Data Science uses tools of data visualization, predictive analytics, and web applications
to communicate complex data, discover information, aid businesses in decision-making,
and add the value of business. Data science is widely used in modern industrial production,
business, and social media, and is making an increasing impact on human life.
Data scientist is ranked as one of the best careers. The MTSU Data Science Master’s
Program aims to prepare students to be competitive on the job market. The courses
will equip students with advanced data science skills including, but not limited to,
computer programing, data visualization and manipulation, predictive modeling, business
analytics and communications.
The curriculum provides both online courses and on-campus courses. No matter you are
a full-time student or a working professional, you will be able to find a suitable
path towards the master’s degree. Please contact the program director, Dr. Qiang Wu
(qiang.wu@mtsu.edu), to discuss a course plan to maximize or minimize the number of online courses according
to your needs and preferences.
Student says master's program in Data Science will prepare him for future
David Jean, one of 20 students in the Data Science master program’s first cohort, says he’s interested in data science because of its endless potential. “Society is producing data at an exponential rate, and the need to be able to work with it seems like a truly
invaluable skill,” Jean said. A native of Franklin, Tennessee, Jean recently graduated
with a bachelor’s degree in Data Science from MTSU. He wanted to continue to the master’s program because he enjoyed the students
and faculty. “The students always push each other to be their best and strive for
more while the faculty is always willing to genuinely engage and offer advice,” he
said. Jean said he was thankful to the data science faculty for giving him so many opportunities and a great experience. “The faculty
were always there for me inside and outside of the classroom,” he said.
MTSU receives Nashville Technology Council awards
Middle Tennessee State University represented well at the 2020 Nashville Technology
Council Awards, bringing home three of the major awards for the evening, “Data Scientist
of the Year,” “Technology Student of the Year,” and “Diversity and Inclusion Initiative
of the Year.” These are incredible accomplishments that prove that MTSU’s efforts
in promoting education in data science are preparing students to make valuable contributions
in the rapidly growing Nashville technology community. The Nashville Technology Council
has worked as a hub for bringing technology companies together and recognizing industry
leaders. As a $7.5 billion-dollar industry that continues to flourish, the demand
for information technology jobs will continue to grow, and MTSU has industry-leading
resources, expert faculty, and driven students that will make an impact for years
to come.
Related Media
-
MTSU True Blue Preview | Data Science
-
The Tennessee Digital Agriculture Center is Helping Farmers with Data and Drones
-
Students Create Innovative Technologies at the 2022 'HackMT' Event
-
AWS DeepRacer | Amazon Web Services and MTSU Data Science Race Machine Learning Remote Cars
-
-
MTSU | The University of Opportunities
-
MTSU Tech Savvy Students Compete at Annual "HackMT"
This degree is intended to help individuals be more competitive in their current role
or allow them to pivot into a new career path. Below are different careers and companies
for this degree.
Careers directly related to this degree
- Business Analyst
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Data Analytics Consultant
- Data Architect
- Data Engineer
- Data Infrastructure Engineer
- Data Mining Engineer
- Database Administrator
- Junior Data Scientist
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Marketing Analyst
- Operations Analyst
- Quantitative Analyst
- Software Developer
- Systems Analyst
Career path with experience or additional education
- AI Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Quantitative Researcher
- Statistician
Notable Companies looking to hiring in Data Science:
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Asurion
- Bank of New York Mellon
- Bridgestone
- CAT Financial
- CGI
- Change Healthcare
- Deloitte
- Digital Reasoning
- Dollar General
- EFC Systems
- Genesco
- Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
- HPA Cognizant Technologies
- Ingram Content Group
- Juice analytics
- LBMC
- Nissan
- State of Tennessee
- Stratasan
- The General
- Tractor Supply
- Trinisys
- Vaco
- Vanderbilt Medical
The MTSU Data Science Master’s Program aims to prepare students to be competitive
on the job market. The curriculum includes 8 required courses and 4 elective courses.
The classes provide training on advanced data science skills including, but not limited
to, computer programing, data visualization and manipulation, predictive modeling,
business analytics and communications.
The curriculum provides both online courses and on-campus courses. No matter you are
a full-time student or a working professional, you will be able to find a suitable
path towards the master’s degree. Please contact the program director, Dr. Qiang Wu
(qiang.wu@mtsu.edu), to discuss a course plan to maximize or minimize the number of online courses according
to your needs and preferences.
Undergraduate
MTSU offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science with three cognates, Inferential Thinking, Business Intelligence and Analytics, or
Machine Learning. MTSU students may also choose to minor in Data Science.
Graduate Certificate
A graduate certificate in Data Science for students wanting to further their education. Students take four courses that
are seven weeks long, and the certificate can be completed in two semesters.
Ph.D. in Computational and Data Science
A Ph.D. in Computational and Data Science is also available.
Data Science, M.S.
Qiang Wu, Program Director
(615) 898-2053
Qiang.Wu@mtsu.edu
The Data Science program aims to prepare students to be competitive in the job market. The courses will equip students with advanced data science skills including, but not limited to, computer programming, data visualization and manipulation, predictive modeling, business analytics, and communications.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Science in Data Science program requires
- an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university or college;
- a GPA of 2.75 or higher in all college work taken.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Application deadline is July 31 for those wishing to begin the following Fall and December 31 for those wishing to begin the following Spring.
Applicant must
- submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit a resume or curriculum vitae;
- submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
- submit scores from an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GRE/GMAT requirement may be waived for applicants meeting any of the following conditions:
- an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.00 or higher;
- an earned graduate or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
International students who do not speak English as a native language should provide evidence of language proficiency. They must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language score (TOEFL, www.ets.org/toefl, minimum score of 71 Internet based); International English Language Testing System score (IELTS, www.ielts.org, minimum score of 6.0); International Test of English Proficiency score (iTEP, www.itepexam.com, minimum score of 4.5); E.L.S. instruction (www.els.edu, completion of level 112), as a demonstration of English proficiency in order to be admitted to graduate studies at MTSU. Note that certain programs may require higher standards, so please consult the program coordinator for more information.
Order a course-by-course evaluation of transcript(s) from institutions outside the United States by an acceptable evaluation service. All acceptable evaluation services are listed at www.naces.org/members. Evaluations should be sent electronically to internationalgrad@mtsu.edu or, if necessary, mailed to College of Graduate Studies, MTSU Box 42, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.
Degree Requirements
Students may choose between a non-thesis option and a thesis option in the Master of Science in Data Science. The non-thesis option requires completion of 36 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. The thesis option requires completion of 36-39 credit hours of course work with a grade point average of 3.0 or above, including enrollment of 3-6 credit hours thesis research in DATA 6640, and successful publication of a thesis with the graduate school.
Curriculum: Data Science
The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements.
Non-thesis Option
Required Courses (24 hours)
DATA 6300 - Data Understanding
3credit hours
Applications used to understand the problem-solving process for data science. Data collection and cleansing techniques used to visualize and summarize the data in order to prepare it for modeling for various data types through statistical analysis with Python programming.
DATA 6310 - Data Exploration
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Data science techniques to explore numerical and text data. Unsupervised learning and NLP applications used to explore data to understand its impact and use to make data-driven decisions.
DATA 6320 - Predictive Modeling
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Develop models to predict outcomes through the use of supervised learning techniques. Applications in regression and classification modeling used to develop data driven problem solving to predict and support decisions and analysis.
DATA 6330 - Model Optimization and Deployment
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. The optimization and deployment of machine learning models. Techniques for fine-tuning parameters for developing the best model for the presented business problems. Applications through internal and cloud infrastructures also used to identify optimal techniques for deployment of models to operationalize into production.
DATA 6500 - Cases in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6320 with C (2.0) or better. Cases that integrate innovative data science techniques from various real-world problems and scenarios. Topics may include supervised and unsupervised learning, NLP, databases, SQL, NoSQL, cloud computing, and data ethics.
DATA 6550 - Data Ethics and Responsibility
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. Issues and challenges associated with working with data, which includes ethics and bias, as well as data governance and regulatory requirements; privacy and other ethical issues related to data collection and selection; post-deployment feedback and model revisions.
DATA 6990 - Topics Seminar in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6500 with C (2.0) or better. Application of various data science skills with an emphasis on full-scale projects and oral presentations from initial business and data understanding, data cleansing, modeling and analysis, findings, and deployment.
STAT 6020 - Applied Statistical Methods
3credit hours
Prerequisites: MATH 1530, MATH 2050, or STAT 3150 or permission of instructor. Contemporary and medical research methodology for biostatistics. Descriptive and inferential statistics including parametric and nonparametric hypothesis testing methods, sample size, statistical significance and power, survival curve analysis, relative risk, odds ratios, chi square modeling, and analysis of variance. Data will be analyzed using statistical software.
Elective Courses (12 hours)
ACSI 6110 - Predictive Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisite: ACSI 5140 or consent of instructor. Topics include generalized linear models, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, support vector machines, ridge regression, lasso, sparse modeling, variable selection, model selection, and other selected topics from computational statistics, machine learning, and data mining.
BIA 6905 - Applied Business Analytics
3credit hours
(Same as MBAI 6905.) An applied approach to the understanding, development, and application of prescriptive and data analytic tools to model and analyze business data. A hands-on focus utilized with both commonly-used spreadsheet software and specialized business intelligence software for the student to develop skills for self-service business analytics.
BIA 6910 - Business Intelligence
3credit hours
Prerequisite: BIA 6905 or QM 6770 or equivalent. A more advanced look at the application of business intelligence tools to solving business problems. Coverage will include the development and deployment of sophisticated reporting and dashboard systems to monitor and manage operations. Industry-standard business intelligence software utilized.
COMS 6100 - Fundamentals of Computational Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the Computational and Data Science Ph.D. program or permission of instructor. Foundational overview of the mathematical and scientific underpinnings of computational science. Introduces the principles of finding computer solutions to contemporary science challenges. Offers preparation for core and elective courses in the Ph.D. program in Computational Science by reviewing essential mathematical methods and basic science principles drawn from biology, chemistry, and physics. Special topics include techniques of high performance computing and applications, parallel systems, and theory of computation, case studies in computational chemistry, physics, and mathematical biology.
COMS 6500 - Fundamentals of Scientific Computing
4credit hours
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor. Fundamentals of problem solving approaches in computational science, including computer arithmetic and error analysis, linear and nonlinear equations, least squares, interpolation, numerical differentiation and integration, optimization, random number generations and Monte Carlo simulation. Students will gain computational experience by analyzing case studies using modern software packages such as MATLAB.
CSCI 5300 - Data Communication and Networks
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 3240 or CSCI 3250. Computer network architectures, protocol hierarchies, and the open systems interconnection model. Modeling, analysis, design, and management of hardware and software on a computer network.
CSCI 5350 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3110 and CSCI 3080 or equivalent. Principles and applications of artificial intelligence. Principles include search strategies, knowledge representation, reasoning, and machine learning. Applications include expert systems and natural language understanding.
CSCI 5560 - Database Management Systems
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3080 and CSCI 3110. The relational and object models of database design along with relational algebras, data independence, functional dependencies, inference rules, normal forms, schema design, modeling languages, query languages, and current literature.
CSCI 5850 - Neural Nets
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 3080. Various neural net architectures, theory, and applications, including models such as Perceptron, back propagation, Kohonen, ART, and associative memory. Learning and conditioning methods also studied.
CSCI 6020 - Data Abstraction and Programming Fundamentals
4credit hours
Prerequisites: Previous programming experience in a high-level language and consent of instructor. Advanced introduction to data abstraction, problem solving, and programming. Programming language concepts, recursion, program development, algorithm design and analysis, data abstraction, objects and fundamental data structures such as stacks, queues, and trees. Three hours lecture and two hours lab. Will not count toward a major or minor.
CSCI 6050 - Computer Systems Fundamentals
4credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 6020 or COMS 6100 with minimum grade of B or equivalent. Advanced introduction to computer systems. Data representations, computer arithmetic, machine-level representations of programs, program optimization, memory hierarchy, linking, exceptional control flow, virtual memory and memory management, basic network concepts, and basic concurrent concepts and programming. Three hours lecture and two hours lab. Will not count toward a major or minor unless approved by the department.
CSCI 6100 - Analysis of Algorithms
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3080 and CSCI 3110 or consent of instructor. Topics include the analysis and design of algorithms; efficiency of algorithms; design approaches including divide and conquer, dynamic programming, the greedy approach, and backtracking; P and NP; and algorithms in many areas of computing.
CSCI 6300 - Networks
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 4300 or CSCI 5300. Computer communications, network architectures, protocol hierarchies, and the open systems interconnection model. Modeling, analysis, and specification of hardware and software on a computer network. Wide area networks and local area networks including rings, buses, and contention networks.
CSCI 6330 - Parallel Processing Concepts
3credit hours
Prerequisites: [CSCI 3130 and either (CSCI 3240 or CSCI 3250)] or CSCI 6050 and a working knowledge of either C or C++. Parallel processing and programming in a parallel environment. Topics include classification of parallel architectures, actual parallel architectures, design and implementation of parallel programs, and parallel software engineering.
CSCI 6350 - Selected Topics in Artificial Intelligence
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3110 and CSCI 4350 or CSCI 5350. In-depth study of the principal areas of the field: artificial intelligence programming, problem-solving methods, knowledge representation methods, deduction and reasoning, and applications such as natural language processing and expert systems. Repeatable up to 6 hours.
CSCI 6430 - Selected Topics in Parallel Processing
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 4330 or CSCI 6330. An in-depth investigation of one or more topics in parallel processing. Topic(s) to be selected by the professor. Possible topics include parallel algorithms, parallel programming languages, parallel programming tools, parallel software engineering, parallel architectures, parallel applications, and parallel VLSI. Repeatable up to 6 hours.
CSCI 6560 - Selected Topics in Database
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 4560 or CSCI 5560. An in-depth investigation of one or more topics in database. Topic(s) to be selected by the professor. Possible topics include object-oriented database systems, distributed database systems, client-server database systems, deductive databases, multimedia databases, and database theory (concurrency, query optimization, recovery, security). Repeatable up to 6 hours.
CSCI 7300 - Scientific Visualization and Databases
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 6020, COMS 6100, and COMS 6500 with minimum grade of B or equivalent or consent of instructor. Introduction to the concepts, theories, and applications of database and visualization methodologies for scientific data. Relational database design along with relational algebras, data independent, functional dependencies, inference rules, normal forms, schema design, modeling language, and query languages discussed. Methods corresponding to the visualization of scalar, vector, and tensor fields as well as multifield problem discussed. Database and visualization discussed in the context of scientific applications.
CSCI 7350 - Data Mining
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Fundamental courses in the Computational Science Ph.D. program and CSCI 6020 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Introduction to concepts, theories, techniques, issues, and applications of data mining. Data preprocessing, association rule analysis, classification analysis, cluster and outlier analysis, deviation detection, statistical modeling, consideration of emergent technologies.
DATA 6700 - Independent Study in Data Science
1 to 3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300 with C (2.0) or better. Assigned research or projects in the data science discipline under direct faculty supervision. Topics for intensive study chosen in joint consultation between student and instructor.
DATA 6910 - Internship in Data Science
1 to 3credit hours
Prerequisites: Data Science major; approval of program director; plan of activities with internship sponsor prior to registration. Practical experience related to data science. A minimum of 60 hours for each credit. Maximum 3 credits. Pass/Fail.
ECON 6070 - Econometrics II
3credit hours
Second core course in econometrics for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. Emphasizes methods of time series analysis, including Box-Jenkins methods, general-to-specific modeling, volatility models, vector autoregressions, unit roots and cointegration, unobserved component and state space models, and neural networks. Integrates practical applications in various computing environments including SAS, RATS, and MATLAB.
MATH 6300 - Optimization
3credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 5320 or consent of instructor. Constrained and unconstrained optimization problems, including the generalized least squares problem and Eigenvalue problems. Methods include orthogonalization, conjugate gradient, and quasi-Newton algorithms.
PGEO 5490 - Remote Sensing
4credit hours
Various vehicles of remote sensing such as radar, satellite imagery, and infrared data. Use of data in preparation of maps and applications to land use and environmental problems examined. Selection of data from either a numeric or image remote sensing system, interpreting, and developing a report from the interpretations. Three hours lecture and one two-hour laboratory per week.
PGEO 5511 - Advanced Remote Sensing
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PGEO 5490 or PGEO 4490. Lecture and laboratory in the study of advanced topics in remote sensing, including but not limited to, active sensors (LiDAR and RADAR), hyperspectral, and spectroscopy. Three hours lecture/laboratory per week.
PGEO 5530 - Geographic Information Systems
3credit hours
Lecture and laboratory work relative to computer-manipulated geographic data base. Laboratory work will involve experience in practical application of a geographic information system (GIS) to problem-solving. Student will take appropriate data and compile an environmental impact statement (EIS). Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week.
PGEO 5560 - Intermediate Geographic Information Systems
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PGEO 4530 or PGEO 5530. Lecture and laboratory work related to the principles and applications of geographic information systems (GIS). Continued training in GIS analysis including raster analysis, spatial analysis, network analysis, and geocoding. Data management including data editing, geodatabase design, and creation also examined. Other topics include resource management, demographic, and civic application. Three hours lecture per week.
PGEO 6050 - Programming for Geospatial Database Applications
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PGEO 5570. Development of custom/tailored GIS-based computer programming to analyze geospatial datasets for making inferences about the Earth's natural and human systems. Extend commercially available geographic information systems software packages through the development of novel computer programs to perform GIS tasks such as spatial analysis, data transformation, map generation, and geospatial database integration.
PSY 6210 - Advanced Psychometrics
3credit hours
Prerequisites: PSY 6280, HHP 6700, or equivalent. Classical test theory and item response theory. Model, assumptions, and problems of classical test theory. Mathematical modeling, parameter estimating, and adaptive testing procedures using item response theory. Both theories utilized for test construction.
PSY 6280 - Psychological Statistics: Regression
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 6281. Review of basic statistics; various correlation coefficients; multiple and partial correlation; simple and multiple regression. Laboratory included.
PSY 6565 - Behavioral Statistics Using R
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 4070 or PSY 6280/PSY 7280. Use of the R programming language to solve data management issues and to conduct basic and advanced statistical analyses.
PSY 6575 - Multilevel Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 4070 or PSY 6280/PSY 7280. Use of multilevel modeling techniques to analyze data with complex data structure.
PSY 6580 - Multivariate Data Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisites: PSY 6280, HHP 6700, or equivalent. Surveys each of the major multivariate data analysis techniques, with main focus on their application. Nature, power, procedure, computer programming, interpretation, and limitations of each.
STAT 5700 - Analysis of Large-Scale Data Sets
3credit hours
The analysis and applications of large-scale data sets. Scalable machine learning and data mining applications in a practical clinical environment. Statistical software used in the application of these techniques.
STAT 7400 - Computational Statistics
3credit hours
Prerequisites: COMS 6100 and MATH 2530 or equivalent. Statistical visualization and other computationally intensive methods. The role of computation as a fundamental tool of discovery in data analysis, statistical inference, and development of statistical theory and methods. Monte Carlo studies in statistics, computational inference, tools for identification of structure in data, numerical methods in statistics, estimation of functions (orthogonal polynomials, splines, etc.), statistical models, graphical methods, data fitting and data mining, and machine learning techniques.
Sample Program of Study
Fall Year 1
DATA 6300 - Data Understanding
3credit hours
Applications used to understand the problem-solving process for data science. Data collection and cleansing techniques used to visualize and summarize the data in order to prepare it for modeling for various data types through statistical analysis with Python programming.
DATA 6310 - Data Exploration
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Data science techniques to explore numerical and text data. Unsupervised learning and NLP applications used to explore data to understand its impact and use to make data-driven decisions.
STAT 6020 - Applied Statistical Methods
3credit hours
Prerequisites: MATH 1530, MATH 2050, or STAT 3150 or permission of instructor. Contemporary and medical research methodology for biostatistics. Descriptive and inferential statistics including parametric and nonparametric hypothesis testing methods, sample size, statistical significance and power, survival curve analysis, relative risk, odds ratios, chi square modeling, and analysis of variance. Data will be analyzed using statistical software.
Spring Year 1
DATA 6320 - Predictive Modeling
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Develop models to predict outcomes through the use of supervised learning techniques. Applications in regression and classification modeling used to develop data driven problem solving to predict and support decisions and analysis.
DATA 6330 - Model Optimization and Deployment
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. The optimization and deployment of machine learning models. Techniques for fine-tuning parameters for developing the best model for the presented business problems. Applications through internal and cloud infrastructures also used to identify optimal techniques for deployment of models to operationalize into production.
Fall Year 2
DATA 6500 - Cases in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6320 with C (2.0) or better. Cases that integrate innovative data science techniques from various real-world problems and scenarios. Topics may include supervised and unsupervised learning, NLP, databases, SQL, NoSQL, cloud computing, and data ethics.
DATA 6550 - Data Ethics and Responsibility
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. Issues and challenges associated with working with data, which includes ethics and bias, as well as data governance and regulatory requirements; privacy and other ethical issues related to data collection and selection; post-deployment feedback and model revisions.
Spring Year 2
DATA 6990 - Topics Seminar in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6500 with C (2.0) or better. Application of various data science skills with an emphasis on full-scale projects and oral presentations from initial business and data understanding, data cleansing, modeling and analysis, findings, and deployment.
Thesis Option
Required Courses (24 hours)
DATA 6300 - Data Understanding
3credit hours
Applications used to understand the problem-solving process for data science. Data collection and cleansing techniques used to visualize and summarize the data in order to prepare it for modeling for various data types through statistical analysis with Python programming.
DATA 6310 - Data Exploration
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Data science techniques to explore numerical and text data. Unsupervised learning and NLP applications used to explore data to understand its impact and use to make data-driven decisions.
DATA 6320 - Predictive Modeling
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Develop models to predict outcomes through the use of supervised learning techniques. Applications in regression and classification modeling used to develop data driven problem solving to predict and support decisions and analysis.
DATA 6330 - Model Optimization and Deployment
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. The optimization and deployment of machine learning models. Techniques for fine-tuning parameters for developing the best model for the presented business problems. Applications through internal and cloud infrastructures also used to identify optimal techniques for deployment of models to operationalize into production.
DATA 6500 - Cases in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6320 with C (2.0) or better. Cases that integrate innovative data science techniques from various real-world problems and scenarios. Topics may include supervised and unsupervised learning, NLP, databases, SQL, NoSQL, cloud computing, and data ethics.
DATA 6550 - Data Ethics and Responsibility
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. Issues and challenges associated with working with data, which includes ethics and bias, as well as data governance and regulatory requirements; privacy and other ethical issues related to data collection and selection; post-deployment feedback and model revisions.
DATA 6990 - Topics Seminar in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6500 with C (2.0) or better. Application of various data science skills with an emphasis on full-scale projects and oral presentations from initial business and data understanding, data cleansing, modeling and analysis, findings, and deployment.
Elective Courses (9 hours)
ACSI 6110 - Predictive Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisite: ACSI 5140 or consent of instructor. Topics include generalized linear models, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, support vector machines, ridge regression, lasso, sparse modeling, variable selection, model selection, and other selected topics from computational statistics, machine learning, and data mining.
BIA 6905 - Applied Business Analytics
3credit hours
(Same as MBAI 6905.) An applied approach to the understanding, development, and application of prescriptive and data analytic tools to model and analyze business data. A hands-on focus utilized with both commonly-used spreadsheet software and specialized business intelligence software for the student to develop skills for self-service business analytics.
BIA 6910 - Business Intelligence
3credit hours
Prerequisite: BIA 6905 or QM 6770 or equivalent. A more advanced look at the application of business intelligence tools to solving business problems. Coverage will include the development and deployment of sophisticated reporting and dashboard systems to monitor and manage operations. Industry-standard business intelligence software utilized.
COMS 6100 - Fundamentals of Computational Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the Computational and Data Science Ph.D. program or permission of instructor. Foundational overview of the mathematical and scientific underpinnings of computational science. Introduces the principles of finding computer solutions to contemporary science challenges. Offers preparation for core and elective courses in the Ph.D. program in Computational Science by reviewing essential mathematical methods and basic science principles drawn from biology, chemistry, and physics. Special topics include techniques of high performance computing and applications, parallel systems, and theory of computation, case studies in computational chemistry, physics, and mathematical biology.
COMS 6500 - Fundamentals of Scientific Computing
4credit hours
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor. Fundamentals of problem solving approaches in computational science, including computer arithmetic and error analysis, linear and nonlinear equations, least squares, interpolation, numerical differentiation and integration, optimization, random number generations and Monte Carlo simulation. Students will gain computational experience by analyzing case studies using modern software packages such as MATLAB.
CSCI 5300 - Data Communication and Networks
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 3240 or CSCI 3250. Computer network architectures, protocol hierarchies, and the open systems interconnection model. Modeling, analysis, design, and management of hardware and software on a computer network.
CSCI 5350 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3110 and CSCI 3080 or equivalent. Principles and applications of artificial intelligence. Principles include search strategies, knowledge representation, reasoning, and machine learning. Applications include expert systems and natural language understanding.
CSCI 5560 - Database Management Systems
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3080 and CSCI 3110. The relational and object models of database design along with relational algebras, data independence, functional dependencies, inference rules, normal forms, schema design, modeling languages, query languages, and current literature.
CSCI 5850 - Neural Nets
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 3080. Various neural net architectures, theory, and applications, including models such as Perceptron, back propagation, Kohonen, ART, and associative memory. Learning and conditioning methods also studied.
CSCI 6020 - Data Abstraction and Programming Fundamentals
4credit hours
Prerequisites: Previous programming experience in a high-level language and consent of instructor. Advanced introduction to data abstraction, problem solving, and programming. Programming language concepts, recursion, program development, algorithm design and analysis, data abstraction, objects and fundamental data structures such as stacks, queues, and trees. Three hours lecture and two hours lab. Will not count toward a major or minor.
CSCI 6050 - Computer Systems Fundamentals
4credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 6020 or COMS 6100 with minimum grade of B or equivalent. Advanced introduction to computer systems. Data representations, computer arithmetic, machine-level representations of programs, program optimization, memory hierarchy, linking, exceptional control flow, virtual memory and memory management, basic network concepts, and basic concurrent concepts and programming. Three hours lecture and two hours lab. Will not count toward a major or minor unless approved by the department.
CSCI 6100 - Analysis of Algorithms
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3080 and CSCI 3110 or consent of instructor. Topics include the analysis and design of algorithms; efficiency of algorithms; design approaches including divide and conquer, dynamic programming, the greedy approach, and backtracking; P and NP; and algorithms in many areas of computing.
CSCI 6300 - Networks
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 4300 or CSCI 5300. Computer communications, network architectures, protocol hierarchies, and the open systems interconnection model. Modeling, analysis, and specification of hardware and software on a computer network. Wide area networks and local area networks including rings, buses, and contention networks.
CSCI 6330 - Parallel Processing Concepts
3credit hours
Prerequisites: [CSCI 3130 and either (CSCI 3240 or CSCI 3250)] or CSCI 6050 and a working knowledge of either C or C++. Parallel processing and programming in a parallel environment. Topics include classification of parallel architectures, actual parallel architectures, design and implementation of parallel programs, and parallel software engineering.
CSCI 6350 - Selected Topics in Artificial Intelligence
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 3110 and CSCI 4350 or CSCI 5350. In-depth study of the principal areas of the field: artificial intelligence programming, problem-solving methods, knowledge representation methods, deduction and reasoning, and applications such as natural language processing and expert systems. Repeatable up to 6 hours.
CSCI 6430 - Selected Topics in Parallel Processing
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 4330 or CSCI 6330. An in-depth investigation of one or more topics in parallel processing. Topic(s) to be selected by the professor. Possible topics include parallel algorithms, parallel programming languages, parallel programming tools, parallel software engineering, parallel architectures, parallel applications, and parallel VLSI. Repeatable up to 6 hours.
CSCI 6560 - Selected Topics in Database
3credit hours
Prerequisite: CSCI 4560 or CSCI 5560. An in-depth investigation of one or more topics in database. Topic(s) to be selected by the professor. Possible topics include object-oriented database systems, distributed database systems, client-server database systems, deductive databases, multimedia databases, and database theory (concurrency, query optimization, recovery, security). Repeatable up to 6 hours.
CSCI 7300 - Scientific Visualization and Databases
3credit hours
Prerequisites: CSCI 6020, COMS 6100, and COMS 6500 with minimum grade of B or equivalent or consent of instructor. Introduction to the concepts, theories, and applications of database and visualization methodologies for scientific data. Relational database design along with relational algebras, data independent, functional dependencies, inference rules, normal forms, schema design, modeling language, and query languages discussed. Methods corresponding to the visualization of scalar, vector, and tensor fields as well as multifield problem discussed. Database and visualization discussed in the context of scientific applications.
CSCI 7350 - Data Mining
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Fundamental courses in the Computational Science Ph.D. program and CSCI 6020 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Introduction to concepts, theories, techniques, issues, and applications of data mining. Data preprocessing, association rule analysis, classification analysis, cluster and outlier analysis, deviation detection, statistical modeling, consideration of emergent technologies.
DATA 6700 - Independent Study in Data Science
1 to 3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300 with C (2.0) or better. Assigned research or projects in the data science discipline under direct faculty supervision. Topics for intensive study chosen in joint consultation between student and instructor.
DATA 6910 - Internship in Data Science
1 to 3credit hours
Prerequisites: Data Science major; approval of program director; plan of activities with internship sponsor prior to registration. Practical experience related to data science. A minimum of 60 hours for each credit. Maximum 3 credits. Pass/Fail.
ECON 6070 - Econometrics II
3credit hours
Second core course in econometrics for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. Emphasizes methods of time series analysis, including Box-Jenkins methods, general-to-specific modeling, volatility models, vector autoregressions, unit roots and cointegration, unobserved component and state space models, and neural networks. Integrates practical applications in various computing environments including SAS, RATS, and MATLAB.
MATH 6300 - Optimization
3credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 5320 or consent of instructor. Constrained and unconstrained optimization problems, including the generalized least squares problem and Eigenvalue problems. Methods include orthogonalization, conjugate gradient, and quasi-Newton algorithms.
PGEO 5490 - Remote Sensing
4credit hours
Various vehicles of remote sensing such as radar, satellite imagery, and infrared data. Use of data in preparation of maps and applications to land use and environmental problems examined. Selection of data from either a numeric or image remote sensing system, interpreting, and developing a report from the interpretations. Three hours lecture and one two-hour laboratory per week.
PGEO 5511 - Advanced Remote Sensing
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PGEO 5490 or PGEO 4490. Lecture and laboratory in the study of advanced topics in remote sensing, including but not limited to, active sensors (LiDAR and RADAR), hyperspectral, and spectroscopy. Three hours lecture/laboratory per week.
PGEO 5530 - Geographic Information Systems
3credit hours
Lecture and laboratory work relative to computer-manipulated geographic data base. Laboratory work will involve experience in practical application of a geographic information system (GIS) to problem-solving. Student will take appropriate data and compile an environmental impact statement (EIS). Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week.
PGEO 5560 - Intermediate Geographic Information Systems
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PGEO 4530 or PGEO 5530. Lecture and laboratory work related to the principles and applications of geographic information systems (GIS). Continued training in GIS analysis including raster analysis, spatial analysis, network analysis, and geocoding. Data management including data editing, geodatabase design, and creation also examined. Other topics include resource management, demographic, and civic application. Three hours lecture per week.
PGEO 6050 - Programming for Geospatial Database Applications
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PGEO 5570. Development of custom/tailored GIS-based computer programming to analyze geospatial datasets for making inferences about the Earth's natural and human systems. Extend commercially available geographic information systems software packages through the development of novel computer programs to perform GIS tasks such as spatial analysis, data transformation, map generation, and geospatial database integration.
PSY 6565 - Behavioral Statistics Using R
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 4070 or PSY 6280/PSY 7280. Use of the R programming language to solve data management issues and to conduct basic and advanced statistical analyses.
PSY 6575 - Multilevel Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 4070 or PSY 6280/PSY 7280. Use of multilevel modeling techniques to analyze data with complex data structure.
PSY 6580 - Multivariate Data Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisites: PSY 6280, HHP 6700, or equivalent. Surveys each of the major multivariate data analysis techniques, with main focus on their application. Nature, power, procedure, computer programming, interpretation, and limitations of each.
PSY 6280 - Psychological Statistics: Regression
3credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 6281. Review of basic statistics; various correlation coefficients; multiple and partial correlation; simple and multiple regression. Laboratory included.
PSY 6210 - Advanced Psychometrics
3credit hours
Prerequisites: PSY 6280, HHP 6700, or equivalent. Classical test theory and item response theory. Model, assumptions, and problems of classical test theory. Mathematical modeling, parameter estimating, and adaptive testing procedures using item response theory. Both theories utilized for test construction.
STAT 5700 - Analysis of Large-Scale Data Sets
3credit hours
The analysis and applications of large-scale data sets. Scalable machine learning and data mining applications in a practical clinical environment. Statistical software used in the application of these techniques.
STAT 7400 - Computational Statistics
3credit hours
Prerequisites: COMS 6100 and MATH 2530 or equivalent. Statistical visualization and other computationally intensive methods. The role of computation as a fundamental tool of discovery in data analysis, statistical inference, and development of statistical theory and methods. Monte Carlo studies in statistics, computational inference, tools for identification of structure in data, numerical methods in statistics, estimation of functions (orthogonal polynomials, splines, etc.), statistical models, graphical methods, data fitting and data mining, and machine learning techniques.
Thesis Course (3-6 hours)
DATA 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6 credit hours
(3 credit hours required)(3 credit hours required)
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(3 credit hours required)
DATA 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6credit hours
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Enrollment in the Data Science master's program required. Selection of a research problem related to data science, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis. Once enrolled in this course, student should register for at least one credit hour in this course each semester until the completion of a master thesis.
Sample Program of Study
Fall Year 1
DATA 6300 - Data Understanding
3credit hours
Applications used to understand the problem-solving process for data science. Data collection and cleansing techniques used to visualize and summarize the data in order to prepare it for modeling for various data types through statistical analysis with Python programming.
DATA 6310 - Data Exploration
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Data science techniques to explore numerical and text data. Unsupervised learning and NLP applications used to explore data to understand its impact and use to make data-driven decisions.
STAT 6020 - Applied Statistical Methods
3credit hours
Prerequisites: MATH 1530, MATH 2050, or STAT 3150 or permission of instructor. Contemporary and medical research methodology for biostatistics. Descriptive and inferential statistics including parametric and nonparametric hypothesis testing methods, sample size, statistical significance and power, survival curve analysis, relative risk, odds ratios, chi square modeling, and analysis of variance. Data will be analyzed using statistical software.
Spring Year 1
DATA 6320 - Predictive Modeling
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300. Develop models to predict outcomes through the use of supervised learning techniques. Applications in regression and classification modeling used to develop data driven problem solving to predict and support decisions and analysis.
DATA 6330 - Model Optimization and Deployment
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. The optimization and deployment of machine learning models. Techniques for fine-tuning parameters for developing the best model for the presented business problems. Applications through internal and cloud infrastructures also used to identify optimal techniques for deployment of models to operationalize into production.
Fall Year 2
DATA 6500 - Cases in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6320 with C (2.0) or better. Cases that integrate innovative data science techniques from various real-world problems and scenarios. Topics may include supervised and unsupervised learning, NLP, databases, SQL, NoSQL, cloud computing, and data ethics.
DATA 6550 - Data Ethics and Responsibility
3credit hours
Prerequisites: DATA 6310 and DATA 6320. Issues and challenges associated with working with data, which includes ethics and bias, as well as data governance and regulatory requirements; privacy and other ethical issues related to data collection and selection; post-deployment feedback and model revisions.
DATA 6700 - Independent Study in Data Science
1 to 3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6300 with C (2.0) or better. Assigned research or projects in the data science discipline under direct faculty supervision. Topics for intensive study chosen in joint consultation between student and instructor.
Spring Year 2
DATA 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6credit hours
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Enrollment in the Data Science master's program required. Selection of a research problem related to data science, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis. Once enrolled in this course, student should register for at least one credit hour in this course each semester until the completion of a master thesis.
DATA 6990 - Topics Seminar in Data Science
3credit hours
Prerequisite: DATA 6500 with C (2.0) or better. Application of various data science skills with an emphasis on full-scale projects and oral presentations from initial business and data understanding, data cleansing, modeling and analysis, findings, and deployment.
- Elective 3 credit hours (needed if only 3 hours of DATA 6640 taken)
Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.
Students in Data Science programs at MTSU have the added opportunity to work with
faculty from across the university on research and data contracts. Through the Data Science Institute, the following types of projects are possible:
- Data projects that help nonprofits. An opportunity to sharpen skills and use data
for good.
- Data projects with companies. These can be compensated opportunities for students
to work on real projects for businesses that need help analyzing their data.
- Data Dives (hackathons), which are events that allow all students to participate in
a hackathon style event where data from a nonprofit or company is presented and then
students have 24 to 36 hours to analyze the data to solve specific objectives.
- Research projects with faculty. Either funded or unfunded research that is data-driven
in any discipline.
Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance
This program is available hybrid.
For More Information or Explore Your Options
Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.

The Online Advantage
With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person.
Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.