Master of Applied Data Science

The program is well suited to part- or full-time students including those who are participating while employed. For example, full-time students admitted with advanced standing may complete the program in one year (12 months), while the standard program can be completed in four semesters. Part-time students may complete the program in two years (24 months) or three years (36 months).

Graduates of this program become data scientists in the fields of their choice. Graduates of MADS have gone on to work in industries such as technology, financial services, manufacturing, consulting, healthcare and more.

No. The program is designed for you to move efficiently through courses where you already have previous experience, and to expose you to current knowledge and skills in a quickly evolving discipline.

Yes. Students get direct access to faculty through live office hours, Slack, and email.

Yes. In the milestone and capstone courses you will work on projects with students from around the world. There are weekly synchronous office hours where you have the opportunity to be online with classmates, and our experience suggests that strong bonds and study groups often arise during your classes. You also interact, almost daily, with your peers in our Slack workspace.

Yes. Your instructors are the same ones that teach on campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

To increase global access to this high-quality degree program, students pursue their MADS degree through a 100% online format. Course information is viewed via a web browser.

No. If you’re in the degree program there is a one week add/drop period at the beginning of each session (month) where you can see upcoming material, and drop a course if you decide it’s not for you (and it isn’t required), or if something comes up. The School of Informaton’s Specializations including Python 3 and Advanced Data Science with Python are good examples of how our faculty teach programming and data science.

Email us anytime for information at umsi.mads@umich.edu.

You can explore the MADS curriculum here. The rigorous curriculum prepares students to be leaders in data science by combining core data science technical courses with courses on persuasive communication, qualitative inquiry, and data ethics. Students work with real-world data sets.

No. There are themes and application courses within the curriculum, where students use data sets relevant to their interests. A few examples include Reinforcement Learning, Sports Analytics, Learning Analytics, and Health Analytics.

Students may take a full time or part time load. A total of 38 credits are needed to complete the program, with multiple credits included in the two milestone and one capstone courses.

MADS is very flexible. The lectures, readings, and assignments are asynchronous and can accommodate a variety of student schedules in different time zones. The MADS Slack workspace is available 24/7 to ask questions, interact with faculty, peers, and staff, and office hours are scheduled at a variety of days and times including, often, weekends and evenings.

Internships are not a required part of the program. Many students secure internships while they are participating in the MADS program. MADS students also have access to the School of Information’s Career Development Office.

Applicants for the degree program must have:

• An undergraduate degree
• Foundational Python programming and introductory statistics
• TOEFL exam for non-native speakers of English (exemptions in place if the applicant(s) completed a degree entirely in English)
• A letter of recommendation
• A resume and answers to short essay questions

Read more about the application process here.

Applicants are not required to have an advanced technical background — all you need is basic statistics and Python proficiency. These skills can be learned through Statistics for Python and Python 3 Programming, which are available on Coursera. All applicants demonstrate their skills before admission into the program by taking an entrance assessment, submitting documentation of full participation in the Python 3 specialization, or showcasing previous, and substantial, academic experience.

A bachelor's degree is required. There is no minimum GPA requirement, but the university encourages 3.0 and above. No GRE is required. Work experience in a technical field is not required.

We are interested in students with a passion for self-directed learning and a commitment to lifelong learning in all forms. If you lack certain requirements, taking and succeeding in online courses such as those offered on Coursera, can help make your application stand out. You may always reach out to talk to us, in more depth, about your qualifications by emailing us at umsi.mads@umich.edu.

We consider all aspects of your experience prior to applying, including both scholastic and career achievement. Specific work experience is not required.

The application fee for the MADS degree is the same for other University of Michigan School of Information master’s degrees. This year, those fees are $75 for U.S. residents and $90 for international applicants. Fee waivers are available for eligible applicants.

Visit our application. For more detailed information about application requirements, visit the admissions criteria website.

Yes, the University of Michigan School of Information is committed to providing education to highly qualified students regardless of financial status. Learn more.

Students have access to the 630k strong alumni network, as well as career coaching and campus recruiting. UMSI has a dedicated career coach for MADS students who coaches you in every phase of your job/internship search or career advancement. MADS students also have access to our online career resource library and UMSI CareerLink, a database of job postings and employer contacts only available to students in the School of Information. Features of UMSI CareerLink include job and internship listings tailored to UMSI students, a valuable networking community of trusted employers and alumni, and opportunities to attend exclusive networking, recruiting and career education events led by employers, alumni and UMSI’s Career Development Office.

All MADS students have school email addresses, as well as access to support from UMSI. All students are invited to graduate alongside other students on-campus when they complete the program. Students visiting campus have access to some on-campus facilities including our libraries and academic buildings. The School of Information also hosts MADS students for an on-campus experience each homecoming weekend.

MADS students are invited to formal activities such as UMSI Convocation and Commencement (both of which are also live-streamed for those who cannot join in-person). MADS students may join UMSI student clubs and activities including our sponsored student organization, the Masters of Applied Data Science Student Association (MADSA).

Since the entire program is in English, non-native English speakers will need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit scores to the school. A score of at least 100 on the Internet-based Test (IBT) is required for admission. This requirement may be waived if you participated in an entire degree program in English or are a current University of Michigan student. For more specific information see our admissions criteria.

We require one scanned or electronic transcript uploaded to the online application or mailed directly to us for all undergraduate and/or graduate programs from which you have degree(s). We accept unofficial transcripts for application review, and require official transcripts if offered admission.

If you have not yet completed your baccalaureate degree, you may submit a current (in-progress) transcript now, and a final transcript showing degree conferral upon graduation.