Master of Science in Data Science

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The interdisciplinary Master of Science in Data Science degree program will provide students with broad training in managing, processing, and extracting value from large and diverse data sets and allow them to communicate their findings. The program will prepare students for professional employment in industry, government, and NGOs and at the same time allow them to obtain sufficient skills to continue into more advanced degree programs.

Admission to the master's program in Data Science is open to graduates from all disciplines with a strong quantitative background and computational skills. The program of study is a blend of statistical and optimization methodologies laced with data management and computational skills, and it provides graduate students with the opportunity to participate in data analytics projects.

Upon completion of the MS in Data Science, students will be able to:

Demonstrate a depth and breadth in understanding statistical modeling, data management, and extracting meaning from data.
Communicate effectively to a broad range of audiences, demonstrating research capability and data science application.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Program Structure

This degree is a 30 credit, courses-only master's degree, that requires programming and mathematics as pre-requisites (including Data Structures, Calculus II, and Linear Algebra). The degree requires a final, project-based capstone to put the data science knowledge into practice and will include a written and oral report evaluated by the student’s committee. As this is a joint program between the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, supervision and advising will be shared among both departments.

Degree Core (12 Hours)

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
CSE 8423	Data Science: Concepts & Practice	3
ST 8123	Statistical Thinking	3
ST 8133	Statistical Modeling	3
CSE 6503	Database Management Systems	3
CSE 8080	Directed Project in Computer Science	3

General Concentration

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
	General Data Science Electives (see listing below)	15

Manufacturing Analytics Concentration

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
IE 6673	Reliability Engineering	3
IE 6683	Machine Learning with Industrial Engineering Applications	3
IE 8623	Advanced Data Analytics for Complex Systems	3
	Graduate Data Science Electives	6

Geospatial Science Concentration

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
GR 6303	Principles of GIS	3
GR 6313	Advanced GIS	3
GR 6333	Remote Sensing of the Physical Environment	3
	Graduate Data Science Electives (choose from below)	6
GR 6343	Advanced Remote Sensing	3
GR 6353	Geodatabase Systems	3
GR 6363	Geographic Information Systems Programming	3
GR 8453	Quantitative Methods in Climatology	3

Agricultural Autonomy Concentration

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
ABE 6463	Introduction to Imagining Biological Systems	3
ABE 6900	Robotics for Biological Systems	3
CSE 6643	AI Robotics	3
	Concentration Elective(s) - Choose from options below	3-6
ABE 6483	Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies	3
ABE 6433	Geospatial Computing for Biological Systems	3
ABE 6433	Spectroscopic Sensing in Biological Systems	3
	Graduate Data Electives	0-3

Capstone

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
	A committee approved capstone project course, such as a DIS or CSE 8080 Directed Project.	3

Available Elective Courses

Course Number	Title	Credit Hours
CSE 6433	Artificial Intelligence	3
CSE 6833	Introduction to Algorithms	3
CSE 8443	Visualization	3
CSE 8673	Machine Learning	3
CSE 8833	Algorithms	3
CSE 9633	Topics in AI	3
ST 8263	Advanced Regression Analysis	3
ST 8353	Statistical Computing	3
ST 8413	Multivariate Statistical Methods	3
ST 8214	Design and Analysis of Experiments	3
ABE 6433	Geospatial Computing for Biological Systems	3
ABE 6443	Spectroscopic Sensing in Biological Systems	3
IE 6934	Information Systems for Industrial Engineering	3
IE 8743	Nonlinear Programming	3
IE 8793	Heuristics in Optimization	3
IE 6623	Engineering Statistics II	3
IE 8333	Production Control Systems II	3
IE 8353	Manufacturing Systems Modeling	3
MA 6183	Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learing	3
CSE 6990/8990 or ST 6990/8990	Special Topics	3

Admissions Requirements

Students seeking full admission into this program should apply as a classified student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the Online program should apply as an Unclassified student.

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed two times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

Spring Enrollments need applications by November 1
Fall Enrollments need applications by June 1

An applicant for admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation with appropriate regional accrediting agencies. They must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Data Science program.

Regular admission to graduate study in the program requires a minimum grade point average (last four semesters of undergraduate work) of 3.00/4.00. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student's application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores are NOT required for entry into this program.

Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions
International Unclassified Admissions

Provisional Admissions
Readmission
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will choose Master of Science in Data Science as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission into the Master of Science in Data Science online program will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

International Unclassified Admissions

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
One copy of academic records showing degree(s) (in native language along with translated copies if appropriate)
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Accessing Online Courses

Accessing Course Videos

Videos recorded during our on campus class sessions are uploaded for online students to view within our online course repository. Online students will have access to course videos within 24 hours of the on campus course completion. Students should visit Engage to access the course videos. Instructions for viewing the recordings and downloading the recordings are offered below.