WEST HAVEN UNIVERSITY

Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS)

Master's degree 2 years

Program overview

The Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) is a multidisciplinary graduate program that equips students with the skills to extract insights and knowledge from complex, large-scale data. It sits at the intersection of statistics, computer science, and domain-specific knowledge. The curriculum focuses on advanced statistical modeling, machine learning, data wrangling, data visualization, and database management. Students learn to use programming tools and cloud platforms to manage the entire data lifecycle, from acquisition and cleaning to analysis and communication of findings, enabling data-driven decision-making in organizations.

The program integrates strong mathematical, computational, and ethical foundations with advanced training in machine learning, big data, and applied analytics. It prepares graduates to develop, evaluate, and deploy data-driven solutions across diverse industries such as business, healthcare, technology, and public policy.

Program highlights

2 years
Duration
36
Credits
0
Certifications
3
Career paths

What makes our program unique

Balanced core knowledge

Probability, machine learning, big data, and applied practice

Elective flexibility

Emerging areas such as NLP, causal inference, healthcare analytics, reinforcement learning

Applied learning

Capstone + Industry Track ensures practical, hands-on skills

Learning outcomes

  • Utilize advanced statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and computational techniques to solve data-intensive problems
  • Acquire, clean, manage, and process large and complex datasets from diverse sources using modern database systems and big data technologies (e.g., SQL, NoSQL, Hadoop, Spark)
  • Develop, train, test, and implement machine learning and statistical models to predict outcomes and uncover patterns
  • Create compelling visualizations and effectively communicate data-driven insights and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Navigate the ethical considerations of data science, including data privacy, security, algorithmic bias, and responsible data handling

Program curriculum

Our comprehensive curriculum is structured into different blocks. Each block combines theoretical foundations and practical applications:

Required core courses

Code Course title Credits Type
DS 501 Introduction to Data Science 3 Core
DS 502 Probability & Statistics for Data Science 3 Core
DS 503 Machine Learning 3 Core
IE 503 Business Models, Strategy & Competitive Advantage 3 Core
DS 504 Big Data Systems & Processing 3 Core
DS 505 Data Science Capstone Project & Presentation 3 Core
Credits required: 15

Focus electives

(Choose 1: 3 credits)

Code Course title Credits Type
DS 521 Deep Learning & Neural Networks 3 Elective
DS 522 Natural Language Processing 3 Elective
DS 523 Optimization & Computational Linear Algebra 3 Elective
DS 524 Responsible Data Science & Ethics 3 Elective
DS 525 Time Series & Probabilistic Modeling 3 Elective
Credits required: 3

General electives

Code Course title Credits Type
DS 531 Advanced Python for Data Science 3 Elective
DS 532 Applied Machine Learning 3 Elective
DS 533 Data Visualization & Information Design 3 Elective
DS 534 Causal Inference in Machine Learning 3 Elective
DS 535 Reinforcement Learning 3 Elective
DS 536 Computational Social Science 3 Elective
DS 537 Applied Data Science in finance 3 Elective
DS 538 Applied Data Science in Healthcare 3 Elective
Credits required: 18

Program summary

Component Credits
Required core courses 15
Focus electives 3
General electives 18
Total credits: 36

Career opportunities

Graduates of this program have pursued various rewarding career paths:

Data Scientist

Avg. Salary: $125,000 - $145,000

Analyze complex data to build models, create algorithms, and develop predictive systems to guide business strategy

Data Analyst

Avg. Salary: $85,000 - $105,000

Interpret data and turn it into actionable insights through reporting, visualization, and dashboarding to help organizations make informed decisions

Business Intelligence (BI) Developer/Analyst

Avg. Salary: $100,000 - $120,000

Specialize in creating and managing BI and analytics solutions that facilitate data-driven decision-making within a business

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, or a related field with a strong quantitative focus