Explore Grad School

Explore Grad School: Data Science

For complete information on graduate school search strategies and the application process, review our starter tips to Explore Grad School in all careers as well as the specialized tips on this page.

Getting Going With Graduate School

Pursuing graduate school in data science can be a great way to gain specialized knowledge and experience while honing skills through internships or research opportunities. While you will see many data science professionals obtain some form of advanced education, it is not necessary to obtain a full-time position at the entry level.

A number of program options remain available, but they should be evaluated on an individual basis.

Certificate Programs in Data Science

Many certificate programs in data science are intended for industry professionals to gain additional knowledge in data science utilizing their previous education and work experience. Data Science Certificate Programs are also becoming more readily available to undergraduate students who wish to build experience working with data or gain programming skills.

Although certificate programs are less costly and time consuming than a master’s or Ph.D. program, traditional graduate degrees are more likely to showcase a mastery in a particular field of study, while a certificate programs showcase a basic understanding of specific concepts. Consider the costs and benefits of certificate programs in this field, as compared with the options available within graduate degrees.

Master’s vs. Ph.D. Programs in Data Science

As with many areas of graduate study, graduate programs in data science offer a critical choice between master's programs and Ph.D. programs. Data Science Master’s Programs often focus in a specialty area and provide intense training to prepare students for the industry workforce. In a more rigorous and time-intensive degree program, Data Science Ph.D. Programs are heavily research-oriented and focus on challenging new ideas to advance the leading-edge of technology. Which program suits your career goals?

As you narrow down options, be aware that graduate programs specifically have data science in the name of the degree, however, others focus on a specific area such as data analytics or business intelligence. Vary your keyword search for programs based on the area you are most interested in, and review the specific courses to ensure you are pursuing the topics you wish to deepen your expertise with.

Academic Prerequisites

For both master’s and Ph.D. programs, a bachelor’s degree in data science, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a similar technical field is most commonly required; however, some programs accept students with non-technical degrees who have demonstrated advanced knowledge in data science. Most programs require a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, with some programs having higher GPA requirements. 
 

Experiential Prerequisites

Many programs do not have specific experience requirements associated with their application. For master’s programs, obtaining industry experience through internships or full-time work can make you a more competitive candidate. In regards to Ph.D. programs, admissions committees often favor students with research experience due to the research orientation of the prospective program. With this said, industry experience can also make you competitive for Ph.D. programs. 

Learn More

If graduate school interests you, review our Grad School 101 page to consider whether you want to pursue graduate school after UCSB or to begin planning out a timeline.