Today, both data science and analytics have become an indispensable part of how business problems are addressed and have revolutionised the computer and software field. But at the same time, there is quite a dearth in individuals skilled in data science. The excessive demand for such talent coupled with the dawn of the AI age has made colleges worldwide introduce degree courses in the field.
In 2020, many colleges and universities introduced bachelor’s and master’s programs in data science and analytics. In this article, we take a look at some of the most prominent degree programs introduced this year so far by leading education centres across the globe. The list is in no particular order.
IIT Madras, India- BSc In Programming and Data Science (Online)
IIT Madras, India’s top technical institute launched the world’s first online BSc Degree program in Programming and Data Science. Indian learners can work towards an undergraduate degree/diploma from an IIT regardless of their age or location, and with a broad range of academic backgrounds and no previous knowledge of coding required. IIT Madras has carefully curated this exclusively as an online program. The degree program is designed in a way that once a learner starts from the Foundational level and progresses towards the Degree level while obtaining sufficient proficiency in Programming and Data Science. IITs are one of the major pillars of the Indian education system, and everyone has welcomed the online undergraduate data science program introduced in 2020.
Know more about the program here.
Manipal Institute of Technology, India – B.Tech In Data Science and Engineering (On-Campus)
Manipal Institute of Technology, which is part of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, declared a new curriculum for the academic year 2020-21. The college will provide, for the first time in India, a B.Tech program in Data Science and Engineering. The degree program will be offered across the Manipal group campuses in Manipal, Sikkim and Jaipur. The B.Tech program will have a great emphasis on data science and data engineering from the industry aspects, which distinguishes it from other computer science or IT programs. Along with the core competencies, the students can also choose to go for customised program electives in subjects like quantum computing, data forensics, data privacy and security.
Know more about the program here.
University of Manitoba, Canada – BS in Data Science (On-Campus)
Recently, the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba announced that Manitoba Economic Development and Training approved the founding of a new degree program, a Bachelor of Science (Major) in Data Science. The new program will be offered through the UM Faculty of Science, starting Fall 2021, and need 120 credit hours of courses in computer science, mathematics and statistics along with courses planned particularly for the major. Last year, the Faculty of Science at the university had also formed Data Science Nexus, an interdisciplinary collaboration and centre of data science expertise. Nexus strives to give new data science programs at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as opportunities for experiential learning in data analytics for students at the university. There is also a Database and Data Mining Laboratory, which allows students the chance to administer research on theoretical as well as practical applications of data science.
Know more about the program here.
Purdue University, USA- MS Business Analytics (Online)
Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management began providing an online Master of Science in Business Analytics in the fall semester of 2020. The degree is directed at working professionals, and learners will gain extensive exposure to several functional areas of business, and how they utilise data to make more educated decisions. As part of the online degree, the students will work in close relationship with the Krenicki Centre for Business Analytics and Machine Learning, which allows data analytics-focused projects traversing all areas of business, economics and finance. Learners will also be allowed to benefit from Purdue’s abundant resources in data analytics, as well as the Centre for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS), one of the globally leading research and education hubs in data security. CERIAS will join hands with the Krannert School in developing courses for this online program
Know more about the program here.
University of Texas, USA – MS In Data Science (Online)
The University of Texas at Austin has rolled out a new online master’s degree program in data science. Starting this year, the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin collaborated with the university’s Department of Computer Science to provide a Master of Science in Data Science. This new online master’s program embodies the defining principles of Data Science, joining the experts from both fields, to design a curriculum and offer a solid foundation in Statistical theory upon which to build a Computer Science application. UT Austin’s online data science master’s degree will be the first from a top-tier university in the US to be available at an affordable cost. Students who get admission to the program will be able to complete the degree for about $10,000, in contrast to other data sciences degrees, for which the cost of tuition ranges from $20,000-$70,000.
Know more about the program here.
Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi – Bachelor’s In Mathematics, Specialisation in Data Science for Artificial Intelligence (On–Campus)
Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi recently announced the introduction of a new bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, with specialisation in Data Science for Artificial Intelligence for the current academic year 2020-2021. The goal of this program is to provide the 21st-century graduate with the essential knowledge and relevant skills to start a career in AI and contribute to becoming a modern professional or a proficient researcher. The bachelor’s degree with a specialisation in Data Science for Artificial Intelligence is a three-year-long intensive, high-level programme taught in English. This is an additional action taken by the university in the implementation of its strategic plan to make AI-focused curriculum. It is to be noted that last year Abu Dhabi announced the foundation of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), which was arguably the first graduate-level, research-based AI university in the world.
Know more about the program here.
Queen Mary, University Of London – MSc in Data Science and AI by conversion (On–Campus)
At Queen Mary, the University of London in England, MSc in Data Science and AI by conversion programme began in September 2020. It is different from existing degrees that need learners to have a background in STEM education. The programme is open to learners from various academic disciplines. The UK Office granted the funding for the programme for Students (OfS) as part of an Institute of Coding (IoC) consortium effort to uncover new postgraduate conversion courses in artificial intelligence and data science. The OfS initiative was declared in June 2020, to address the shortage of data science and AI experts in the UK, a matter brought to light in the UK Government’s 2017 Digital Strategy. The funding will also produce scholarship opportunities for underrepresented students. Queen Mary will offer 23 scholarships over three academic years, £10,000 each to eligible students.
Know more about the program here.
