Master of Science in Data Science

Yes. The diploma is a degree conferred for a Master of Science in Data Science, which is the same degree students receive in the on-campus program. The diploma does not have any "online" or "Coursera" designations.‎

Graduates with a degree in data science are well-prepared to enter the workforce as data architects, analysts, and engineers; machine learning architects and engineers; business intelligence developers; and statisticians, among others.

The number of data scientist jobs is expected to grow by 19% over the next two decades—almost three times as fast as the average growth rate for all jobs—according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. ‎

Yes. The online MS-DS program falls under the University of Colorado Boulder’s overall accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). ‎

Yes. Simply enroll in any course and take as many as you like. No commitment is required. You can also enroll in the non-credit course on the Coursera platform and upgrade to for-credit at a later time by paying the associated tuition.‎

If you have any questions about the program, email us at datascience@colorado.edu. ‎

Students access course materials on the Coursera platform – lecture videos, quizzes, and readings – anytime and anywhere. Courses have been designed by CU Boulder’s faculty specifically for an online learning environment.

If a course uses proctoring for the final exam, the exam will be administered by ProctorU, a proctoring service that allows students to complete exams or project-based assessments online.‎

Most students take three courses per session to complete the MS-DS degree in about 2 years. There are six 8-week sessions per year. The degree is flexible. Take more courses per session to complete the degree more quickly or fewer courses per session if you prefer a slower pace. Please note that you must complete all courses within 8 years.‎

The coursework for each course you enroll in may take 4-6 hours of work per week depending on your knowledge and skill.

You can learn at your own pace in a flexible and fully online format. Take only the coursework you need to build credentials that will advance your career, from individual courses to the full master’s degree.‎

30 credits are required to earn the Master of Science in Data Science degree. Each course is worth one credit. ‎

You can take as many courses as you would like at the same time. You must complete all for-credit coursework and exams by the last day of each session. We recommend that you start with one course and decide from there if it is feasible to take more at the same time. Most students take a maximum of 3 courses per session. ‎

Yes. When you successfully complete the online MS-DS degree, you may come to campus to participate in the graduation ceremony.‎

No. You cannot switch between the MS-DS on Coursera and the on-campus program.‎

Yes. The same renowned and expert faculty at CU Boulder teach both online and on-campus courses.‎

Yes. There are weekly online office hours where you can interact with course facilitators and ask questions.‎

No. Online students do not have access to on-campus facilities. But admitted students can access online resources including CU Boulder libraries, Career Services, and ForeverBuffs Alumni Services.‎

CU Boulder will assign you a student ID and email address. There is no physical ID card.‎

Yes. The Slack channel and discussion forums are ways to connect and network.‎

Yes. Admitted degree-seeking students have access to Handshake, a comprehensive resource for all things career related, and VMock online resume-review. Graduates can also join the Forever Buffs alumni association. ‎

No. Internships are not part of the program.‎

There is no application to submit. Admission is performance-based, which means you simply need to show that you can do the work. To get started, complete the enrollment form during an enrollment window. Indicate you want to earn the master’s degree if applicable, and pay the tuition for the course(s) you are taking that term. Complete a pathway of three for-credit courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and you will automatically be admitted into the master’s degree.‎

No. There is no application or application fee.‎

No. Transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted.‎

There are currently no scholarships or financial aid available for this program.‎

Tuition is $667 per credit hour and $20,010 for the full 30-credit master’s degree. With “pay-as-you-go” tuition, you only pay for the courses you are taking in the upcoming term at the time of enrollment. ‎

There are no formal prerequisites. However, you should be knowledgeable in the following:

• Python
• R programming
• Calculus including derivatives and integrals
• Linear algebra including matrix multiplication, matrix inversion and solving linear systems using matrices

To be admitted to the MS-DS as a degree-seeking student, you must enroll in and complete a “Pathway Specialization” with a 3.0 GPA or better. Your pathway is a series of 3 one-credit courses in either statistics or computer science. All the pathway courses are part of the core degree curriculum, so your progress will directly stack toward a full degree.‎

No, you do not, although previous experience in statistics and computer science is helpful. Not sure if you're ready? You can enroll in a pathway specialization as a non-credit learner, which gives you the option to preview course content. Then, you can upgrade to the for-credit version and pay tuition when you are ready.‎