Applied Data Science
Master’s Degree

ONLINE PROGRAM

Earn your master’s degree in data science.

With an online master’s degree in data science, you’ll blend technical skills with the ability to transform data into valuable insights that guide decision-making. Our practical approach focuses on applying data science to business operations and workflows. You’ll develop proficiency in data collection, management, analysis, and presentation. Strengthen your portfolio by working on real-world projects using actual data sets. You’ll graduate equipped to launch your career in one of the fastest-growing industries today.

Learn visual and computational data science methods.
Leverage new technologies like AI and machine learning.
Develop in-demand technical skills in Tableau, SQL, R and Python
Pursue a career in one of today’s fastest-growing, most in-demand fields.
Complete your online master’s degree in data science in as little as one year.

Quick Info

Choose from 4 cohort start dates
Next term starts Spring 2025

11 Courses / 34 Total Credit Hours

Complete in as little as one year

No GRE Required

Also available as an on-campus program.

What can I do with a master’s in data science?

At Syracuse University’s iSchool, you’ll gain the analytical, technical and managerial expertise required to stand out in a competitive job market. With these skills, you will make a measurable impact as a data scientist— a top-five Glassdoor job for the last five years in a row. Earn your MS in Applied Data Science online and be the one your organization turns to for data insights.

SAMPLE JOB TITLES

Data scientist
Analytics manager
Data engineer
Director of data science
Computer systems analyst
Quantitative developer
Machine learning developer
Big data architect

Fastest-growing
field in the US

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median pay for
data scientists

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Expected Growth of
data science jobs

Much faster than average, BLS

Courses & Curriculum

Developed in collaboration with the Whitman School of Management, our online MS in Applied Data Science curriculum allows you to explore the impact data science has on businesses, and gives you the opportunity to customize your coursework based on your goals.

View Full Course Catalog

Core Courses – 18 Credits

Data Administration Concepts and Database Management

IST 659 | 3 CREDITS
Definition, development, and management of databases for information systems. Learn data analysis techniques, data modeling, data normalization query writing for information retrieval and query performance tuning using the SQL language.

Quantitative reasoning for data science

IST 686 | 3 CREDITS
Contemporary methods of statistical inference for quantitative data, including Bayesian analysis. Students gain practical skills in data preparation, analysis using R, and communicating results for informed, reliable decision-making.

Introduction to data science

IST 687 | 3 CREDITS
Introduction to using data science across many different situations. Covers concepts such as data management, transformation, analysis, and machine learning, using R. No programming experience required. Hands-on projects and real-world problem-solving help identify when data science is useful, with emphasis on ethically applying data science.

Applied machine learning

IST 707 | 3 CREDITS
Provides a comprehensive overview of industry standard machine learning techniques, including an introduction to deep learning. Focus on model building and optimization in Python, real-world applications, and stakeholder communication. Students will apply their skills to an original machine learning project to showcase their skills.

Business analytics

SCM 651 | 3 CREDITS
Definition, development, and management of databases for information systems. Data analysis techniques, data modeling, and schema design. Query languages and search specifications. Overview of file organization for databases. Data administration concepts and skills.

Secondary core – choose 6 credits from one the following tracks

Artificial intelligence

IST 664 | Natural Language Processing | 3 CREDITS
Linguistic and computational aspect of natural language processing technologies. Lectures, readings, and projects in the computational techniques required to perform all levels of linguistic processing of text. Additional work required of graduate students.

IST 691 | Deep Learning in Practice | 3 CREDITS
An introduction to the concepts and techniques needed to build deep learning applications. Gain hands-on experience training neural networks using open-source tools (Python, Tensorflow/Keras). The course culminates in a project applying deep learning methods to real-world challenges.

Big Data

IST 718 | Big Data Analytics | 3 CREDITS
Learn to develop actionable insights from big data using open-source tools (Python and Spark). This course prepares students to build scalable data analytics pipelines and apply advanced machine learning techniques, culminating in a hands-on project tackling real-world challenges.

IST 769 | Advanced Big Data Management | 3 CREDITS
Analyze relational and non-relational databases and corresponding database management system architectures. Learn to build complex database objects to support a variety of needs from big data and traditional perspectives. Data systems performance, scalability, security.

Data and business analytics

ACC 652 | Accounting Analytics | 3 CREDITS
Accounting analytics including Benford’s Law, current and prior period data, anomaly detection, correlation and time series detection, risk assessment and risk scoring, and purchasing card transaction fraud.

FIN 654 | Financial Analytics | 3 CREDITS
An introduction to methods and tools useful in decision-making in the financial industry, including: macroeconomic event studies, analysis of term structures, Morningstar equity data, style analysis, credit card receivables, trading analytics, execution algorithms, etc.

MAR 653 | Marketing Analytics | 3 CREDITS
The course will focus on three aspects of analytical marketing: survey research, managing and synthesizing data from multiple sources, and data analysis and decision making, including regression analysis, choice modeling and classification, principal component analysis, and both cluster and conjoint analysis. Additional work for graduate students.

MBC 638 | Accounting Analytics | 3 CREDITS
Concepts, principles and methods to support scientific approach to managerial problem solving and process improvement. Basic statistical techniques, their appropriateness to situations and assumptions underlying their use.

SCM 703 | Principles of Management Science | 3 CREDITS
Concepts and development of analytical model building as used in global supply chain decision.

Data pipelines and platforms

IST 652 | Scripting for Data Analysis | 3 CREDITS
Introduction to scripting techniques for automating, managing, and analyzing data in various formats. The course focuses on practical applications of Python to preprocess, clean, analyze, and visualize data to support data-driven decision-making and the creation of data analysis pipelines.

IST 722 | Data Warehousing | 3 CREDITS
Introduction to the concepts of data warehousing and business intelligence (BI). Data warehouse architectures and design. Dimensional modeling, extract-load-transform (ELT) in the SQL language. Emphasis on using data warehouses to make better organizational decisions.

Language analytics

IST 644 | Natural Language Processing | 3 CREDITS
Linguistic and computational aspect of natural language processing technologies. Lectures, readings, and projects in the computational techniques required to perform all levels of linguistic processing of text. Additional work required of graduate students.

IST 736 | Text Mining | 3 CREDITS
Introduces concepts and methods for knowledge discovery from large amount of text data, and the application of text mining techniques for business intelligence, digital humanities, and social behavior analysis.

Project management

IST 644 | Managing Data Science Projects | 3 CREDITS
Increase the agility of a data science project by improving the process a team uses to execute their project. Explore data science life cycles (e.g., CRISP-DM, TDSP) and collaboration frameworks (e.g., Kanban, Scrum).

IST 692 | Responsible AI | 3 CREDITS
Through hands-on coding exercises and critical analysis, you’ll learn to identify and address biases in AI systems, evaluate the social and environmental impact of AI, navigate AI regulations, and apply best practices for responsible AI design and deployment.

Visual analytics

IST 719 | Information Visualization | 3 CREDITS
A broad introduction to data visualization for information professionals. Students will develop a portfolio of resources, demonstrations, recipes, and examples of various data visualization techniques.

IST 737 | Visual Analytic Dashboards | 3 CREDITS
Analytic dashboards find valuable insights from large scale data. Students will gain knowledge of human visual reasoning, and obtain technical skills necessary to design, develop and implement analytic dashboards for business, government, or personal data.

Electives – 12 credits

Exit requirement

Complete a required one-credit course in which you submit a personal portfolio of projects that demonstrate full competency of the learning outcomes to a panel of program faculty.

Get Started.

Apply now by submitting your resume, transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a personal statement about why you want to pursue your Master of Applied Data Science at Syracuse University. No GRE scores are required to apply.

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Expand Your Network.

Connect with leaders in the data science field, forge friendships and connections with peers in your industry, and gain a lifelong network. With our online learning platform, you’ll attend live classes, connect with classmates on project-based coursework and have one-on-one sessions with your professors—keeping you connected to the iSchool community.

Meet Our Community

Grow Your Career.

Whether you are just starting your career in data science or want to become a machine learning engineer, our curriculum can help you achieve your career goals. You’ll also have access to our Virtual Career Center and personalized career coaching.

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All of our students get
access to career support staff

iSchool alumni give
you access to
mentoring and jobs

Syracuse University is accredited by
the Middle States Commission
on Higher Education Accreditation.

Meet us in Syracuse, or virtually.

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Questions? We’re here to help.

Get access to upcoming events, meet with faculty and current students, connect with alumni, and see what a master’s degree can do for your career and future. Submit your contact info below and we’ll be in touch!