight into an organizational problem | Choosing effective charts and visuals |
| Designs interactive dashboards to support executive decision-making | Filters, key measures and layout |
Key Concepts Explained
Audience Analysis
Ask who will read or watch your work, what decision they face, how much technical background they have and how much time they have. The same finding needs a different treatment for an executive and for an engineer.
Choosing the Right Visual
Match chart to question: line charts for change over time, bars for comparison, scatter plots for relationships, tables when exact values matter. Remove clutter and label directly.
Illustration (hypothetical): Showing monthly sales across five regions as a single crowded line chart hides the story. Highlighting the one region that changed, with others in muted gray, and a short headline stating the finding, guides the viewer to the point.
Dashboards for Decisions
An executive dashboard shows a small set of key measures, clear comparisons and filters that answer likely follow-up questions. Every element should earn its place.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Audience analysis | Communication planning | Describe each audience's goals and knowledge |
| Data representations | Visual judgment | Justify each chart choice |
| Interactive dashboard | Design and usability | Prioritize key measures and test the filters |
A Simple Story Structure
Data stories work best with a clear arc: context, tension, resolution. Open with the situation the audience cares about, show the finding that changes the picture, and close with the action you recommend.
- Context: why this matters to this audience.
- Insight: the single most important finding, shown visually.
- Action: what the audience should decide or do next.
Technical and Non-Technical Versions
| Audience | What they need | What to leave out |
|---|---|---|
| Executives | Headline, impact, decision | Model detail and code |
| Analysts and engineers | Method, assumptions, reproducibility | Long background on the business |
| Operational staff | What changes in their work | Statistical jargon |
Self-Check Before You Submit
- Is each audience described by needs, knowledge and decision?
- Does each visual have a title that states the finding?
- Can an executive find the answer to their main question in seconds?
- Does the dashboard include only the measures and filters it needs?
Check accessibility too: sufficient contrast, readable fonts and no reliance on color alone to carry meaning.
Presenting Your Work
Some storytelling tasks involve presenting or recording. Rehearse with a timer, practice explaining each visual in one sentence, and prepare a plain-language answer to the question an executive would ask first. Delivery matters because the competencies include interpersonal skills, so how you speak and structure the message is part of what is assessed.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Too many charts. Keep only those that support the message.
- Jargon for non-technical readers. Translate into business terms.
- Dashboard overload. Prioritize a few key measures.
- No call to action. End with what the audience should do.
Study Tips for D601
- Write the one-sentence takeaway before building any visual.
- Show your draft to someone outside the field.
- Check colors and labels for accessibility.
- Keep a consistent style across visuals.
How We Help with D601
Send the prompt, rubric and data. We can prepare a model approach, advise on chart choice and narrative, or review your draft. See our data analysis help guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU's MS Data Analytics guidebook lists it as Data Storytelling for Diverse Audiences.
Audience analysis, data visualization, interactive dashboards, interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
Term two of the MS Data Analytics standard path.
Follow your course of study for tool requirements.
A few key measures, clear comparisons, helpful filters and a purpose tied to a decision.
No. We provide tutoring, custom answers, editing and feedback only.