Information Sciences

CY-501. Cyber Assurance and Security. 3.00 Credits.

This course introduces the fundamental concepts associated with cybersecurity. Students will learn how vulnerabilities within Information Technology can be exploited and how to identify these threats, learn what organizations can do to protect themselves, and to get an understanding as to how business and technology must work in concert to protect an organization's most valuable asset, its data.

CY-502. Information System Security Professional. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers information systems security, including access control, application security, business continuity, cryptography, risk management, legal issues, physical security, telecommunications and network security. This course prepares for the CISSP certification exam and is ideal as a bridge for non technical degree holders into the MS in Cybersecurity.

CY-510. Cyber Security Planning & Risk Analysis. 3.00 Credits.

In this course we will study the concepts in cyber security design and implementation for computer systems (both hardware and software). Security architecture, organization policies, standards, procedures, and security system implementation, including diagnostic testing of databases and networks. Throughout this course, practical skills will also be acquired through a series of interactive risk assessment workshops and case studies.

CY-511. Architecture Essentials. 3.00 Credits.

This course introduces the student to the various types of architecture styles that are associated with supporting systems, application, and networks. Students will become familiar with the reasons why certain architecture styles are selected, and learn each styles strength and weakness as it pertains to cybersecurity. Prerequisites: CY-501.

CY-512. Operating Systems Design & Development. 3.00 Credits.

Organizations depend on computer information systems and technology to operate efficiently. This course first instructs students in current methods of analyzing business situations and systems to model complete and coherent definitions of systems requirements. Next, learning focuses on methods for developing logical and physical designs of these systems. Finally, these designs form the bases of systems development and implementation. The course emphasizes software engineering best practices in creating secure, robust, reliable, and appropriate systems regardless of technology, size, scope, type, and geographic distribution. Prerequisites: CY-501.

CY-513. Information Security Management. 3.00 Credits.

This course introduces students to methods and practices to develop policies and plans for managing personnel, systems and processes related to information security in an organization. This course will first introduce methods to identify information assets, prioritize threats to information assets, and define an information security strategy and architecture. The course will then introduce methods and practices to develop system specific plans against various threats. Most importantly, students will learn about legal and public relations implications of security and privacy issues. Last but not the least, the course will present a disaster recovery plan for recovery of information assets after cybersecurity incidents. Prerequisites: CY-501 AND CY-511.

CY-520. Cyber Security Ethical & Legal Concerns. 3.00 Credits.

In this course we will study Cybersecurity law, policy and compliance, legal rights and liabilities associated with computer security; the application of ethical principles (respect for persons, beneficence, and justice) in cyber security; Information privacy; Rights enforceable by private parties; Liabilities associated by private parties and governments; Legal aspects of records management; Unauthorized computer use; Computer Fraud and Abuse Act; Trade Secrets; Economic Espionage Act; Civil Law Claims; Privacy; Export Control; Constitutional Rights; USA-PATRIOT Act; HIPAA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley; Digital Rights Management.

CY-530. Cryptography. 3.00 Credits.

This course gives a historical introduction to Cryptology, the science of secret codes. It begins with the oldest recorded codes, taken from hieroglyphic engravings, and ends with the encryption schemes used to maintain privacy during Internet credit card transactions. Since secret codes are based on mathematical ideas, each new kind of encryption method leads in this course to the study of new mathematical ideas and results. The first part of the course deals with permutation-based codes: substitution ciphers, transpositional codes, and Vigenere ciphers. In the second part of the course, the subject moves to bit stream encryption methods. These include block cipher schemes such as the Data Encryption Standard (DES) and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Public key encryption is the subject of the final part of the course. We learn the mathematical underpinnings of Diffie-Hellman key exchange, RSA and elliptic curve cryptography. Software packages and tools will also be studied.

CY-540. International Communication & Networking. 3.00 Credits.

In this course we will learn how International Telecommunications Networks are designed, built, and maintained. Within the context of cyber security we will study transmission modes, coding schemes, modulation, multiplexing, data sets, common carriers, tariffs, monitoring, troubleshooting, and network design. As part of the course, we will design an International Telecommunications Network and identify associated risks and vulnerabilities.

CY-550. Mobile Computing and Wireless. 3.00 Credits.

In this course we will study concepts in nomadic computing and mobility; challenges in design and deployment of wireless and ad-hoc networks; MAC issues, routing protocols and mobility management for ad-hoc networks and networks of the future.

CY-595. Non Credit Research Intern Grad Level. 0.00 Credits.

This internship course allows students to acquire practical technical experience through working on specific cybersecurity or blockchain research or teaching projects in consultation with the advisor. The Internship can be an Industry experience co-advised by an Industry advisor and a Faculty Member. Prerequisites: CY-501 OR CY-510 OR CY-530.

CY-598. Exp Learning Intern without CPT. 0.00 Credits.

This internship course allows students to acquire practical technical experience through working on specific cybersecurity or blockchain software or computer systems in consultation with the advisor. After the third trimester of being a student of Cybersecurity. Prerequisites: CY-501 OR CY-510 OR CY-530 Course Type(s): Lab Courses.

CY-610. Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing. 3.00 Credits.

This course is designed for students to be trained in understanding vulnerabilities in networks, operating systems, database management systems and web servers. Students will learn how exploits are designed by an adversary attacker to penetrate into vulnerable systems. Students will also learn how the hacker can move into a compromised system and remove her/his footprints. The course will introduce students to tools used for network scanning, fingerprinting, and password cracking. Tools include Nmap, Nessus and Kali Linux. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR CY-530 OR CY-540.

CY-620. Malware Analysis and Defense. 3.00 Credits.

In this course, students will study malicious software detection and defenses including tripwire, Bit9, and other techniques such as signature and hash algorithms. Reverse engineering, de-compilers (IDA-pro and Ghidra) and debuggers will be used in the investigation of malware. Viruses, worms, Trojan horses, logic bombs, malicious web server scripts, mobile code issues, and methodologies used by anti-virus/spyware vendors will be studied. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR CY-530 OR CY-540.

CY-622. Advanced Offensive Cyber Security. 3.00 Credits.

This course is designed for students to be trained in Advanced Offensive Security tactics and techniques. This includes the full hacking lifecycle from enumeration/vulnerability discovery, to exploitation, followed by post exploitation activities. Students will learn how to strategically enumerate network devices and exploit various resources, fuzz applications and network protocols to identify bugs/vulnerabilities, execute advanced Manin- the-Middle attacks, along with conducting post exploitation activities on both Linux and Windows machines. Additionally, students will be introduced to Python - including Python fundamentals and development of custom tools/exploits, along with PowerShell usage from a penetration testers perspective. Lastly, students will be introduced to Splunk to provide a better understanding of the network traffic generated as result of our activities, along with how security teams can identify/alert/investigate all resulting traffic. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR CY-530 OR CY-540.

CY-624. Cybersecurity in Healthcare. 3.00 Credits.

This course will establish an avenue of communication and allow open dialogue to demystify the unknown between healthcare and cybersecurity. It will create an engaging concept that will promote the awareness of cybersecurity in healthcare, encompassing both health science and technology. Students will learn cybersecurity technology as it affects the healthcare industry the role of individuals considering a cybersecurity profession in healthcare and will be introduced to the HCISPP certification and its significance in the workforce. The course will bridge both healthcare and technology through learning the core concepts of healthcare informatics and security of healthcare information systems, understanding HIPAA, conscious reading and comprehension of current healthcare cybersecurity journals, knowledge of government organizations that develop and promote policy and guidelines to help healthcare companies protect their critical information technology infrastructures, and through student dialogues, cognizance of each person's role in the protection of healthcare information against unauthorized access to healthcare data. Prerequisites: CY-502 OR CY-510 OR CY-530.

CY-625. Advances in Management of Cyber Security. 3.00 Credits.

This course is designed for the graduate level cyber security and business student who wants to deepen the knowledge of the management aspects of cyber security. This course takes a "view from the top" and presents exactly what future managers need to know about cyber security. Harvard Business cyber cases and a cyberattack simulation are used in this course. Hybrid or Online course. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR EQUIVALENCES APPROVED BY INSTRUCTOR.

CY-626. Cyber Risk Management and Insurance. 3.00 Credits.

This course deals with the role of the risk manager advising on business interruption arising from failures of management information and telecommunications systems. It addresses the complexity of technology, interaction of the web and back office, and security failures. It covers the use of cyber insurance and risk transfer strategies to protect assets, people, and business operations. Course Type(s): Online Course.

CY-630. Disaster Recovery. 3.00 Credits.

In this course, students will learn how to identify cyber security vulnerabilities and implement appropriate countermeasures to mitigate risks. Techniques will be taught for creating a continuity plan and methodology for building an infrastructure that supports its effective implementation. Throughout this course, skills in disaster recovery planning will be acquired through a series of interactive workshops and case studies. Students will design and develop a disaster recovery plan. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR CY-530 OR CY-540.

CY-635. Advanced Research in Cyber Security. 3.00 Credits.

This is an advanced research course in cyber security topics / subject areas. Students work with a faculty member on a research topic or area of special interest, for example: bitcoin mining, blockchain technology, malware analysis, mobile & wireless, systems defense, penetration testing, disaster recovery in the cloud, or cyber security CSO-level risk management / security architecture. This course permits the student to explore a specific issue or topic in cyber security or to work independently, as a researcher, to develop a specific skill competency under the direction of a faculty mentor. This course could include a paid or non-paid internship in the University Cyber Security Center or a service learning component. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR CY-530 OR CY-540.

CY-637. Info Sys Security Certification Prep - 1. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers information security in depth, including business continuity, cryptography, risk management, legal issues, physical security, telecommunications, and network security. This course gives an overview of the field of Information Security or Cybersecurity. It is a foundation course for the master's degree in Cybersecurity. This is first of the two courses critical to prepare for CISSP certification. This class will build upon the knowledge acquired through the prerequisite courses and prepare students for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential examination. Students must take CY638 course to fully prepare them for the CISSP certification test. CISSP is essential for high-level information security professionals and important certification credential to open the door to high level jobs. Fees associated with the CISSP Exam is the responsibility of the student. The course fees do not include the fee for the exam. Prerequisites: CY-510, CY-610 AND EITHER CY-540 OR CY-550.

CY-638. CISSP Preparation-2. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers information security in depth, including business continuity, cryptography, risk management, legal issues, physical security, telecommunications, and network security. This course gives an overview of the field of Information Security or Cybersecurity. It is a foundation course for the master's degree in Cybersecurity. This is the second of the two courses critical to prepare for CISSP certification. This course requires the students to be well versed with the concepts taught in CY510, CY 630, CY 637, and CY 540 or CY 550. The prerequisite courses will give students a strong grasp on the fundamentals of cyber security concepts, risk management (i.e., assessing risks, responding to risks, monitoring risks), strong data communications foundations, networking protocols, wireless LAN technology, and virtual networks. This class will build upon the knowledge acquired through the prerequisite courses, particularly CY-637, and prepare students for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential examination by utilizing over 1,000 CISSP-relevant questions. Students must take a CY-637 course to fully prepare them for CY-638 and the CISSP certification test. CISSP is essential for high-level information security professionals and important certification credential to open the door to high level jobs. Prerequisites: CY-637.

CY-640. Cybercrime and Digital Forensics. 3.00 Credits.

The topics covered in this course include cyber-crime investigation, digital forensics, forensic duplication and analysis, network surveillance, intrusion detection and response, incident response, anti-forensics techniques, anonymity and pseudonymity, cyber law, computer security policies and guidelines, court report writing and presentations, and case studies. The course will include lectures and demonstrations and is designed around a virtual lab environment that provides for robust and realistic hands-on experience in working with a range of information assurance topics. Students will be assigned projects to apply information security practices and technologies to solve real-world cyber security problems. Prerequisites: CY-510 OR CY-530 OR CY-540; Course Type(s): Hybrid Course.

CY-650. Cyber Security Capstone. 3.00 Credits.

This course is the mandatory capstone experience for graduate students in the Master's degree in Cyber Security and provides students with the opportunity to carry out in depth research on a specific topic in cyber security. The student's project will reflect the integration and application of the cyber security knowledge gained over the course of the program. Note: CY-650 cannot be substituted and must be taken a trimester or two before graduation. Prerequisites: CY-530 OR CY-620 OR CY-622 Course Type(s): Capstone.

DS-501. Comm. for Data Science Practitioners. 0.00 Credits.

Communication for Data Science Practitioners is intended to provide support and tailored instruction specific to multilingual graduate students in the Data Science program who speak a language other than English as a first language (L1). The course is designed to provide an intensive and focused hybrid experience for students that will effectively prepare students for discipline-specific graduate coursework delivered in English. DS-501 offers direct English-language vocabulary and advanced grammar instruction, but combines ESOL course content with a deep focus on explicitly preparing students for the tasks they must complete as both graduate students and practitioners in their field. Coursework is steeped in a content & language integrated learning approach, and the course is meant to be paired with DS-520. DS-501 is a hybrid course, with both virtual and in-person course meetings. The course is designed as a 0-credit experience, does not contribute towards visa eligibility, and is delivered as a supportive add-on for multilingual learners at the graduate level. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis, but student grades will appear on their transcripts.

DS-510. Intro to Data Science and AI. 3.00 Credits.

Data Science is a set of fundamental principles that guide the extraction of valuable information and knowledge from data. This course provides an overview and develops student's understanding of the data science and analytics landscape in the context of business examples and other emerging fields. It also provides students with an understanding of the most common methods used in data science. Topics covered include introduction to predictive modeling, data visualization, probability distributions, Bayes' theorem, statistical inference, clustering analysis, decision analytic thinking, data and business strategy, cloud storage and big data analytics.

DS-520. Data Analysis and Decision Modeling. 3.00 Credits.

This course will provide students with an understanding of common statistical techniques and methods used to analyze data in business. Topics covered include probability, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, linear regression, multivariate regression, logistic regression, analysis of variance, categorical data analysis, Bootstrap, permutation tests and nonparametric statistics. Students will learn to apply statistical techniques to the processing and interpretation of data from various industries and disciplines.

DS-530. Data Management Systems. 3.00 Credits.

This course explores foundational concepts of relational databases, data warehousing, distributed data management, structured and unstructured data, NoSQL data stores and graph databases. Various database concepts are discussed including Extract-Transform-Load, cloud-based online analytical processing (OLAP), data warehouse architecture, development and planning, physical database design, data pipelines, metadata, data provenance, trust and reuse. Students will develop practical experience using SQL. Prerequisites: DS-510 AND DS-520.

DS-533. Enterprise Design Thinking. 3.00 Credits.

Students will learn a robust framework for applying design thinking techniques to key issues facing organizations across industries. Key skills developed include shared goal setting and decision-making, processes for continuous innovation, and the alignment of multi-disciplinary teams around the real needs and experiences of users and customers. Through instruction, experiential learning and an industry-recognized methodology, students will gain practice in the successful application of design thinking techniques to address common business problems.

DS-540. Statistical Programming. 3.00 Credits.

The course gives an introduction to SAS or R programming for statistical analyses and managing, analyzing and visualizing data. Topics include numeric and non-numeric values, arithmetic and assignment operations, arrays and data frames, special values, classes and coercion. Students will learn to write functions, read/write files, use exceptions, measure execution times, perform sampling and confidence analyses, plot a linear regression. Students will explore tools for statistical simulation, large data analysis and data visualization, including interactive 3D plots.

DS-542. Python in Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

The course gives an introduction to Python programming for statistical analyses and managing, analyzing and visualizing data. Topics include numeric and non-numeric values, arithmetic and assignment operations, arrays and data frames, special values, classes and coercion. Students will learn to write functions, read/write files, use exceptions, measure execution times, perform sampling and confidence analyses, plot a linear regression. Students will explore tools for statistical simulation, large data analysis and data visualization, including interactive 3D plots. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-560. Biomedical Data Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

An introduction to the biology of modern genomics and some of the tools that are used to measure it. This will include basic molecular biology, the genome, DNA and RNA sequences, and the central dogma. Students will learn techniques to analyze data from sequencing experiments. The course covers data analytic techniques to understand and analyze the biomedical data available to bioscientists and the medical profession. Prerequisites: CS-241, BI-183.

DS-570. Healthcare Data Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

An introduction to the healthcare environment and the various sources of healthcare data. How to import, clean, and refine data from these sources. Students will learn the techniques to diagnose diseases, predict prognosis and evaluate treatments. The course covers data analytic techniques to understand and analyze healthcare data. Prerequisites: CS-241, BI-183.

DS-589. Topics in Management. 3.00 Credits.

Topics vary by term. Example topics may include but are not be limited to the following: advanced project management techniques; non-profit, philanthropic, and/or faith-based management; coding fundamentals for entrepreneurs, managers, and executives; and mindfulness in the workplace.

DS-590. Data Structures and Algorithms I. 3.00 Credits.

This course explores essential topics for programmers and data scientists including the design of and implementation and analysis of efficient algorithms and their performance. Essential data structures are also reviewed, as well as searching and sorting algorithms.

DS-595. Applied Work Experience CPT-Traditional. 1.00 Credit.

The Applied Work Experience/Curricular Practical Training course is an academic component that accompanies students' industry work experience and Curricular Practical Training. Students whose current work role has been approved by the Program Director as directly related to their program of study should register for this non-credit course each term during which they are working. Traditional Program students are eligible after their third trimester.

DS-596. Graduate Research Assistantship. 0.00 Credits.

Graduate Research Assistantship is a robust learning experience for pre-selected students, involving scholarly research under faculty supervision. These research projects involve the development of theoretical analyses and models, gathering and analysis of data, and special projects that require substantive research. The ultimate goals for this research is academic conference presentation, publication in peer-reviewed journals and research reports, and more broadly contributing to thought leadership of the Data Science Institute.

DS-597. Applied Research Experience. 0.00 Credits.

The Applied Research Experience is a learning experience that gives Data Science Institute students the opportunity to conduct real-world consulting and research projects with businesses and organizations, that build upon the science, theory, and application of data and analysis. This non-credit course fulfills the business experience requirement for the program for those students who do not have a current work role that fulfills the requirement. For Traditional/Full-time programs. Prerequisites: DS-510 DS-520 DS-530 DS-542 DS-600 DS-620:.

DS-598. Applied Industry Experience. 0.00 Credits.

The Applied Industry Experience course is an academic component that accompanies students' industry experience in a full time role or internship. Students whose current industry role has been approved by the Academic Program Director as directly related to their program of study can register for this non-credit course each term during which they are working. Prerequisites: DS-510 DS-520 DS-530 DS-542 DS-600 DS-620.

DS-599. Research Practicum. 0.00 Credits.

The Research Practicum is a learning experience that gives the students the opportunity to conduct real-world consulting projects with businesses that build upon the science, research and application of data and analysis, extending to strategic planning and identifying relevant tactics to carry out strategies.

DS-600. Data Mining. 3.00 Credits.

Data mining refers to a set of techniques that have been designed to efficiently find important information or knowledge in large amounts of data. This course will provide students with understanding of the industry standard data mining methodologies, and with the ability of extracting information from a data set and transforming it into an understandable structure for further use. Topics covered include decision trees, classification, predictive modeling, association analysis, statistical modeling, Bayesian classification, anomaly detection and visualization. The course will be complemented with hands-on experience of using advanced data mining software to solve realistic problems based on real-world data. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-605. Financial Computing and Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

This course covers the process of collecting data from a variety of sources and preparing it to allow organizations to make data-driven decisions. It builds upon the relationships within data collected electronically and applies quantitative techniques to create predictive spreadsheet models for financial decision making. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-610. Big Data Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

Big Data (Structured, semi-structured, & unstructured) refers to large datasets that are challenging to store, search, share, visualize, and analyze. Gathering and analyzing these large data sets are quickly becoming a key basis of competition. This course explores several key technologies used in acquiring, organizing, storing, and analyzing big data. Topics covered include Hadoop, unstructured data concepts (key-value), Map Reduce technology, related tools that provide SQL-like access to unstructured data: Pig and Hive, NoSQL storage solutions like HBase, Cassandra, and Oracle NoSQL and analytics for big data. A part of the course is devoted to public Cloud as a resource for big data analytics. The objective of the course is for students to gain the ability to employ the latest tools, technologies and techniques required to analyze, debug, iterate and optimize the analysis to infer actionable insights from Big Data. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520, DS-530.

DS-620. Data Visualization. 3.00 Credits.

Visualization concerns the graphical depiction of data and information in order to communicate its contents and reveal patterns inherent in the data. It is sometimes referred to as visual data mining, or visual analytics. Data visualization has become a rapidly evolving science. This course explores the underlying theory and practical concepts in creating visual representations of large amounts of data. Topics covered include data representation, information visualization, real-time visualization, visualization toolkits including Tableau and their applications to diverse data rich contexts. At the end of the course, the student will be able to present meaningful information in the most compelling and consumable fashion. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-621. Business Analytics With Power BI. 3.00 Credits.

This course will focus on building dynamic dashboard and applications in order to understand and interpret the data by using PowerBI. Course will also focus on visualization and business intelligence techniques to interpret the data as step towards Machine Learning. Prerequisites: DS-510 DS-520. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-630. Machine Learning. 3.00 Credits.

Machine learning is the field of study that gives computers the ability to learn from experience without being explicitly programmed. This course covers the theory and practical algorithms for machine learning from a variety of perspectives. Topics include decision tree learning, parametric and non-parametric learning, Support Vector Machines, statistical learning methods, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning and the Bootstrap method. Students will have an opportunity to experiment with machine learning techniques and apply them to solve a selected problem in the context of a term project. The course will also draw from numerous case studies and applications, so that students learn how to apply learning algorithms to build machine intelligence. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520, DS-530, DS-542.

DS-631. Deep Learning Algorithms. 3.00 Credits.

Machine learning is the science (and art) of programming computers so they learn from data. It is the field of study that gives computers the ability to learn from experience without being explicitly programmed. This course covers the theory and practical algorithms for neural networks and deep learning. Major topics neural networks, convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, reinforcement learning, and implementation of deep learning in TensorFlow. Students will have an opportunity to experiment with advanced machine learning techniques (especially using Python) and apply them to solve selected problems in the context of a term project. Prerequisites: DS-630.

DS-637. Luster Analysis With Machine Learning. 3.00 Credits.

In this course, students will utilize machine learning techniques to generate business intelligence through the discovery of patterns and relationships in data. In particular, students will apply cluster analysis, or clustering this method of unsupervised learning and technique for statistical data analysis groups objects based on characteristics, such as high intra-cluster or low inter-cluster similarities. Pre-requisites: DS-542 and DS-630 Prerequisites: DS-542 DS-630.

DS-640. Predictive Analytic & Financial Modeling. 3.00 Credits.

Predictive analytics is an area of data mining that deals with extracting information from data and using it to predict trends and behavior patterns. This course will provide predictive analytics foundational theory and methodologies as well as teach students how to build predictive models for practical financial and business applications and verify model effectiveness. Topics covered are linear modeling and regression, nonlinear modeling, time series analysis and forecasting, segmentation and tree models, support vector machine, clustering, neural networks and association rules. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-642. Advance Python in Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

This course explores essential advanced Python topics for programmers & data scientists including working with databases using Python, writing web services, exploring unit-testing frameworks, understanding multithreading concepts in Python, performing advanced statistical analysis using Python libraries and learning industry standards for writing and organizing large Python programs. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520, DS-542.

DS-650. Data Ethics and Artificial Intelligence. 3.00 Credits.

The increasing use of big data and artificial intelligence in our society raises legal and ethical questions. This course explores the issues of privacy, data protection, non-discrimination, equality of opportunities and due process in the context of data-rich environments. It analyzes ethical and intellectual property issues related to data analytics with the use of artificial intelligence. Students will also learn the legal obligations in collecting, sharing and using data, as well as the impact of algorithmic profiling, industrial personalization and government. This course also provides an understanding of the important capabilities of business with the technologies that enable them and the management of artificial intelligence. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-660. Business Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

Business analytics is the process of generating and delivering the information acquired that enables and supports an improved and timely decision process. The aim of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of a broad range of decision analysis techniques and tools and facilitate the application of these methodologies to analyze real-world business problems and arrive at a rational solution. Topics covered include foundations of business analytics, descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, prescriptive analytics, and the use of computer software for statistical applications. The course work will provide case studies in Business Analytics and present real applications of business analytics. Students will work in groups to develop analytic solutions to these problems. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520 OR MS-500:.

DS-665. Advanced Machine Learning. 3.00 Credits.

Machine learning is the science (and art) of programming computers so they learn from data. It is the field of study that gives computers the ability to learn from experience without being explicitly programmed. This course covers the theory and practical algorithms for neural networks and deep learning. Major topics neural networks, convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, reinforcement learning, and implementation of deep learning in TensorFlow. Students will have an opportunity to experiment with advanced machine learning techniques (especially using Python) and apply them to solve selected problems in the context of a term project. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520 AND DS-630.

DS-670. Capstone: Big Data & Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

This course is structured as a capstone research practicum where students have an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in data science to interdisciplinary problems from a variety of industry sectors. Students work in teams to define and carry out an analytics project from data collection, processing and modeling to designing the best method for solving the problem. The problems and datasets used in this practicum will be selected from real world industry or government settings. At the end of the class students will write a report that presents their project, the approach and techniques used to design a solution, followed by results and conclusion. Students are encouraged to present their capstone research at conferences. Prerequisites: DS-620, DS-630; Course Type(s): Capstone.

DS-671. Capstone: Business Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

This course is structured as a capstone research practicum where students have an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in data science to interdisciplinary problems from a variety of industry sectors. Students work in teams to define and carry out an analytics project from data collection, processing and modeling to designing the best method for solving the problem. The problems and datasets used in this practicum will be selected from real world industry or government settings. At the end of the class students will write a report that presents their project, the approach and techniques used to design a solution, followed by results and conclusion. Students are encouraged to present their capstone research at conferences. Prerequisites: DS-520, DS-620 Prerequisites: DS-520, DS-620; Course Type(s): Capstone.

DS-680. Marketing Analytics & Operation Research. 3.00 Credits.

Organizations need to interpret data about consumer choices, their browsing and buying patterns and to match supply with demand in various business settings. This course examines the best practices for using data to prescribe more effective business strategies. Topics covered include marketing resource allocation, metrics for measuring brand assets, customer lifetime value, and using data analytics to evaluate and optimize marketing campaigns. Students learn how data is used to describe, explain, and predict customer behavior, and meet customer needs. Students also learn to model future demand uncertainties, predict the outcomes of competing policy choices and take optimal operation decisions in high and low risk scenarios. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-684. Data Engineering Using Cloud Computing. 3.00 Credits.

This course presents the fundamentals of cloud computing with a focus on data and analytics. Students will gain insights on how to analyze large datasets in the cloud using Microsoft Azure platform, from basic cloud tools to the big data distributed technologies like Spark, SQL and Python. With the exponential growth in data, organizations rely on the robust computing, storage, and analytical power of Azure, AWS and other cloud tools to scale, stream, predict, create visualizations and make data informed decisions. Course topics include: overview of cloud computing, cloud systems, parallel processing in the cloud, distributed storage systems, data visualization and creating dashboards. Prerequisites: DS-542.

DS-687. Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals. 3.00 Credits.

This comprehensive course provides an introduction to Artificial Intelligence concepts. At the end of this class students will be able to describe what is AI, its applications, use cases, and how it is transforming our lives. Students will be able to explain and understand how the terms like machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks work. Hands on experience will be practiced with IBM Watson platform by using computer vision techniques and develop custom image classification models and deploy them to the Cloud. The class will also tackle the UpToDate topics of ethical concerns surrounding AI. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-688. Natural Language Processing With Ai. 3.00 Credits.

This course explores the fundamental concepts of NLP and its role in current and emerging technologies. Students will gain a thorough understanding of modern neural network algorithms for the processing of linguistic information. By mastering cutting-edge approaches, they will gain the skills to move from word representation and syntactic processing to designing and implementing complex deep learning models and other language understanding tasks. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520, DS-530, DS-542.

DS-689. Agentic AI. 3.00 Credits.

It all began with deterministic systems, which ultimately led to the development of deep learning and multi-modal AI. Soon after, around mid-2024, GenAI became the craze. Today, the world of AI revolves around agents, and indeed, there is a subtle distinction between AI Agents and Agentic AI. This course is rooted in labs. Students will explore various Agentic frameworks and open-source downloads, culminating in multimodal and multi-agent solutions that communicate over MCP protocols to accomplish tasks, rather than just chat about them. Prerequisites: DS-542.

DS-690. Data Science and Health. 3.00 Credits.

Students will be introduced to the types of data commonly used in public health, biomedical and clinical settings. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills to use these data for understanding and improving the quality of health outcomes. Through lectures and class data analysis projects, students will explore, analyze and create graphical visualization of data from a variety of healthcare sources. Students will also be exposed to selective topics on real time analytics, clinical informatics, and machine learning for biomedical applications. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-698. Exploring Industry & Technology Overseas. 3.00 Credits.

This travel course is tailored specifically for students in Data Science, Business Analytics, or MBA Business Analytics. Through instruction, industry visits, and cultural excursions students will gain a comprehensive knowledge of data-driven decision-making processes and business analytics practices within Germany and Belgium. Course Type(s): International (Travel).

DS-700. Independent Study in Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

In this course, students will work with a faculty member to explore a topic in depth or conduct independent research. Requirements for completion include submission of a research report. Course Type(s): Independent Study.

DS-702. Practicum in Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

Practicum is a learning experience that gives the students the opportunity to conduct real-world consulting projects with businesses that build upon the science, research and application of data and analysis, extending to strategic planning and identifying relevant tactics to carry out strategies. Prerequisites: DS-630, DS-631.

DS-703. Practicum in Statistics. 3.00 Credits.

Practicum is a teaching experience for doctoral students that gives the students the opportunity to conduct real-world consulting projects with businesses that build upon the large datasets, by working on statistical correlations while practicing teaching. Prerequisites: DS-520, DS-600.

DS-770. Topics in Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

Students will explore emerging, innovative, alternative and/or advanced subject matter in the field of data science. Topics vary by term.

DS-780. Practicum in Teaching Data Science. 3.00 Credits.

Recognizing that teaching data science at the college level requires more than just subject matter expertise, students in this course will devise, implement, assess, revise and reevaluate undergraduate and/or graduate data science lessons. Pre-service professors will develop and present student-centered lessons that engage classroom or virtual learners interactively and collaboratively by utilizing appropriate teaching and learning techniques and technologies. Classroom coaching and constructive feedback from mentors and peers will help students improve their teaching. Current instructors in data science and/or related disciplines are encouraged to enroll for professional development purposes.

DS-790. Practicum in Teaching Statistics. 3.00 Credits.

Recognizing that teaching statistical analysis and probability at the college level requires more than just subject matter expertise, students in this course will devise, implement, assess, revise and reevaluate undergraduate and/or graduate statistics lessons. Pre-service professors will develop and present student-centered lessons that engage classroom or virtual learners interactively and collaboratively by utilizing appropriate teaching and learning techniques and technologies. Classroom coaching and constructive feedback from mentors and peers will help students improve their teaching. Current instructors in statistics and/or related disciplines are encouraged to enroll for professional development purposes.

DS-800. Forecasting Methods Business Decisions. 3.00 Credits.

This course will prepare leaders for different forecasting methods and analytical tool to get them prepared for the business decisions. Forecasting methods will be evaluated according to the conditions such as under uncertainty, under risk and so on. Prerequisites: DS-801.

DS-801. Advanced Data Structures & Algorithms. 3.00 Credits.

This course explores core data structures and algorithms used in everyday applications, the trade-offs involved with choosing each data structure, along with traversal, retrieval, and update algorithms. It will be covered linked lists, stacks, queues, binary trees, and hash tables. Prerequisites: DS-630.

DS-802. Advanced Natural Language Processing. 3.00 Credits.

Students will explore the fundamental concepts of NLP and its role in current and emerging technologies. Students will develop a comprehensive working knowledge of modern neural network algorithms in order to process of linguistic information. By mastering cutting-edge approaches, students will gain the skills to advance from word representation and syntactic processing to designing and implementing complex deep learning models and other language understanding tasks. Prerequisites: DS-510 AND DS-520.

DS-803. Optimization Computational Lin. Algebra. 3.00 Credits.

In this course, students will learn about the theory and practical aspects of many fundamental tools from matrix computations, numerical linear algebra and optimization. In addition to classical applications, most examples will particularly focus on modern large-scale machine learning problems. Implementations will be done using MATLAB/Python. Prerequisites: DS-510 AND DS-520.

DS-804. Advanced Optimization. 3.00 Credits.

The course covers mathematical programming and combinatorial optimization from the perspective of convex optimization, which is a central tool for solving large-scale problems. The course is dedicated to the theory of convex optimization and its direct applications. Besides, it focuses on advanced techniques in combinatorial optimization. Prerequisites: DS-803.

DS-805. Research Seminar in Forecasting. 3.00 Credits.

In a research seminar format, students and faculty develop research proposals, analyses, and reporting in the domain of Forecasting. Topics of special interest vary from term to term. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-806. Research Seminar in Unstructured Data. 3.00 Credits.

In a research seminar format, students will work with faculty to develop research proposals, perform analyses, and create reports, culminating in presentations. Topics will emphasize Unstructured Data analysis, and may vary by term. Prerequisites: DS-510, DS-520.

DS-807. AI Ethics and Large Language Models. 3.00 Credits.

Investigates ethical considerations in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence, with a specific focus on large-scale language models. Topics include biases in AI, accountability, transparency, and implications for society and governance.

DS-808. Advanced Research Seminar in AI Ethics. 3.00 Credits.

Engages students in an in-depth exploration of emerging ethical challenges in AI. Through seminars and collaborative research, students analyze contemporary issues, such as the societal impact of generative AI, autonomous systems, and AI-driven decision-making processes. Prerequisites: DS-807.

DS-809. ML for Business Decision-Making. 3.00 Credits.

Focuses on the application of machine learning techniques to solve business challenges. Topics include classification, clustering, and predictive analytics. Students implement machine learning models to enhance decision-making processes in areas such as marketing, finance, and operations.

DS-828. Advanced Academic Writing & Lit Review. 3.00 Credits.

This doctoral-level core course provides a foundation in academic writing and literature review. Students learn conventions of doctoral scholarship, including tone, organization, and APA style (7th edition). The course emphasizes systematic literature search strategies, transparency in documenting sources, and synthesis of findings into a publishable-quality review. The final deliverable is a short (~2000 word) literature review demonstrating critical analysis, organization, and APA compliance.

DS-860. Ph.D. Qualifying Exam. 2.00 Credits.

To qualify for the Ph.D. qualifying examination, students must achieve a final grade of B or higher in each of the core courses required for the exam. This ensures that candidates possess the foundational knowledge necessary to succeed in advanced research and practice. Students are expected to complete this requirement by the end of their fourth trimester. Students who do not pass the qualifying examination will be placed on academic probation and must fulfill this requirement by the end of their sixth trimester to remain in good standing within the program. Prerequisites: DS-800:.

DS-870. Dissertation Proposal. 2.00 Credits.

The course gives an introduction to Python programming for statistical analyses and managing, analyzing and visualizing data. Topics include numeric and non-numeric values, arithmetic and assignment operations, arrays and data frames, special values, classes and coercion. Students will learn to write functions, read/write files, use exceptions, measure execution times, perform sampling and confidence analyses, plot a linear regression. Students will explore tools for statistical simulation, large data analysis and data visualization, including interactive 3D plots. Prerequisites: DS-800:.

DS-871. Dissertation Seminar I. 3.00 Credits.

This course is the first in a series of four courses designed to guide students through the process of conducting a data science research project and writing a dissertation. In this course, students will focus on laying the foundation for their research by developing Chapters 1 and 2 of their dissertation. They will learn about the essential elements of a research proposal, including problem formulation, dataset research (if needed), literature review, research questions, and hypotheses. Additionally, students will begin collecting and analyzing data related to their research topic. Emphasis will be placed on individual student work with their Mentor and Dissertation Committee members. Prerequisites: DS-801, DS-802, DS-803, DS-804, DS-805, DS-806.

DS-872. IRB Approval and Data Collection. 3.00 Credits.

Dissertation Seminar 2 is the second part of a four course series designed to guide students through the process of conducting a data science research project and writing a dissertation. In this course, students will delve into the critical aspects of obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for their research and initiating the data collection process. They will gain a comprehensive understanding of ethical considerations, data collection methods, and data management. Emphasis will be placed on individual student work with their Mentor and Dissertation Committee members. Prerequisites: DS-871.

DS-873. Data Analysis and Interpretation. 3.00 Credits.

Dissertation Seminar III is the third part of a four-course series designed to guide students through the process of conducting a data science research project and writing a dissertation. In this course, students will focus on the critical phases of data analysis, interpretation, and drawing meaningful conclusions from their research data. They will learn various data analysis techniques, visualization methods, and how to effectively communicate their findings. Prerequisites: DS-872.

DS-874. Finalization and Dissertation Defense. 3.00 Credits.

Dissertation Seminar IV is the final part of a four-course series designed to guide students through the process of conducting a data science research project and writing a dissertation. In this course, students will focus on finalizing their dissertation, including editing and polishing, preparing for the defense, and taking the necessary steps to successfully complete their doctoral journey. Students must maintain continuous enrollment in this course until they have successfully completed and defended their dissertation. Students must have their dissertation proposal approved by the Doctoral Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects prior to registering for this course. Prerequisites: DS-873.

IS-600. Data Warehousing Lab. 3.00 Credits.

The Data Warehousing Lab is a course that gives students hands-on experience with developing and executing database warehousing and analytics systems. ETL/ELT, data modeling, data warehouse administration and security, and non-relational databases including column-store and NoSQL databases are among the topics that students will study. Additionally, they will learn about web application integration for semi-structured data analytics and distributed data processing with Hadoop/Spark. Students who successfully complete this lab will have advanced abilities to efficiently design, develop, deploy, and manage medium- to large-scale data warehouse systems.

IS-601. Process Management & Integration. 3.00 Credits.

This course focuses on the procedures and methods that the project manager and team use to recognize, categorize, integrate, unify, and coordinate the work of projects, such as creating project management plans. The planning, carrying out, and controlling of the project scope are also given specific consideration. In order to achieve the quality criteria, processes, policies, and procedures will also be taught to the students. Pre-req: DS 530, IS 600 Prerequisites: DS-530, IS-600.

IS-602. Integrating IS Technologies. 3.00 Credits.

DS-530, IS-600.

IS-603. I.T Strategy. 3.00 Credits.

Information technology strategy provides a comprehensive overview of the strategic aspects of IT and its impact on enterprise value. Developing an IT strategy and understanding how to align it with an organization's strategic goals is critical to successfully managing the major changes the IT sector has recently undergone. This course covers IT Portfolio Management, IT Sourcing, Open Innovation, Dynamics, IT Strategy and Value Relationships, IT Strategy Development and Implementation, IT Impact Assessment, and IT Achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage. It deals with various topics. Pre-req: IS 600, IS 601. Prerequisites: IS-600, IS-601.

IS-604. Data Integration- BI & Analytics. 3.00 Credits.

By studying business intelligence and analytics, students will acquire the perspective from the corporate world and the data literacy skills necessary to be successful in a position of strategic decision-making. Students will apply cutting-edge business analytics methods that incorporate AI, deep learning, and predictive analytics to offer insightful, fact-based responses to business-related questions. Pre-req: IS-600. Prerequisites: IS-600. Course Type(s): Hybrid Course.