Online Master of Science in Data Science

Ball State University has partnered with Coursera, one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, to bring you the online master of science in data science. The curriculum is designed by Ball State University, courses are taught by our accomplished faculty, and content is delivered through the Coursera platform.

Whether you come from a data science or programming background or not, our performance-based admissions simplify the road toward your career goals.

About the Master’s in Data Science 

Data science is not just a popular career path, it’s one that’s here to stay. Employers are searching for those with the skills and knowledge to transform data to push their organizations forward. Ball State's online-only master's in data science will help you gain these big data skills. 

The 33-credit, non-thesis program provides you with 15 credits of core courses and 18 credits to focus your learning experience. The knowledge you gain in these courses can easily expand into several discipline-specific applications in the health, environmental, social, and behavioral sciences.

Who Should Enroll 

The short answer is anyone! This program is built for learners of all educational backgrounds and career experiences. Whether you’re working in an entry-level position and want to advance your career, or you want to change careers entirely, we’ll help you achieve your goals. 

Performance-Based Admissions 

You can gain acceptance into the master’s of data science through our performance-based admissions. No tests, application fees, or transcripts are required. You will complete three 3-credit courses, and if you earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better, then you will be fully admitted into the program.

Current Ball State Data Science Students 

Even though our data science courses will migrate to Coursera, if you are a current Ball State data science student you can continue your course plans through Canvas until you graduate. We will make sure you have access to all the courses you need to graduate on time. If you have any questions, reach out to your Student Success Specialist Dr. Jenny McMath.

Career Outcomes 

Growth projections in data science employment are expected to increase rapidly – nearly 20 percent, nationwide – within the next 10 years (Source: Lightcast™ – lightcast.io).

Data science graduates usually transition into one of the following different occupation groups: 

• Software Development
• Network and Systems Engineering
• Business Analysis
• Data Analysis and Mathematics
• Front-end Application Design
• Health IT Professional
• Policy Analysis and Planning

You’ll not only gain strong foundations in math, computer science, and statistics, you’ll also experience high-impact practices in big data that you can apply immediately in your current career. The skills you’ll learn are the same ones that are in high demand across the nation.

• Data SciencePython
• Machine Learning
• SQL
• Apache Hadoop
• Big Data
• Data Analysis
• Predictive Modeling
• Data Mining
• SAS®
• R

In addition to these skills, we will prepare you to earn relevant industry certifications, such as those offered by SAS Institute, Inc. upon graduation.

• SAS^® Certified Specialist: Base Programming Using SAS^® 9.4
• SAS^® Certified Professional: Advanced Programming Using SAS^® 9.4
• SAS^® Certified Big Data Professional Using SAS^® 9
• SAS^® Certified Advanced Analytics Professional Using SAS^® 9
• SAS^® Certified Clinical Trials Programmer Using SAS^® 9

Why Coursera?

Ball State is intentional about the organizations we work with. Our priority is always our students. Coursera shares the same commitment to bringing flexible, affordable, job-relevant online learning to individuals and organizations worldwide. Since its inception, Coursera has partnered with other accredited and well-known public institutions to offer credit-bearing courses and degree programs that involved rigorous study and proven outcomes for graduates of these programs.

Online, Flexible, Relevant, and Evolving Curricula

The 100 percent online master’s in data science curriculum is built and owned entirely by Ball State and you will still earn a reputable Ball State degree. 

The degree is designed with the adult learner and working professional in mind. You will complete your course work through the Coursera online learning platform. Ball State is focused on the student experience. Even in an online learning environment, we place an emphasis on smaller class sizes, and greater personal attention from faculty to benefit you most. Courses are asynchronous, meaning you can complete them at a pace that fits into your daily routine without worrying about being late to class. Many students take one or two courses at a time to balance work, classes, and other responsibilities.

Curriculum Overview

Pathway Courses (9 credits)

If you have no prior background in data science, you’ll be able to cover essential topics in these pathway courses. 

• CS 617 Introduction to Programming (3 credits) — Offered Spring 2024
• DSCI 601 Introduction to Data Science (3 credits) — Offered Spring 2024
• DSCI 605 Data Visualization (3 credits) — Offered Spring 2024

Core Courses (6 credits)

Through the core courses, you’ll establish your understanding of statistical methods and programming.

• DSCI 602 Statistical Methods for Data Science (3 credits) — Offered Spring 2024
• CS 654 Machine Learning and Data Mining (3 credits)

Computational Analytics (6 credits, choose two courses)

The two courses in computational analytics will further round out your education.

• CS 621 Data Analytics (3 credits) — Offered Spring 2024
• CS 636 Advanced Database Systems (3 credits)
• DSCI 604 Data Storage and Management (3 credits)
• DCSI 669 Special Topics in Data Science (3 credits)

Statistical Computing and Modeling (6 credits, choose two courses)

The two courses in statistical computing and modeling will further round out your education.

• DSCI 612 Statistical Programming: Base SAS 9 (3 credits) — Offered Spring 2024
• MATH 624 Introduction to Statistical Learning (3 credits)
• MATH 628 Computational Methods in Statistics (3 credits)
• DSCI 686 Categorical Data Analysis (3 credits)

Application Electives (6 credits, choose two courses)

In your two elective courses, you’ll develop specialized knowledge and skills so you can stand out to employers as you pursue a career in the field.

• DSCI 607 Data Analytics for Environmental Sciences (3 credits)
• DSCI 608 Data Analytics for Bioinformatics (3 credits)
• DSCI 609 Data Analytics for Social Sciences (3 credits)
• DSCI 610 Data Analytics for Health Sciences (3 credits)
• DSCI 679 Research Topics in Data Science (3 credits)