The Master of Science in Statistics and Data Science, Data Science track focuses on data analytics and its application to business, social, and health problems.
The Data Science track in the Statistics and Data Science MS program focuses on data analytics and its application to business, social, and health problems.
The program is particularly suited for individuals who have completed an undergraduate program in mathematics, statistics, economics, business, or other related fields, and wish to pursue a career in data science. Data scientists analyze massive data sets to uncover trends and associations, and make theoretically sound decisions on, for example, business, social, and health subjects. Data scientists have one of the most coveted jobs, as the demand for them far exceeds the existing number of qualified persons in the area. Currently, the work force in the data science industry consists mainly of individuals trained with post college education. To date, very few university degree programs exist for training students for such a large and growing industry in the United States.
The Data Science track in the Statistics and Data Science MS program is composed of 24 credit hours of required courses and 12 credit hours of restricted electives. Students must also pass a comprehensive written examination.
Total Credit Hours Required: 36 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Track Prerequisites
Students must have the following background and courses completed before applying to the Statistics & Data Science, Data Science track MS program. These courses are: MAC 2311C: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, MAC 2312: Calculus with Analytic Geometry II, MAC 2313: Calculus with Analytic Geometry III, MAS 3105: Matrix and Linear Algebra or MAS 3106: Linear Algebra. These pre-required courses are basic undergraduate courses from the Math department.
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate admission requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- Official, competitive GRE or GMAT score taken within the last five years.
- Résumé.
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
Applicants not qualified for regular graduate status may be initially admitted to the university in non-degree-seeking status and later admitted to regular status once all deficiencies have been eliminated, although only nine hours of graduate course work taken as a non-degree-seeking student can count toward a graduate degree.
Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
