Data is only useful to those who can interpret it. Become the best interpreter.
The Master of Science in Data Science from University of the Cumberlands will help you take your career to the next level. By offering the statistical, computer science, and data integration insights you need, you’ll be well prepared for exciting employment opportunities in virtually every sector of the economy. Curriculum for the executive master’s in data science will engage you in theories, strategies, and tactics for critical fields like statistics, mathematics, business, data integration, graphic design, and communication.
In short, by completing this degree program, you will set yourself apart in the job market as qualified and invaluable.
By the Numbers
Programs & Requirements
Executive Master's in Data Science
Intended for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree and are working in the data science field, this executive master’s degree in data science will help you boost your credentials and accomplish your professional goals. This program can be completed in as little as one year (3 semesters).
UC’s Master of Science in Data Science executive degree program will prepare you to:
- Format data for analysis
- Determine the algorithm used for the analysis
- Process the data
- Create a plan of action based on the analysis
- Present the results in an easy-to-understand format
Curriculum for the executive master’s in data science will engage you in theories, strategies, and tactics for critical fields, including statistics, mathematics, business, information science and visualization, data integration, graphic design, and communication.
The 31-credit program requires 27 credit hours in core subjects such as Statistics for Data Science, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing and four credit hours for both theory and practicum Capstone courses. You will select a topic of interest for your project, collect data and prepare data sets, and use data processing models to report business results and insights. Alternatively, you could pursue an applied learning practicum or internship.
Course Requirements
- MSDS 530 Fundamentals of Data Science
- MSDS 531 Statistics for Data Science
- MSDS 532 Data Science Programming with Python
- MSDS 533 Data Management for Data Science
- MSDS 534 Deep Learning
- MSDS 535 Data Mining
- MSDS 630 Natural Language Processing
- MSDS 631 R Programming
- MSDS 632 Big Data
- MSDS 690 Data Science Capstone: Theory (2 cr. hrs.)
- MSDS 699 Data Science Capstone: Practicum (2 cr. hrs.) or INTR 599 Applied Learning Practicum
**Executive format students can take the course or INTR 599 as part of their program degree requirements. The Computer and Information Sciences Department, the School of Business, and the Leadership graduate (Masters and Doctorate) executive format programs have an applied learning component (internship/practicum) that is an integral (essential) part of the established curriculum. Due to the applied learning component required for the degree program, executive format students must enroll in INTR every term of enrollment.
Executive Student Resources
UC's Department of International Graduate Services enjoys providing support resources for our international students. Find tutorials and information regarding offices and policies for the International Graduate Students and programs.
Executive Program Format
Our Executive Programs include hybrid course days designed for international graduate students studying in the U.S., or domestic students seeking a hybrid-format program. We strive to incorporate professional experience and real-world application of course curriculum into our programs to enhance the learning experience. Practical Training is an integral part of program coursework and available to all students. At the University of the Cumberlands our degree programs focus on quality education at an affordable price.
Executive Program students take three (3) courses per semester. The program semester is based on the existing UC semester calendar, with three (3) annual semesters: fall, spring, and summer. Two of the courses each semester focus on the specific program content. Additionally, students will be required to attend an intensive residency weekend as part of their course enrollment each term. The third class includes an Applied Learning Practicum, in which students apply what they are learning in their other two courses to the real world via work or internship experiences.
Residency FAQs
Residency Session dates are determined by the course that you are registered for. It is very important that you make note of the class you registered for, as well as the designated residency weekend for that course as each course will only meet one weekend for the duration of the semester.
Even though we will only be meeting one weekend per semester, we will have the same number of contact hours with you. This will enable the instructors to make residency weekends much more valuable. This change will allow us to have meaningful projects on residency weekends.
You can view your semester schedule in your self-service portal in your Student Profile. Once you log into your MyUC account, click on Academics, then click on Current Schedule. Your schedule details will indicate the date and location of your residency weekend.
You can find information on the residency site locations on our website.
Yes, all three days are mandatory, and requests to arrive late or leave early will not be approved. Should you not be in attendance for the full session, you will be counted absent for the entire session. Please plan travel accordingly!
Attendance to each executive residency class session is mandatory. Students may make up no more than one (1) residency session throughout the duration of their academic program. Missing a second residency will result in the student being dismissed from the university.
A missed session will result in the student attending a make-up session, and paying a $300 residency make-up fee. In addition, the student may be asked for documentation from the program department providing an explanation as to why the scheduled residency session was missed. Make-up sessions must be completed prior to the end of the term. Noncompliance with this policy will result in dismissal from the executive program.
Make-up residency sessions will be held at our campus in Williamsburg, KY. You will be contacted with the time and dates after your absence is reported. There will only be one (1) residency make-up session offered each semester. Failure to attend all days of the makeup session will result in receiving a failing grade for the course, as well as potential dismissal from the University, and SEVIS termination.
If you cannot be in attendance for all three days then you will be counted absent for the entire residency weekend and be required to attend the make-up residency and pay the $300 make-up fee.
The Department of International Graduate Services will contact you via your UC student email as registration for the next term approaches. Please remember that you are required to register for (one) main class, (one) online class, and Applied Learning Practicum each semester in order to maintain your F1 status – late registration will not be accepted and can result in the termination of your student status.
Once you register for a class you will want to make note of the residency weekend that your class is scheduled, as that is the only session for that class that will be scheduled for the semester. You will need to be sure to plan your travel accordingly to ensure that you are in attendance for the full residency session.
Registration is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once a course is full, there will not be additional seats added, as we cannot exceed classroom seating capacity; therefore, it is advised that you register for classes as much in advance as possible. As a reminder, students cannot register for future semesters until their current tuition balance is paid in full.
*Please note all times are in local time zone*
Friday
Facility will open at 4:00 p.m.
Saturday
Facility will open at 7:00 a.m.
Sunday
Facility will open at 7:00 a.m.
We ask that you please take note of the above-mentioned times and schedule your travel accordingly.
*These dates have been set; however, if any changes are made, they will be made prior to registration for that semester. Not all dates are available at each residency location.
Fall 2023 (August 28 – December 15)
- September 29 – October 1
- October 6 – 8
- October 13 – 15
- October 20 – 22
- November 3 – 5
- November 10 – 12
- November 17 – 19
Spring 2024 (January 8th – April 26th)
- February 9 – 11
- February 16 – 18
- February 23 – 25
- March 1 – 3
- March 8 – 10
- March 15 – 17
- March 22 – 24
- April 5 – 7
Summer 2024 (May 6th – August 23rd)
- May 31 – June 2
- June 7 – 9
- June 14 – 16
- June 21 – 23
- June 28 – 30
- July 12 – 14
- July 19 – 21
- July 26 – 28
- August 2 – 4
Fall 2024 (August 26th – December 13th)
- September 27 – 29
- October 4 – 6
- October 11 – 13
- October 18 – 20
- October 25 – 27
- November 1 – 3
- November 8 – 10
- November 15 – 17
- November 22 – 24
Take the Next Step
Mission & Goals
The School of Computer and Information Sciences strives for excellence in creating, applying, and imparting knowledge in IT through comprehensive educational programs, research in collaboration with industry and government, and service.
Properly secure facilities, equipment and software.
Create and implement a plan to provide for disaster prevention and recovery.
Implement security plans that ensure compliance with various laws, and identify and investigate breaches in compliance.
Address specific needs and challenges in the field of Information Security.
Data Science Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data Scientist: $100,910
Data Scientist: $100,910
Data scientists collect data, analyze it, and find uses for it in order to achieve a goal. They also conduct research for data collection. Data scientists handle large amounts of data in order to create useful models for projects.
Computer and Information Research Scientist: $131,490
Computer and Information Research Scientist: $131,490
Computer and information research scientists research new and existing technology, design and test new technology, and create innovative use for new and existing technology
Computer Systems Analyst: $99,270
Computer Systems Analyst: $99,270
Systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve them for efficiency.
Economist: $105,630
Economist: $105,630
Economists collect data through research, prepare reports and results, and determine issues with monetary and fiscal policies. They also work with statistical data.
Actuary: $105,900
Actuary: $105,900
Actuaries combine mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to analyze the costs of risk and uncertainty from an economic standpoint.
Operations Research Analyst: $82,360
Operations Research Analyst: $82,360
Operations Research Analysts implement logic and mathematics to solve complex issues related to the operations of a project.
Common Questions for our Data Science Program
A master’s in data science is a graduate degree that builds on what you learned in your bachelor’s degree program and data science career. The program often attracts data science professionals with several years of experience. It offers data scientists the chance to explore a new direction in the field, build career-specific skills, or prepare for potential leadership opportunities.
As the data science field expands, businesses may seek experts with the advanced capability to extract knowledge from large data sets in order to gain insights in a wide array of disciplines. In addition, there’s increased demand for professionals with skills in information visualization, data integration, graphic design, and communication. Earning your master’s in data science could be one way to stand out from the competition and gain an edge in your career.
Pursuing an advanced degree is an investment in your future, and earning a master’s degree in data science from University of the Cumberlands may be worthwhile for several reasons:
You could prepare for leadership opportunities. Many organizations prefer to hire data science professionals who hold a graduate degree. These career paths may become increasingly complex as businesses rely on data gathering and interpretation to help make major decisions. Earning a master’s could help you prepare for these and other challenges and opportunities in a leadership role.
You could boost your earnings and job security. Master’s degree-holders earned a median annual salary of nearly $12,475 more than bachelor’s degree-holders in 2021. In addition, those with a master’s degree had an unemployment rate of just 2 percent, compared to 5 percent for the working population as a whole.
Earning a master’s doesn’t have to put your career on pause. The executive master’s in data science at University of the Cumberlands is designed for working adults. You can study in a flexible format, enhance your skillset, and prepare for new professional challenges — all while keeping your current job.
In a class all of our own. University of the Cumberlands has been named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). There are just over 200 universities nationwide with CAE-CD designation, and only two other universities in Kentucky are included in this elite group.
This degree is a 31-credit hour degree, and each class is worth 3 hours, except for the final project, which is worth 1 hour. Each class is offered in an 8-week term format, and you will be able to take classes at your own pace. If you take 12 hours per semester (2 classes each biterm), you could finish this degree in as little as one year (3 semesters)!
Since this executive master's degree is offered in a hybrid format, it includes residency weekend sessions throughout the program. Check out our Residency FAQs for more information, or fill out the form at the bottom of this page if you have further questions about on-campus components.
Earning a master’s degree could be a way to boost your credentials and build new skills – and may even be a requirement for entry level positions in some careers. You may pursue options as an...
- Survey Researcher
- And more!
Executive Program Admission Requirements
All students in our executive programs are required to meet a standard set of admissions requirements for graduate students.
Data Science Faculty Experts
Learn more about the data science professors you will interact with.
Dr. Hany Othman
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