Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics

ON CAMPUS | ONLINE

The Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics (MSADA) program provides students with solid knowledge of the foundations of data analytics and emphasizes the presentation and discussion of the latest industry tools and approaches within an academically rigorous framework. The curriculum provides a thorough immersion in concepts and techniques for organizing, cleaning, analyzing, and representing/visualizing large amounts of data. Students will be exposed to various database systems (e.g. Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL), data mining tools (e.g. Weka), data visualization tools and packages (e.g. Tableau, ggplot2, Plotly, Matplotlib, Seaborn), Python packages (e.g. NumPy, pandas, SciPy, SciKit, TensorFlow, PySpark), R packages (e.g. Google Analytics, tm, Shiny, Word Cloud, googleVis), and cloud services such as Amazon AWS (S3, EC2, EMR), Google Cloud (Cloud Storage, Compute Engine), and Mass Open Cloud. The knowledge of analytics tools combined with understanding of data mining and machine learning approaches will enable students to critically analyze real-world problems and understand the possibilities and limitations of analytics applications.

Students who complete the master’s degree in Applied Data Analytics will be able to demonstrate:

  • Knowledge of the foundations of applied probability and statistics and their relevance in day-to-day data analysis.
  • Comprehension of computing concepts and applications requirements involving massive computing needs and data storage.
  • The ability to apply various data visualization techniques using real-world data sets and analyze the graphs and charts.
  • Understanding of web analytics and metrics, procuring and processing unstructured text/data, and the ability to investigate hidden patterns.
  • Knowledge-discovery skills using data mining techniques and tools over large amounts of data.
  • The ability to implement machine learning algorithms and their pertinence in real-world applications.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of data analytics techniques, skills, and critical thinking, and an understanding of the possibilities and limitations of their applications.

Program Prerequisites

Applicants must have an earned Bachelor’s degree, in any field of study, from a regionally accredited college/university (or the international equivalent) prior to enrollment at MET. Applicants are not required to have a degree in Computer Science for entry to a program within our Computer Science department. Upon review of your application, the department will determine if the completion of prerequisite coursework will be required, based on your academic and professional background in Information Technology, Computer Science, and Mathematics. The course MET CS 300 Introduction to Software Development (offered online only) may be required before admission into the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics Program in addition to the following prerequisite courses:

    *Students are strongly encouraged to take MET CS 521, unless they already have a Python background and want to expand their Java skills.

    Masters in Applied Data Analytics Degree Summary

    • Eight courses/32 credits
    • Students are required to complete the core curriculum courses and two electives.
    • Requirements can be completed full time or part time on campus. Or, part time online. Some classes may not be available in both formats, consult an administrative advisor to determine which classes are available in each format.
    • Applications are accepted throughout the year. The online program has six start dates a year and the on campus program has three.
    • An average grade of B (3.0) must be maintained to be in good academic standing and satisfy the degree requirements. The minimum passing grade for a course in the graduate program is a C (2.0).

    MSADA Core Curriculum

    (six required courses/24 credits)

    Students who have completed courses on core curriculum subjects as part of their undergraduate degree program may request permission from the Department of Computer Science to replace the corresponding core courses with graduate-level M.S. in Applied Data Analytics electives.

    MSADA Electives

    (two courses/eight credits)

    When choosing electives, students should make sure that they have all prerequisites required by the selected course or, instructor’s consent. Choose two from the following courses:

    *MET MA 582 has a prerequisite of MET MA 581 Probability OR instructor’s consent.  MET MA 582 will no longer be a MSADA elective beginning Fall 2024.

    Related Graduate Certificates

    Students who are currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics have the option to complete a certificate program without reapplication. Classes may count towards both a certificate and degree program (if requirements indicate the same course). However, please refer to the Academic Policies Manual regarding classes overlapping between two certificate programs. To add a certificate to your academic profile, email your designated program administrator at metcs@bu.edu (on campus students) or metcsol@bu.edu (online students).

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