Online Master’s Degree in Data Science

Master of Science in Data Science

Stand out in one of the fastest growing fields in today’s job market with Drexel University’s online Master’s degree in Data Science. In this program, you’ll focus on helping your company solve problems by creating machine learning algorithms to examine and manipulate data. The interdisciplinary curriculum ensures you’ll be prepared with the wide-ranging skills you need on the job, so you’ll emerge workplace-ready and experienced with the relevant industry technology. Apply the skills you learn across a variety of fields, from banking to healthcare and everything in between.

About the online MS in Data Science

Drexel’s online data science master’s is a compilation of computer science and information systems. Throughout your courses, you’ll learn to manipulate and summarize data; dig deeper into data and text mining; determine trends; and craft your findings into a story that can be clearly communicated to your organization.

In addition to your core classes, you have the option of choosing between three elective tracks:

• Analytics, Mining, and Algorithms
• Visualization and Communication
• Management and Accountability

The program culminates with a capstone project.

The online MS in Data Science is housed in Drexel’s College of Computing and Informatics (CCI). Drexel’s CCI is a founder and leading institution in the National Science Foundation’s primary big data Industry University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC), the Center for Visualization and Decision Informatics. In addition to learning from CCI faculty, you’ll have the opportunity to take classes throughout Drexel’s colleges, making it a truly interdisciplinary degree.

What is Data Science?

Businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on professionals who can make sense of the mass amounts of data they acquire every day. For data scientists, the key to this is tool creation: creating new processes, algorithms and products that can mine and analyze that data to help their companies make strategic decisions. Along with using machine learning and coding to problem solve, data scientists rely on their math, technology and business skills to effectively extract meaning from data.

What is the difference between data science and data analytics?

Though many use the terms interchangeably, there is a big difference between data science and data analytics. Data analysts do what their name implies: they analyze large amounts of data to try and find patterns that can inform their organizations’ future decisions. Data scientists, on the other hand, are much more focused on technology. They design, develop and use tools to help in sifting through data, then present their findings to help their organizations make strategic decisions.

Who should earn a Master’s Degree in Data Science?

It’s a common misconception that data science degrees are only for people with a technology background. In fact, anyone with good quantitative abilities can pursue a data science degree. Drexel’s online master’s degree in data science is designed for working professionals who are interested in building on their existing skills to become leaders in the data science field. The program aims to make you workplace-ready by combining foundation knowledge, applied training and computational problem-solving to help you excel in the field.

What salary can I earn with a Master’s Degree in Data Science?

According to a 2017 IBM report, data science and analytics (DSA) job openings are expected to grow by 15% by 2020, with prospects specifically for data scientists and advanced analysts growing by 28%. However, DSA jobs remain some of the hardest positions to fill, staying on the market almost a week longer than the average posting. The reason? There’s a shortage of professionals with the education and experience needed to fill key roles, with 39% of data scientist and advanced analyst roles requiring a graduate-level degree.

*Data from Wanted Analytics

Related Program

• Graduate Certificate in Big Data Analytics

Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.