Program Overview

Introduction to the Online Master of Data Science Program

The Online Master of Data Science program at Rice University is a top-ranked, accredited program that offers a highly engaging and interactive student experience. This program enables students to solve real-world problems with data sets from companies, nonprofits, and government agencies.

Program Overview

The program is designed to support the needs of working professionals who want to apply data science and data analytics knowledge, theory, and techniques to solve difficult, real-world problems. The curriculum is a rigorous blend of courses in Python programming, machine learning algorithms, big data, data visualization, statistical analysis, data security, and privacy.

Specializations

Students can specialize in either Machine Learning or Business Analytics. Within these concentrations, students will develop the necessary technical skills needed to design and implement AI/ML models and help executives make data-driven decisions using big data, data analytics, and data visualization.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to provide students with a graduate-level understanding of the computational and statistical foundations of data science. Students will develop mastery of either one of the core methods of data science or one application area of data science. The program includes a Capstone Project, which provides immersive, experiential learning through real-world data sets.

Program Structure

The program is designed for non-traditional graduate students who need to balance their educational goals while working and/or raising families. Students can complete the program part-time in approximately 2.5 - 3 years or full-time in 18-24 months.

Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The program has three intakes per year, and students can choose the start date that works best for them. Application requirements include:

• Two letters of recommendation
• CV or resume
• Statement of purpose
• Undergraduate transcripts
• 3.0+ GPA
• Application fee of $85
• GRE scores (recommended, but not required for applicants with a 3.0+ GPA and strong math skills)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the Online Master of Data Science program will pay the standard Rice University part-time rate of $1,666.70 per credit hour. The program requires a minimum of 31 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements. Merit-based scholarships of up to $10,000 are available for select applicants who apply by the early deadlines.

Career Opportunities

The demand for data scientists is growing rapidly, with a projected growth rate of 35% compared to 3% for all occupations. Rice University's strong reputation with top employers improves graduates' chances of getting the job they want. Alumni have gone on to work at leading companies, and the program provides access to world-class career resources to accelerate students' careers.

Faculty and Research

Rice's multidisciplinary data science faculty are experts in a variety of areas, including computer science, statistics, business analytics, and data-driven marketing. The program provides students with the opportunity to work with world-class faculty who care about their success.

Student Success

The program is designed to provide students with a personalized, immersive online graduate student experience. Students will have access to weekly live sessions, office hours, and community events outside the classroom. The program also provides students with the opportunity to connect directly with faculty and with each other throughout the program.