Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, MS (53-1006) (30 hours) [Also available as an accelerated program]

The Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence degree is designed to prepare graduates with advanced skills in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The graduates from the program can apply these skills to identify, collect, analyze, manage and transform complex data sets to make informed decisions. Besides acquiring experience in top programming languages, you will also gain hands-on practice with leading data analytics software and platforms.

Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with a Master of Science degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in applying mathematical and statistical principles to data science and artificial intelligence applications.
• Demonstrate an ability to obtain, clean, process and transform large data sets with professional software, packages, and tools to create solutions for real-world applications and help businesses and organizations make informed decisions.
• Apply analytics and artificial intelligence techniques to satisfy the business needs of a wide range of stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences, work effectively in a team environment, and demonstrate an understanding of ethical concerns related to data science and artificial intelligence.

Admission Requirements - Admission is granted on the basis of applicant’s aptitude and potential which will be evaluated through academic records, test scores and/or work experience. To be admitted to the program, a student must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.8. Candidates must complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum combined score of 291 in Verbal and Quantitative reasoning Applicants must submit official GRE test scores by Educational Testing Services (ETS) directly to the University of Central Missouri. The ETS institution code for sending GRE scores to UCM is 6090, program code is 0402. Applicants with exceptional undergraduate performance may be considered with a lower GRE score. The GRE test requirement can be waived if any one of the following conditions is satisfied.

• The student is a graduate of a regionally accredited college or university with a degree in Computer Science/Data Science/Engineering/Information Technology/Information Systems/Mathematics/Statistics and a GPA of 3.25 or more. Students not in the above mentioned discipline list should have a GPA of 3.5 or more.
• The student has earned an M.S. or more advanced degree in a closely related discipline.
• The student has a minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in a US based corporation or a reputed multinational organization.

International students whose native language is not English and do not have a US degree are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 79 is required. Dualingo and IELTS scores are also accepted at UCM. Regular graduate students should have a composite exam score of 120 in Duolingo or a band score of 6.0 in IELTS. The English requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a minimum of 60 semester credit hours or have earned a bachelor or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the USA. Submission of a statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation is OPTIONAL for admission. They may however be required if the student applies for graduate assistantship or student worker positions. Applicants who have degrees in some non-computing fields will also be considered for admission. Students may make up their deficiencies in data science by completing the required undergraduate background courses.

Full time students without deficiencies can expect to complete this program in two academic years.