Master of Science in Data Science
Join our innovative program, designed with input from industry leaders and available fully online.
Enter the Growing, In-Demand Field of Data Science
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's master of science in data science is a fully online degree program intended for students with a bachelor’s degree in math, statistics, analytics, computer science, or marketing; or three to five years of professional experience as a business intelligence analyst, data analyst, financial analyst, information technology analyst, database administrator, computer programmer, statistician, or other related position.
The rigorous program is the first online master's degree in data science offered in the UW System and is helping fill a critical need for data scientists. Using analytics, statistics, programming, business and storytelling, data scientists have the unique and important job of transforming big data into actionable insights. The field is already growing at an incredible pace, and as today's world continues to generate more and more data, employers across the country are in consistent need of professionals who know how to understand and interpret data.
Designed with input from industry leaders, the data science program offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary curriculum grounded in computer science, math and statistics, management and communication. Coursework throughout the degree will show you how to clean, organize, analyze and interpret data using current industry tools and analytical methods. Since data scientists must also understand privacy and security policies, part of the curriculum throughout the program focuses on how to appropriately handle data found in financial records, medical records, consumer patterns, internet searches and other real-world situations — knowledge that is needed in countless industries and organizations.
Graduates of the data science graduate program leave with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to mine data sets, find patterns and communicate ways to make use of the findings. The intensive program prepares you for expertise in a number of specialized areas — including data mining and warehousing, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, database infrastructures and data management, machine learning, and analytics-based decision making — making you a versatile and highly sought-after employee.
Program Details
Accreditation Information
Wisconsin is a SARA state (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a SARA-approved institution.
Throughout the data science program, you'll learn from diverse, distinguished faculty members from across six University of Wisconsin campuses and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Their expertise, combined with UW Extended Campus' award-winning instructional and media design, ensures a rich and engaging educational experience that will prepare you well for your future career.
While working toward your degree, you'll have direct access to the field's latest technology, including powerful tools like SQL Server, R, Python, and Tableau. This knowledge and experience will give you a competitive advantage when applying for jobs or transitioning into more executive roles within your current organization.
Students in the data science program can take advantage of affordable tuition that compares favorably to competing graduate programs from other institutions. Like other collaborative online University of Wisconsin programs, students pay the same tuition whether they live in Wisconsin or elsewhere.
The data science degree was intentionally designed with significant input from businesses and industry leaders, ensuring curriculum aligns with employer needs. An industry advisory board consisting of leading organizations — including American Family, CUNA Mutual Group, Nicolet Bank, and TDS Telecom — provides further insights into what organizations are looking for and what the field needs right now.
Blugold Stories
JustThe Facts
Where can the master of science in data science program lead me after graduation?
Data science graduates enter a quickly growing field where demand is high for professionals who know how to transform complex data sets into actionable information and competitive advantages. And because data scientists are needed in virtually every sector, our Blugolds have no problem finding jobs upon graduation. Explore opportunities in manufacturing, construction, transportation, warehousing, communication, science, healthcare, computer science, information technology, retail, sales, marketing, finance, insurance, education, government, law enforcement, security, and so much more.
Example Careers
- Data scientist
- Data or research analyst/manager
- Data warehouse architect
- Enterprise strategy consultant
- Business intelligence manager/analyst
- Hadoop engineer
- Market intelligence analyst/manager
The master of science in data science is a 10-course, 30-credit online master's degree that prepares students for complex and fast-paced careers in data science and analytics.
Featuring a multidisciplinary curriculum that draws primarily from computer science, mathematics and statistics, management and communication, the program teaches students how to derive insights from real-world data sets — both structured and unstructured. Using the latest data science tools, analytical methods and sophisticated visualization techniques, graduates learn to communicate their data discoveries and recommendations clearly. A focus on building leadership and communication skills rounds out the degree.
Here are a few courses in Master of Science in Data Science at UW-Eau Claire.
DS 701
Exploratory Data Analysis
This course introduces data science and highlights its importance in decision making. Students will learn how to analyze data using the R programming language. During the course, students will learn how to import data into R, tidy it, conduct exploratory data analysis, develop visualizations, and draw statistical inferences. The course aims to teach data wrangling, visualization and exploration with R.
DS 750
Data Storytelling
Data storytelling involves using data to tell a compelling narrative that helps audiences understand, engage with, and act on the information. This course combines data analysis with communication techniques to present data in an informative and engaging way. This course is specifically designed as a graduate-level requirement for the MSDS degree, focusing on teaching students how to effectively communicate insights through data storytelling techniques. Participants will learn to craft engaging stories that resonate with various audiences and drive decision-making.
DS 770
Ethical Decision-Making Using Data
This course examines how data science relates to developing strategies for organizations. The emphasis is on using an organization’s data assets to inform better decisions. The course investigates the use of data science findings to develop solutions to competitive organizational challenges. Special attention is given to critically examining decisions to ensure that they are ethical and avoid unfair bias. Professional codes of conduct as well as local and international regulations are also considered.
Meet the Faculty
What's Next?
