Data Science and Analytics, M.S.

Program Requirements

Credit Hours: 36

Required Courses

• CSIS 604 Distributed Computer Systems Architecture (3)
• CSIS 638 Implementation of Database Management Systems (3)
• DATA 505 Computational Data Science and Analytics (3)
• DATA 506 Mathematical Data Science and Analytics (3)

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• DATA 507 Scientific Computing in Data Science (3)

• OR

• MATH 540 Statistical Learning I (3)

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• DATA 510 Data Cleaning, Organization, and Visualization (3)
• DATA 534 Machine Learning, Data Mining, and Analytics (3)
• MATH 550 Linear Models (3)

Elective Courses

Complete 6 additional credit hours from the following:

• BIOL 612 Conservation Genetics (4)
• BIOL 649 Comparative Genomics (4)
• CSIS 602 Foundations of Software Engineering (3)
• CSIS 618 Programming Languages (3)
• CSIS 632 Data Communications and Networking (3)
• CSIS 654 Software Requirements Analysis and Specifications (3)
• CSIS 690 Special Topics in Computing (3)
• DATA 507 Scientific Computing in Data Science (3)
• DATA 590 Special Topics in Data Science and Analytics (3)
• DATA 591 Independent Study (3)
• EVSS 549 Geographic Information Systems (4)
• EVSS 569 Advanced GIS: Environmental and Hazards Models (4)
• MATH 540 Statistical Learning I (3)
• MATH 541 Statistical Learning II (3)
• MATH 545 Numerical Analysis I (3)
• MATH 551 Linear Programming and Optimization (3)
• MATH 552 Operations Research (3)
• MATH 555 Bayesian Statistical Methods (3)
• MBAD 516 Financial Modeling (3)
• MBAD 521 Consumer Marketing Strategy (3)
• MBAD 522 Marketing Research and Analysis for Decision Making (3)

Thesis or Practicum Option

Complete 6 credit hours of either DATA 698 Practicum in Data Science and Analytics (3)  or DATA 699 Thesis in Data Science and Analytics (3) .

For the practicum option, the student is responsible for proposing a practicum project at a company conducting data science and analytics work. His/her practicum must directly relate to data science and analytics concepts at the graduate level. Students already employed in a data science field must perform additional data science tasks outside of their existing responsibilities. Practicum experiences must be approved by both the program director and the practicum course instructor prior to enrolling in DATA 698 .

The thesis option requires traditional research project characterized by a comprehensive paper on a research topic. A thesis faculty advisor must be identified by the student. The advisor chairs a Master’s Thesis Committee of at least three faculty members which must include the Data Science and Analytics program director. The Committee must approve thesis proposals prior to a student enrolling in DATA 699 . The Committee also ultimately decides if the student has successfully defended his/her thesis which is required to graduate.

Transfer Credit Policy

No program specific guidelines. Please refer to the Graduate School’s transfer credit policy .