Data Science

The Master of Data Science (MDS) prepares students for careers as Data Scientists in high-technology industries, business, and government. The MDS is an interdisciplinary degree program that provides foundational knowledge in statistics, machine learning, and computer science. Students learn core knowledge in probability and statistics, programming, data management, data analysis and visualization, and interpretation of empirical results. During the final quarter, students participate in two capstone courses. A critical component of the generation and analysis of empirical data is the ability to document the methodology and design employed, provide interpretable results, and communicate the salient findings of the analysis to a broad audience.

The first capstone course consists of the development an empirically-driven solution to a real-world problem. The project will cover the full spectrum of the analytic process, ranging from data gathering, manipulation, visualization, analysis, and interpretation of results. The second capstone course focuses on scientific writing and communication for presenting the analytic results of the capstone project to a broader audience. At the completion of this program, students will be able to obtain, manage, and analyze data from multiple sources and disciplines to yield empirically-driven solutions. Graduates will be well prepared to contribute to multi-disciplinary teams that rely on multiple types of data for guiding business and research decisions. They will be knowledgeable about the techniques for obtaining, cleaning, and managing data, statistical and machine learning methodologies for analyzing data and building associative and predictive models, and communicating the impact of results to collaborators and teams. The program can be completed through two pathways: full-time (15 months) and part-time (approximately two years). The part-time program is only available to domestic candidates.

Admission

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their prior academic record and letters of reference from people either in the student’s academic history or work settings. Students applying to the program may have degrees in any field, though preference will generally be given to those with degree in STEM fields including data science, computer science, statistics or biostatistics, computer or electrical engineering. All applicants are evaluated on the materials submitted: letters of recommendation, official college transcripts, personal statement(s), and resume.

For more information, contact the MDS Program at 949-824-2824 or mds@ics.uci.edu.

Requirements

All MDS students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the program with no individual grade lower than a "B."

Course Requirements

Final Examination

The final examination includes two components:

• Performance on a capstone project that incorporates skills and knowledge from the entire program.
• Presentation and communication of the capstone project.

Normative Time

Students making normal progress are expected to complete the degree program in approximately 15 months (5 quarters).

Course Substitutions

A student who has taken relevant graduate courses at UCI or another university may petition to have a specific course certified as equivalent to one that satisfies this program. The petition should describe the course and should be approved by the MDS program director. Only two courses can be substituted.