Are there online office hours with instructors?

Yes, every instructor will provide online office hours. This means that you’ll have the opportunity to engage with your instructors outside of class, ask questions, seek clarification, and receive additional support to enhance your learning experience.

Master of Data Science

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Enrollment is closing soon! The deadline to enroll is May 1st

Master of Data Science

University of Pittsburgh

Accredited Master’s Degree

Offered by the University of Pittsburgh

20 months (part-time)

Finish this 30-credit program in 20 months (9-10 hours per week), working at your own pace.

Learn from anywhere

Lecture videos, hands-on projects and live sessions with instructors and peers.

$15,000 Tuition Cost

Pay-as-you-go for the courses you enroll in, one term at a time. (Tuition is updated annually)

Become an expert in Data Science with in-demand computing skills from a highly ranked U.S. university - regardless of prior programming experience

Advance or start your career in data science with the University of Pittsburgh’s fully online Master of Data Science (MDS) program. This 30-credit program will provide students with core computational, mathematical, and statistical concepts as well as predictive and database modeling, machine learning, data exploration, data management, and data curation.

Students will gain abilities to pose and answer real-world questions through data and complete experiential projects to build a portfolio they can share with potential employers, all at their own pace. The program adopts an inclusive approach, allowing individuals from diverse academic backgrounds beyond STEM who hold bachelor's degrees to acquire the essential knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in data science.

The MDS program is uniquely designed to unlock the ethical use of data and teach students how to explore the social impact of data science and craft their professional path to becoming responsible data scientists. Students will learn to choose the right methods, validate findings, and make ethically informed decisions.

There are no admissions process requiring prior data or computer science work, programming experience or even an academic history beyond a bachelor’s degree. The fully accredited MDS program is performance-based, requiring students to attain a 3.0 grade-point average in an initial, three-credit course to continue toward the graduate degree.

What’s in this degree program?

10 courses (30 credits) master’s degree taught by a leading public research university.

Learn to program for data analysis in Python and R, using Jupyter notebooks, and RStudio. Design and query relational databases using MySQL via MySQL Workbench, and design and query graph databases with Neo4j.

Gain a deep understanding of core computational, mathematical and statistical concepts, responsible data management, and data curation skills (ethically cleaning, interpreting, and using big data across a variety of contexts).

Opportunities to gain practical experience through data exploration and predictive modeling, and develop an ethical toolkit for informed and defensible decision-making.

Access and work with large, real-world data sources from campus, community and corporate partners.

Admissions Information

Enrollments open: February 12, 2024
Enrollments close: May 1, 2024
Classes start: May 13, 2024

Gain admission into the degree through your performance in one introductory course. No transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, or exams are required! Details.

You can now enroll in the introductory for-credit course, Data-Centric Computing, and start class this May

Interested in learning more? Watch our informative webinar session for details on program structure, admissions, tuition payment options, and more

Get started today

Enroll today and start your Master of Data Science in May or request more info to learn more

Enroll now

Accredited Master’s Degree

Offered by the University of Pittsburgh

20 months (part-time)

Finish this 30-credit program in 20 months (9-10 hours per week), working at your own pace.

Learn from anywhere

Lecture videos, hands-on projects and live sessions with instructors and peers.

$15,000 Tuition Cost

Pay-as-you-go for the courses you enroll in, one term at a time. (Tuition is updated annually)

Accredited Master’s Degree

Offered by the University of Pittsburgh

20 months (part-time)

Finish this 30-credit program in 20 months (9-10 hours per week), working at your own pace.

Become an expert in Data Science with in-demand computing skills from a highly ranked U.S. university - regardless of prior programming experience

What’s in this degree program?

10 courses (30 credits) master’s degree taught by a leading public research university.

Opportunities to gain practical experience through data exploration and predictive modeling, and develop an ethical toolkit for informed and defensible decision-making.

Access and work with large, real-world data sources from campus, community and corporate partners.

Admissions Information

Enrollments open: February 12, 2024
Enrollments close: May 1, 2024
Classes start: May 13, 2024

Gain admission into the degree through your performance in one introductory course. No transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, or exams are required! Details.

You can now enroll in the introductory for-credit course, Data-Centric Computing, and start class this May

Interested in learning more? Watch our informative webinar session for details on program structure, admissions, tuition payment options, and more

Enter the world of data science, no STEM background required

This program supports students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds to succeed in the exciting world of data science. Our three-credit foundational performance-based admissions (PBA) course provides the necessary background learning and skills for the program, and a view into the broader degree.

Upon earning a 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale in the PBA course (and confirming completion of your bachelor’s degree), you’ll gain admission to the master’s program with no need to provide transcripts, submit applications or standardized test results.

We will need verification of your bachelor’s degree. This is usually completed via an automated process, but we may require your transcripts, should we encounter technical difficulties in verifying your qualification this way.

Balance work, study and personal life with flexible pay-as-you-go tuition

$15,000 total tuition degree cost The total tuition cost of the 30-credit Master of Data Science degree program is $15,000. Tuition is updated annually.
Pay-as-you-go tuition for both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens When you enroll in a course, you'll only be charged the tuition for that specific course, no matter where you live.
Payment plans available Spread the cost, with three or six-month flexible payment plans for any amount greater than $300 at the University. (Six-month plan only available for Fall and Spring terms, three-month plans available for Summer term.)

View info about tuition & financing

Join Pitt, a Center of Academic Excellence

The University of Pittsburgh is a highly-ranked R1* public institution. Data Science links the School of Computing and Information to many other Schools and departments across campus, through a variety of cross-disciplinary projects.

Our faculty have received research grants from various institutions, including:

The National Science Foundation
The Office of Naval Research
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research
The Air Force Research Laboratory
The National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institutes of Health
The U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Our students will benefit from our renowned faculty and our School’s tradition of quality, rigor and extensive research experience, setting them on a trajectory to professional success. Pitt’s MDS develops essential practical skills necessary for advancing your career in data science.

The program prepares you for leadership roles such as data scientist or data architect, while immersing you in industry case studies to provide experience of real world data challenges. You’ll explore a wide array of relevant topics, equipping you for success in your data science career.

*R1 is an elite designation given by the Carnegie Classification of Institution of Higher Education to universities with the highest levels of research activity. Typically, less than 5% of institutions qualify for R1 status.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, it’s the same as the on-campus program. Upon program completion, you’ll receive your diploma. It’s a degree conferred for a Master of Data Science, and your diploma won’t mention Coursera or online study.

No, it’s not possible to switch between online and on-campus programs for the Master of Data Science, as this program is exclusively offered online.

Yes, the same dedicated and highly qualified faculty members who teach on-campus courses also deliver the MDS online classes. This commitment to maintaining consistency in teaching quality between on-campus and online education is a fundamental part of our educational approach.

To gain admission to the MDS program, you’ll complete a three-credit pathway course on the Coursera platform. By earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher in that course, you’ll be accepted into the degree program.
We’ll also need verification of your bachelor’s degree. This is usually completed via an automated process, but we may require your transcripts, should we encounter technical difficulties in verifying your qualification this way.

Every student enrolled at Pitt carrying balances of $300 or more has the option to enroll in payment plans that span from 3 to 6 months, depending on the term (6 months for fall and spring, 3 months for the summer term). There is a $45 sign-up fee each term you enroll in a payment plan. Automatic installments are then withdrawn from your payment source.

Yes, one of the following proofs of English proficiency is required from international students:

A minimum of 80 on the IBT (Internet-based test) or 550 on the PBT (Paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
A minimum result of Band 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

International students will also need to submit proof of completion of education that the University of Pittsburgh deems comparable to a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States. International applicants are required to submit official original academic credentials. Official original academic credentials that are issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Learn more.

These requirements are in addition to the bachelor’s degree/transcripts and the completion of a three-credit pathway course earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.