M.S. IN DATA SCIENCE

Program Description

The Data Science graduate program is designed for the next generation of data technicians. Featuring a rigorous curriculum and hands-on training in causal inference, research design, and technical communication, the Data Science MS is completed over the course of 12 months and intended for those who are dedicated to being responsible, data-driven decision-makers.

Data Science graduate students will engage with standard quantitative techniques, including data management, predictive modeling, and causal analysis, while also highlighting the ethical concerns related to bias, social responsibility, and privacy. These skills are further developed through an intensive technical writing course and capstone research project where students learn how to ask the right questions, unpack the data to answer those questions, and then convey the results in written and oral form to technical and non-technical audiences.

The Data Science MS creates researchers who recognize the underlying issues and advocate for the right approach. As such, graduates will be poised to contribute within a breadth of career paths in every field.

Master's in Data Science Website

Degrees Offered

The program offers the following degrees:

• Master of Science in Data Science

Program Contacts

Director of Graduate Studies

Craig Hadley | chadley@emory.edu

Graduate Program Administrator

Ria Buford | ria.buford@emory.edu

Program Faculty

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Data Science MS program must submit the required application materials through the Laney Graduate School application process.

Required materials include:

• Undergraduate transcripts

• Evidence of college-level coursework in calculus

• Evidence of college-level coursework in statistics

• One letter of recommendation

• Statement of purpose

• GRE scores

• Application fee or approved fee waiver

• English language test scores, if applicable

The statement of purpose should briefly describe the applicant’s interest in data science, relevant academic or research experience, and/or how the applicant hopes to use data science methods in future work.

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit approved English language proficiency scores unless they qualify for an exemption based on prior study in English.

Degree Requirements

MS Curriculum

Our Master’s in Data Science 12-month program teaches students to develop deep expertise in research design, causal inference, and the statistical and computational foundations of modern analytics—grounded in rigorous quantitative reasoning and advanced computing, and applicable across industry, academia, and beyond.

The structured curriculum emphasizes building, evaluating, and interpreting models from first principles, so students understand not just how tools work, but why. Through hands-on, applied use of advanced statistical and AI-enhanced methods to address real-world challenges in business, health care, and public policy, students learn to code productively, ethically, and reproducibly—and to communicate complex results clearly to diverse audiences.

The degree requires 36 credit hours at the 500-level consisting of the courses listed. You can find full course descriptions and syllabi below.

Standards of Performance and Progress

Graduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the Laney Graduate School and the program. Standards include continuous enrollment, minimum grade point average requirements, and timely completion of program milestones, among others. LGS standards are listed in the LGS Handbook in Article I, Sections 6.3 and 6.4.