Data Science

Vijay Voddi, M.S., Director, Master of Science in Data Science Program

Master of Science in Data Science

The Master of Science in Data Science, a 36 credit degree program, is intended for students who have completed undergraduate degrees in science, mathematics, computer science or engineering and are interested in pursuing careers in industry-specific analytical fields (e.g. technology, pharmaceutical, research, government, public health, entrepreneurship, finance, business, etc.).

The Data Science degree program uses real-world problems and situations to prepare graduates for roles as strategic thought leaders who leverage predictive modeling to drive decision making. Students will develop in depth understanding of the key technologies in data science and business analytics: data mining, machine learning, visualization techniques, predictive modeling, and statistics.  Students will practice problem analysis and decision-making. Students will gain practical, hands-on experience with statistics programming languages and big data tools through coursework and applied research experiences.

Program Availability

The Data Science program will be offered on a semester schedule and is designed for both full-time and part-time study.

Degree Requirements

The degree requires 36 semester hour credits. A capstone course is required and will be taken the final semester of coursework.

Graduate Internship

As of January 1, 2016, completion of an internship related to Data Science is required for all students except: those who have 3+ years of professional work experience; those with full-time employment during the length of the program; and those who are participating in the exchange program. The graduate internship can start in the fourth trimester of classes. Please consult your program advisor to determine if it is possible to obtain a waiver. 

Advisement

Saint Peter's University assigns an academic advisor to every candidate.

Time Limitation

Students are expected to enroll continuously until their programs are completed.  Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress by maintaining the required grade point average and accumulating sufficient credits within the stipulated time frame of five years. By federal regulation, F-1 International students must enroll as full-time students, so their time to completion will be considerably shorter.

Curriculum - Master of Science in Data Science - Traditional track

The Master's in Data Science program is divided into two levels as detailed below. 

Required Core Courses27
Introduction to Data Science
Data Analysis and Decision Modeling
Data Management Systems
Python in Data Science
Data Mining
Data Visualization
Machine Learning
Data Law Ethics & Business Intelligence
Capstone: Big Data & Business Analytics
Electives - Take 3 courses from the following:9
Big Data Analytics
Predictive Analytic & Financial Modeling
Business Analytics
Marketing Analytics & Operation Research
Data Science and Health
Industry Experience- Complete after 4th trimester
DS-597Applied Research Experience0
or DS-598 Applied Industry Experience
Total Credits36

Master of Science in Data Science Program - Professional Hybrid track  

In addition to the traditional curriculum, students must complete an internship (DS-598 or DS-599) every trimester.