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The University of Pittsburgh is launching a new data science master’s program that school officials hope will bolster affordability and accessibility in the field.
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Pitt launches new online master’s program to make data science more accessible

Gene J. Puskar/AP

Pitt launches new online master’s program to make data science more accessible

The University of Pittsburgh is launching a new data science master’s program that school officials hope will bolster affordability and accessibility in the field.

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree is eligible to attempt the minimum-20-month program, which will cost students $15,000. The program is 38% more affordable than the average online master’s program in data science, according to Pitt officials.

Enrollment will begin in February, with the first course starting in May.

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Pitt decided to introduce the online degree program because the university realized “the importance of providing access to data skills and knowledge inclusive of all learners,” said Bruce Childers, dean of Pitt’s School of Computing and Information.

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“[The program] removes entry barriers, reassesses admission processes and harnesses technology to deliver an exceptionally accessible program that embodies Pitt’s high-quality, internationally recognized education,” Mr. Childers said in a news release.

The introduction of this program comes as data science employment remains in high demand. Between 2021 and 2031, data science jobs are projected to grow by 36%, according to a June analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

School officials say Pitt’s online program will equip students to work as a data scientist, data analyst or business intelligence analyst.

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The master’s program will be performance-based, meaning students must earn a B-grade or higher in an initial course to continue with the program.

Through the 30-credit program, students will learn computational, mathematical and statistical concepts. They will also study predictive and database modeling, machine learning, programming language Python, computing platform Jupyter Notebook and more. The curriculum’s schedule is flexible to accommodate working professionals, Pitt said.

The program will be available through Coursera, a U.S.-based online course provider. Students from Pennsylvania, the United States and across the globe can enroll in the new program.

“We’re proud to collaborate with Pitt and bring this highly accessible degree program to life,”

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Marni Baker Stein, Coursera’s chief content officer, said in the release. “Amid a growing demand for data scientists, we’re creating a pathway for learners from diverse backgrounds to transform their passion into a profession.”

When Pitt’s School of Computing and Information was founded in 2017, it was the first new school created at Pitt in two decades. Pitt created the school by combining the university’s School of Information Sciences with its computer science department.

The school currently offers eight undergraduate majors, six master’s degrees and six doctoral degrees.

First Published: December 15, 2023, 4:54 p.m.
Updated: December 16, 2023, 3:02 p.m.

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The University of Pittsburgh is launching a new data science master’s program that school officials hope will bolster affordability and accessibility in the field.  (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Gene J. Puskar/AP
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