Proposal for a B.S. & M.S.
degree in Data Science
Presentation to
University Curriculum Committee (UCC)
Presented by Gary Davis (MTH)
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Presentation Outline
Program Goals
Program Highlights
Program Benefits
Program Feasibility
Degree Requirements
Learning Outcomes
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Proposal Overview
This proposal is to establish a new interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science
and Master of Science degree program in Data Science (DSC). The
major will provide undergraduate/graduate students with advanced
education and training in the rapidly emerging fields of data analytics and
discovery informatics, which integrates mathematics and computer
science for the quantification and manipulation of information from a
cognate area of application (e.g., science, engineering, business,
sociology, healthcare, planning). Emphasis is placed on merging strong
foundations in information theory, mathematics, statistics and computer
science with current methodologies and tools to enable data-driven
discovery, problem solving, and decision making.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Program Goals (BS)
1) Educate and train students to work in industry or academia as data scientists
2) Broaden and deepen the basic data science education in computer science,
mathematics, and statistics, with real-life data science projects in cognate
disciplines, including Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Decision & Information
Sciences, Engineering, Finance, Marketing, Nursing, Physics, Political
Science, and Sociology.
3) Expand education opportunities in rapidly growing areas of information
science;
4) Offer state-of-the-art technology-based courses in data analysis, data mining,
statistical modeling, and data visualization;
5) Prepare graduates with entry-level skills for managing, understanding,
interpreting and communicating database and information needs of a wide
variety of producers and consumers;
6) Increase enrollment in STEM disciplines; and,
7) Stimulate and assist the development of computationally-focused options
within existing departments.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Program Goals (MS)
1) Meet the growing demand for high-level information
systems/science skills;
2) Provide a path for individuals from diverse fields to rapidly
transition to information science career paths;
3) Enable established information technology and computing
professionals to upgrade their technical management and
development skills;
4) Prepare graduates to apply data science techniques for knowledge
discovery and dissemination to assist researchers or decision
makers in achieving organizational objectives;
5) Establish stronger ties to alumni to enhance opportunities for
continued learning and leadership;
6) Create a pool of innovators, entrepreneurs, business professionals
who will lead the development of next generation information
systems.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Program Highlights
• Mission focused
• Interdisciplinary
• Multiple colleges and departments
• Accessible and inclusive
• Flexibility
• Contemporary
• Innovative
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Program Benefits
The proposed major will embody the mission of UMass Dartmouth
through education, research, economic development, and public service.
• It will prepare students of diverse backgrounds for success in
technologically-oriented careers in the knowledge-based economy.
• It will increase innovation and scientific advancement through
research.
• It will provide a pathway for women and men from diverse fields to
rapidly transition to information science career paths.
• It will prepare a citizenry capable of bringing insight to complex
information in an ethical and socially responsible way.
• It will support the needs of the business community in Massachusetts
and the nation.
• It will sustain the university's reputation for innovative academic
programs and overall excellence in undergraduate, graduate and
professional education.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2012
Program Priority
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Technical Need
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Workforce Need
McKinsey Global Institute, Big Data: The Next
Frontier for Innovation, Competition and
Productivity (May 2011)
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
Mass Technology Leadership Council, Big
Data and Analytics: A Major Market
Opportunity for Massachusetts (2012)
2013
Program Feasibility
Ability to offer program:
•
•
•
•
•
Two main participating departments are MTH and CIS
15+ faculty available; additional hires in progress
1.5 FTE faculty needed to deliver 6 new DSC courses
No new faculty hires necessary to launch DSC program
Facilities and labs – High-performance computing cluster
at UMD and MGHPCC; Data and Visual Analytics Lab
(under development); Ctr. for Scientific Computing &
Visualization Research
• Software/equipment from grants/gifts/major fees
• Library resources: ~$8K for additional journals
• Student activities/recruitment/publicity from major fees
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Degree Requirements (BS)
Coursework: 120 credit hours of coursework with at least
45 credits taken in the upper division
• Core courses include mathematics (20 CHs), statistics
(9 CHs), computer science (17 CHs), and data science
(12 CHs).
• Elective courses 12 CHs upper division
• University Studies 30 CHs
GPA major ≥ 2.50
GPA overall ≥ 2.00
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Degree Requirements (MS)
Coursework: 30 credit hours of coursework
• Core courses include mathematics/computing (6 CHs),
and data science (6 CHs)
• Elective courses (15 CHs)
• Practicum (3 CHs)
• 24 CHs must be earned at the 500-level or above
GPA overall ≥ 3.00
Comprehensive examination on core competencies = pass
Academic progress: completion in 1.5 - 2 years (full-time
study)
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Admission Requirements (BS)
• A student who meets the University’s general
eligibility requirements may apply to the BS program
in Data Sciences.
• Established admission criteria apply:
http://www.umassd.edu/admissions/
• DSC qualifications should be in top 10 percent of
applicants with an aptitude for mathematics and
computer science.
• Mathematics readiness is determined by the
ACCUPLACER® test results.
• Articulation agreements are planned for transfer
students to enter with up to 70 course credits.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Admission Requirements (MS)
Requirements are:
•Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
•Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.00 in relevant coursework
•Proficiency in mathematics and computing
•Minimum TOEFL score 550 (paper), 213 (CBE), 79 (Internet), if
applicable
Up to 6 credits may be transferred into graduate programs at
UMD
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Learning Assessment
An ongoing process of quality control and outcomes
assessment will contain the following elements.
1) End of Course Evaluations
2) Small Group Instructional Diagnosis
3) Web Archive of the Student Projects
4) Exit Interview and Survey
5) Transcript Analysis
6) Long-term Career Tracking
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Program Assessment
Benchmarks of Success
The success of the entire program will be assessed against the
following benchmarks:
1) Meeting enrollment targets;
2) Graduation rates (45% 6-yr UG; 80% 2-yr GR) and degrees
awarded;
3) Satisfaction of students with the program, measured by course
evaluations and web-based exit surveys with graduating
students (at least 85% satisfied or very satisfied);
4) Success of graduates in pursuing advanced degrees, obtaining
high-quality employment or advancing to higher positions
within their present organization; and,
5) Long-term professional success of the graduates, measured by
5-year alumni and employer surveys.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Body of Knowledge (BS/MS)
• Statistics
oExploratory data analysis
oStratified sampling
oRegression, linear models
oGoodness of fit of statistical models
oAnalysis of variance
oDesign of experiments
oDigital signal processing
• Machine learning (quantitative analysis)
• General programming ability
oPython and pandas
oR
oMATLAB, Maple, Mathematica
oMapReduce/Hadoop
oHigh Performance Computing (e.g. via MATLAB)
oDatabases: MySQL
• Data communication
oData visualization
oWeb programming: HTML 5, CSS, php, javascript
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Learning Outcomes (BS)
At the time of graduation, students will:
• be able to understand and apply contemporary techniques
for managing, mining, and analyzing big data across
multiple disciplines;
• be able to use computation and computational thinking to
gain new knowledge and to solve real-world problems of
high complexity;
• have the ability to communicate their ideas and findings
persuasively in written, oral and visual form and to work in
a diverse team environment;
• be prepared for graduate school or employment and have
an appreciation for life-long learning;
• have an appreciation for the professional, societal and
ethical considerations of data collection and use.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
Learning Outcomes (MS)
At the time of graduation, students will:
• be able to understand and apply contemporary techniques for
managing, mining, and analyzing big data across multiple disciplines;
• be able to use computation and computational thinking to gain new
knowledge and to solve real-world problems of high complexity;
• have the ability to communicate their ideas and findings persuasively
in written, oral and visual form and to work in a diverse team
environment;
• have a deep knowledge of computing and information systems
applications, including network, database, security and privacy, and
Web technologies;
• be better prepared for career advancement in all areas of information
science and technology;
• be committed to continuous learning about emerging and innovative
methods, technologies, and new ideas, and be able to bring them to
bear to help others; and,
• have an appreciation for the professional, societal and ethical
considerations of data collection and use.
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2012
Program FAQs
Q1. Are there similar programs elsewhere?
Bentley University
M.S. in Marketing Analytics
Boston University
M.S in Computer Information Systems
University of California, Irvine
M.S. in Informatics
Carnegie Mellon University
M.S. in Information Systems Management
M.S. in Information Technology
PhD in Machine Learning
College of Charleston
B.S. in Discovery Informatics
Cornell University
M.Eng. Operations Research and Information Engineering
DePaul University
M.S. in Predictive Analytics
Drexel University
B.S. in Information Systems
B.S. in Information Technology
M.S. in Business Analytics
George Mason University
PhD in Computational Sciences and Informatics
B.S. in Computational and Data Sciences
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Informatics
PhD in Informatics
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
UMass Boston
Graduate Certificate in Database Technology
University of Maine
M.S. in Information Systems
University of Michigan
B.S. in Informatics
B.S. in Information
North Carolina State
M.S. in Analytics
Northeastern University
Master of Professional Studies in Informatics
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Analytics
Master of Science in Predictive Analytics (Online Program)
NYU
M.S. in Information Systems
M.S. in Information Systems Engineering
M.S. in Business Analytics
University of Pittsburgh
B.S. in Information Science
M.S. in Information Science
University of San Francisco
M.S. in Analytics
Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies in Data Science
Stevens Institute’s Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management
Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics
2013
Fall 2012 Enrollment Data
Program FAQs (cont.)
Q2. What is the current enrollment in the participating departments?
College
Dept
BS
MS
PhD
Total
CAS
MTH
71
–
–
71
COE
CIS
177
47
–
224
248
47
–
295
Total
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013
B.S. Degree
M.S. Degree
Program FAQs (cont.)
Q3. What are enrollment projections?
B.S. Degree
# of Students
Year 1
# of Students
Year 2
# of Students
Year 3
# of Students
Year 4*
New Full Time
10
15
20
25
Continuing Full Time
0
7
25
35
New Part Time
0
0
0
0
Continuing Part Time
0
0
0
0
10
22
45
60
# of Students
Year 1
# of Students
Year 2
# of Students
Year 3*
# of Students
Year 4*
New Full Time
5
7
10
10
Continuing Full Time
0
5
8
10
New Part Time
0
5
5
5
Continuing Part Time
0
0
5
10
5
17
28
35
Totals
M.S. Degree
Totals
*Reflects students graduating
Data Science BS/MS Degree Proposal
2013