Twin Cities Campus

Data Science M.S.

Computer Science and Engineering
College of Science and Engineering

Link to a list of faculty for this program.

Contact Information:
Data Science Graduate Program, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, 4-192 Keller Hall, 200
Union Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612- 625-4002; fax: 612-625-0572).
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://datascience.umn.edu

•Program Type: Master's

•Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2019
•Length of program in credits: 31
•This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
•Degree: Master of Science
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of the catalog website for
requirements that apply to all major fields.

The MS in data science program provides a strong foundation in the science of Big Data and its analysis by gathering in a single
program the knowledge, expertise, and educational assets in data collection and management, data analytics, scalable data-driven
pattern discovery, and the fundamental concepts behind these methods.

Students who graduate from this regular 2 year master's program will learn the state-of-the-art methods for treating Big Data, be
exposed to the cutting edge methods and theory forming the basis for the next generation of Big Data technology, and will complete a
project demonstrating that they can use the fundamental concepts to design innovative methods for new application areas arising from
business, government, security, medicine, biology, physical sciences, and the environment.

Program Delivery
This program is available:
•via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)

Prerequisites for Admission

The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program is 3.00.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in computer science, math, statistics, engineering, natural sciences, or a
related field.

Other requirements to be completed before admission:

The undergraduate degree must include statistics, calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and mathematical software
environments such as Matlab or R or the equivalent, programming languages such as C+, C++, Java, programming experience
including algorithms and data structures normally taught in beginning computer science courses either as part of the undergraduate
degree or subsequent work experience.

Special Application Requirements:

Admission application deadlines: February 1st international applicants, March 1st domestic applicants. Applicants are only considered
for fall admission and decisions are made after all applications are received following the close of the application cycle. Application
instructions can be found here: https://datascience.umn.edu/admissions

Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:

•GRE
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
•TOEFL
- Internet Based - Writing Score: 23
- Internet Based - Reading Score: 23
- Paper Based - Total Score: 550
•IELTS

© 2005 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Information current as of July 12, 2019
 - Total Score: 6.5
•MELAB
- Part 1 (Composition) score: 80

Key to test abbreviations(GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).

For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of the
catalog website.

Program Requirements
Plan B: Plan B requires 31 major credits and up to null credits outside the major.The final exam is written and oral. A capstone project
is required.
Capstone Project: Students must complete 3 credit hours of capstone project coursework supervised by a faculty member.

The final examination for the Capstone Project may be oral, written, or both. The format of the final exam is decided between the
student, the adviser, and the director of graduate studies, and is based on what is most appropriate for the students project. The final
oral examination, if it is used, is a closed examination open only to the final oral examination committee and the student.

This program may be completed with a minor.

Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.

The program requires a total of 31 credits consisting of 6 credits each from the three emphasis areas: statistics, algorithms, and
infrastructure and large scale computing; 9 credits in approved electives, 3 credits of which must be at the 8xxx level; 1 credit of
research colloquium; and 3 credits for the capstone project.

Statistics
Short List
Take one course from the short list and one additional statistics course from any in this emphasis for a total of 6 or more credits.
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
•STAT 5101 - Theory of Statistics I (4.0 cr)
•STAT 5102 - Theory of Statistics II (4.0 cr)
•STAT 5302 - Applied Regression Analysis (4.0 cr)
•STAT 5401 - Applied Multivariate Methods (3.0 cr)
•STAT 5511 - Time Series Analysis (3.0 cr)
•STAT 8051 - Advanced Regression Techniques: linear, nonlinear and nonparametric methods (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 7440 - Introduction to Bayesian Analysis (3.0 cr)
Additional Courses
Take 0 or more course(s) totaling 0 or more credit(s) from the following:
•PUBH 8401 - Linear Models (4.0 cr)
•PUBH 8432 - Probability Models for Biostatistics (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 7405 - Biostatistics: Regression (4.0 cr)
•PUBH 7430 - Statistical Methods for Correlated Data (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 8442 - Bayesian Decision Theory and Data Analysis (3.0 cr)
•EE 5531 - Probability and Stochastic Processes (3.0 cr)
•EE 8581 - Detection and Estimation Theory (3.0 cr)

Algorithmics
Short List
Take one course from the short list and one additional course from any in this emphasis for a total of 6 or more credits.
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
•CSCI 5521 - Introduction to Machine Learning (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5523 - Introduction to Data Mining (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5525 - Machine Learning (3.0 cr)
•EE 8591 - Predictive Learning from Data (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 8475 - Statistical Learning and Data Mining (3.0 cr)
Additional Courses
Take 0 or more course(s) totaling 0 or more credit(s) from the following:
•CSCI 5302 - Analysis of Numerical Algorithms (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5304 - Computational Aspects of Matrix Theory (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5511 - Artificial Intelligence I (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5512 - Artificial Intelligence II (3.0 cr)

© 2005 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Information current as of July 12, 2019
 •CSCI 5609 - Visualization (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8314 - Sparse Matrix Computations (3.0 cr)
•EE 5239 - Introduction to Nonlinear Optimization (3.0 cr)
•EE 5251 - Optimal Filtering and Estimation (3.0 cr)
•EE 5542 - Adaptive Digital Signal Processing (3.0 cr)
•EE 5551 - Multiscale and Multirate Signal Processing (3.0 cr)
•EE 5561 - Image Processing and Applications (3.0 cr)
•EE 5581 - Information Theory and Coding (3.0 cr)
•EE 5585 - Data Compression (3.0 cr)
•EE 8231 - Optimization Theory (3.0 cr)
•IE 5531 - Engineering Optimization I (4.0 cr)
•IE 8534 - Advanced Topics in Operations Research (4.0 cr)

Infrastructure and Large Scale Computing

Short List
Take one course from the short list and one additional course from any in this emphasis for a total of 6 or more credits.
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
•CSCI 5105 - Introduction to Distributed Systems (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5451 - Introduction to Parallel Computing: Architectures, Algorithms, and Programming (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5707 - Principles of Database Systems (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8980 - Special Advanced Topics in Computer Science (1.0 - 3.0 cr)
•EE 5351 - Applied Parallel Programming (3.0 cr)
•EE 8367 - Parallel Computer Organization (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5708 - Architecture and Implementation of Database Management Systems (3.0 cr)
Additional Courses
Take 0 or more course(s) totaling 0 or more credit(s) from the following:
•CSCI 5211 - Data Communications and Computer Networks (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5231 - Wireless and Sensor Networks (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5271 - Introduction to Computer Security (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5715 - From GPS and Virtual Globes to Spatial Computing (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8701 - Overview of Database Research (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8715 - Spatial Data Science Research (3.0 cr)
•EE 5371 - Computer Systems Performance Measurement and Evaluation (3.0 cr)
•EE 5381 - Telecommunications Networks (3.0 cr)
•EE 5501 - Digital Communication (3.0 cr)

Electives
Take 3 elective courses for 9 graduate-credits. 3 credits must be at the 8xxx level. DSCI 8760 does not satisfy the elective
requirement. Students may choose courses from this list or consult with their adviser for further options. Examples include 5xxx & 8xxx
special topics classes in CSCI, EE, STAT, & PUBH (Biostat).
Take 3 or more course(s) totaling 9 or more credit(s) from the following:
•CSCI 5461 - Functional Genomics, Systems Biology, and Bioinformatics (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 5561 - Computer Vision (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8271 - Security and Privacy in Computing (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8363 - Numerical Linear Algebra in Data Exploration (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8715 - Spatial Data Science Research (3.0 cr)
•CSCI 8725 - Databases for Bioinformatics (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 8445 - Statistics for Human Genetics and Molecular Biology (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 8446 - Advanced Statistical Genetics and Genomics (3.0 cr)
•PUBH 8472 - Spatial Biostatistics (3.0 cr)
•MATH 5467 - Introduction to the Mathematics of Image and Data Analysis (4.0 cr)

Research Colloquium
DSCI 8970 - Data Science M.S. Colloquium (1.0 cr)

Capstone Course
DSCI 8760 - Data Science M.S. Plan B Project (3.0 cr)

© 2005 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Information current as of July 12, 2019