MS in Data Science
Data is one of the most important tools for shaping our economy, society, and culture. Now more than ever, we need people who can work with data to find new insights that lead to future progress. Our MS in Data Science, a collaboration between Khoury College and the College of Engineering, will equip you with the expertise in mathematics, computing, and data engineering you need to reach your goals in this ever-growing field.
Program highlights
Locations
Boston, Portland, Silicon Valley (admit term varies by location)
Credit hours
32 total semester hours required
Schedule
Core courses: Fall, Spring, Summer
Program modality
In person
Take your career to the next level
Career prospects: A wealth of opportunities
Coursework in machine learning, data mining, artificial intelligence, and visualization will prepare you to capture, process, model, analyze and visualize data to make strategic business decisions to optimize outcomes. Our graduates find success in a wide range of careers, including:
- Data scientist at Athena Health
- Data scientist at BNY Mellon
- Machine learning engineer at Spotify
- Machine learning engineer at Quantiphi
- Software engineer at Amazon Web Services
Co-ops and internships: Rated #1
You’ll have opportunities to participate in co-ops and internships, ranked #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report, that will enrich your coursework and elevate your expertise through hands-on experience. Co-op and internship positions include:
- Data science intern
- Analytics and insights co-op
- Data science/machine learning co-op
- Data and analytics intern
- Data engineering intern
Research opportunities: Pursue your passion
You’ll collaborate with world-class researchers in state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your education, advance your career prospects, and make discoveries that will change the world. Whether you’re interested in a research career, applying to PhD programs, or simply gaining more firsthand experience in the field, our wide variety of research projects will empower you to make meaningful contributions.
Interdisciplinary approach
Our interdisciplinary approach with the College of Engineering provides extensive exposure to the field and a wide range of elective courses tailored to your interests. With diverse co-op, research, and internship opportunities, you’ll gain valuable real-world experience to prepare for a successful career in our increasingly data-driven world.
Learning outcomes
An MSDS degree enables you to manage, process, analyze, and visualize data at scale. You will learn about the limitations of machine learning and data mining methods as applied to real-world problems and communicate the advantages and disadvantages of the methods to non-data experts.
You will carry out the full data analysis workflow, including unsupervised class discovery, supervised class comparison, and supervised class prediction. You will learn how to properly summarize, interpret, and communicate the analysis of results.
In this program, you will develop methods for modeling, analyzing, and reasoning about data arising in application domains such as social science, health informatics, web and social media, climate informatics, urban informatics, geographical information systems, business analytics, bioinformatics, complex networks, public health, and game design.
Campus locations
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Boston
Located in the heart of Boston, Northeastern’s oldest campus is home to a vibrant community of students, researchers, and faculty working across disciplines to build a better world through CS.
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Portland
The collaborative nature of Northeastern’s Roux Institute in Portland connects students with corporate and governmental power players across the Northeast, and beyond.
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Silicon Valley
Located in the heart of the tech revolution (and where it began), the San Jose campus offers students the opportunities to advance the CS field in a program known for industry connections and diverse work opportunities.
Applications and admissions
How to apply
Our Master’s Apply page has everything you need to know about applying to the MS in Data Science program at Khoury College, including:
- Master’s admissions requirements
- Program specific admissions requirements
- Timelines and deadlines
- Resources and contact information
Financial support
Pursuing a master’s degree is a significant investment in your future. Northeastern University and Khoury College of Computer Sciences are here to help support you in this process. From financial aid to scholarship opportunities to co-op placements and teaching assistantships, there are multiple options to help fund your degree as you work towards your goals.
Degree costs
Visit Student Financial Services for current tuition and fee information, and to find tools and calculators to help you estimate what your degree (32 credit hours) will cost.
Deadlines
Domestic
Fall semester: August 1
Spring semester: December 1
International
Fall semester: April 15
Spring semester: September 15
Meet our faculty
Get to know the engaged, experienced professors who are here to support you every step of the way.
Kylie Ariel Bemis
Kylie Ariel Bemis is an assistant teaching professor at Khoury College, who develops the master’s in data science program curriculum. She is interested in statistical computing environments and methods for complex data, and active in outreach to the Native American and LGBTQ+ communities.
No tech background? Check out the Align program
If you don’t have a background in computer science, then the Align MS in Computer Science might be for you. This program offers a direct path to a master’s degree — no prior tech experience required.
Visit the College of Engineering
The MS in Data Science program is an interdisciplinary collaboration with the College of Engineering.
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Have questions?
Find answers in our FAQ, or complete this form to learn more about the MS in Data Science program. One of our enrollment counselors will contact you soon.