Master’s in Data Science Courses & Curriculum | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

Course Schedule, Part-time Online Program

Please note that course schedules may be amended due to low enrollment, faculty availability, and/or other factors.

Online Sync Sessions are an integral part of the online learning experience. Additional information about learning concepts and assignments may be discussed and sync sessions offer valuable opportunities for students to interact with their faculty and peers during the term. We encourage all students to attend live, but if they are unable to, sync sessions will be recorded and posted within Canvas to allow for an asynchronous model of success as well.

MSDS 402-DL : Research Design for Data Science

Description

This course introduces the scientific method and research design for data science. It distinguishes between primary and secondary research, drawing on survey, observational, and experimental studies. Students learn about sampling techniques and ways of obtaining relevant data. They see how to prepare data for modeling and analysis. They employ feature engineering, constructing new measures from original measures. They learn how to assess the reliability and validity of measures, construct valid research designs, and build trustworthy models. Numerous case studies illustrate rational decision making guided by science.

Prior to fall 2023, this course was titled "Data Science and Research Practice" and  "Introduction to Data Science."

Prerequisites: None.