MSc. Data Science

Program Overview:

The Master of Science in Data Science (MScDS) is normally a 2-year program. The goal of the program is to provide students with solid knowledge, techniques, and experience in the research and application of data science, and to prepare students to become researchers and leaders in the emerging area of data science at the regional, national, and global levels.

The program is unique in that it can be an application-orientated or a research-orientated master’s program depending on whether students choose the Graduate Project option or the Graduate Thesis option. Regardless of their choice, graduates will develop the strong data analytics, critical-thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills required for success as a data scientist in big data or to pursue further advances in research.

Admission Requirements:

·         Acceptable four (4) year bachelor degree or equivalent in a discipline of science, or a related discipline with a minimum average grade in the last 60 credits of B+ (GPA of 3.33 on a scale of 4.33)

·         IELTS of at least 6.5 with no band below 6.0

Tuition Fees:

International Students: $41,154.88

Program Outcomes:

• ·         Use data investigation tools, including data cleaning, sampling, management and exploratory analysis.
• ·         Use data exploratory methods to visualize high-dimensional data to identify trends and patterns in data sets.
• ·         Implement foundational concepts of data computation: data structure, algorithms, simulation, and analysis.
• ·         Integrate the techniques from mathematical modelling, optimization, machine learning, data mining and applied statistics to model big data sets to a workable frame for further data investigation.
• ·         Apply advanced data analytical methods and algorithms to large data sets to extract meaningful insights.
• ·         Design an analytic strategy to model a potential issue and find a knowledge based solution for real-world challenges using public and private data sources.
• ·         Communicate results of data analysis effectively (visually and verbally) to a broad audience.

Careers:

The demand for people with data analytics skills is very high at the present and will be even greater in the near future. In a general sense, it is estimated by Canada’s Big Data Consortium that in 2018 Canada’s overall shortage of professionals with deep analytical skills will be in the range of 14,000 to 19,000, and shortage of data literate managers and analysts will be about 150,000. The shortfall is not fulfilled yet at this day and the demand gap grows even larger.

These opportunities for graduates are in the areas of:

• ·         Data scientists in large private or public organizations
• ·         Data analyst positions in
• 1.      software development
• 2.      business intelligence
• 3.      medical/health research
• 4.      data management
• ·         Strategic analysis manager positions of policy making bodies of government and organizations
• ·         Data architect designers of social networks, communication networks and the like

Program Intake: September