Program Overview

Master of Science in Data Science

The Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) is a 30-credit degree program offered through the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in data science, including data mining, cleaning, modeling, analysis, and visualization.

Program Overview

The MS-DS program is a non-thesis degree that requires 30 credit hours of coursework. The program is self-paced, and students can take up to 15 credits per term. Students who take 3 courses per session can complete the degree in about 2 years. However, students can take more or fewer courses per session, depending on their schedule and preferences.

Admission Requirements

There are no formal prerequisites for the MS-DS program. However, students should be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Python
• R programming
• Calculus, including derivatives and integrals
• Linear algebra, including matrix multiplication, matrix inversion, and solving linear systems using matrices
• Statistics

Students must complete 3 pathway courses for credit with a 3.0 GPA average or better to demonstrate proficiency and be admitted to the program.

Pathway Courses

Pathways are a series of 3 one-credit courses with a focus on either statistics or computer science. Students can choose one of the following pathways:

• Data Science Foundations: Statistical Inference
  • Probability Theory: Applications for Data Science (1 credit)
  • Statistical Inference for Estimation in Data Science (1 credit)
  • Statistical Inference & Hypothesis Testing for Data Science Applications (1 credit)
• Data Science Foundations: Data Structures & Algorithms
  • Algorithms for Searching, Sorting & Indexing (1 credit)
  • Trees & Graphs: Basics (1 credit)
  • Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms (1 credit)

Course Details

Courses are open for 8 weeks, and there are 6 enrollment sessions per year. Each enrollment window starts 2 weeks before the first day of class and ends 2 weeks before all coursework is due. All for-credit coursework must be submitted by the last day of the 8-week session.

Non-Credit and For-Credit Options

The MS-DS program offers both non-credit and for-credit options. Non-credit courses are flexible and available on-demand, while for-credit courses have session start and end dates. For-credit tuition is $525 per credit hour, and additional material and assessments must be completed to earn credit.

Finances

The cost of the MS-DS program is $525 per credit hour, and the program requires 30 credit hours of coursework. There are no additional costs for student fees, proctored exams, or other expenses.

Careers in Data Science

The median annual salary for data scientists is $100,560, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates from the MS-DS program have gone on to work at top companies, including Amazon, Apple, Boeing, Disney, Google, IBM, Lockheed Martin, NASA, NBC, Twitter, and Yelp.

CU Boulder Resources

MS-DS students have access to CU Boulder resources, including online libraries, Career Services, and ForeverBuffs Alumni Services. Students who have been admitted into the degree program will have lifelong access to Handshake through CU Boulder Career Services.

Technical Requirements

Students will need a laptop or desktop computer, internet access, and a webcam to participate in the program. ProctorU's equipment requirements and Coursera's list of recommended browsers and devices can be found on their respective websites.

Get Help

Prospective students can email the program for additional questions, while current students can reach out to the program for help with exam proctoring or other issues.