The School of Engineering at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ has established an interdisciplinary Master of Science degree program in Applied Data Science and has tapped Adrian Rusu, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, to be its director.
Our Applied Data Science Program provides cross-pollination among different domains at an unprecedented level, and allows students to be uniquely prepared to take on data science-related positions in their chosen fields.
— Dr. Adrian Rusu
Fairfield's new MS in Applied Data Science (MSADS) is an interdisciplinary program designed to equip students with the analytical and technical skills to interpret and turn small and large datasets into actionable insights. Although offered through the School of Engineering, Fairfield’s MSADS is a collaborative effort between the School of Nursing, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Dolan School of Business, making it of interest to students and professionals from many different backgrounds besides engineering and computing – biology, healthcare, behavioral sciences, and business, to name a few. The program is recommended for anyone with a desire to use data to make deeper connections within their field, and to drive decision-making.
According to Dr. Rusu, MSADS program director, the thing that sets ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´’s innovative program apart from others is that “our Applied Data Science Program provides cross-pollination among different domains at an unprecedented level, and allows students to be uniquely prepared to take on data science-related positions in their chosen fields."
“We hone essential data science technical competencies,” said Dr. Rusu, “as well as communication and leadership skills -- through hands-on industry projects, internships, and capstone courses.”
The flexible 30-credit MSADS curriculum offers graduate students a unique blend of academic core coursework, customizable electives based on individual areas of specialization, and practical experience in partnership with local businesses or non-profits for a two-semester capstone sequence. In addition to allowing students to put their classroom learning to work in real-world situations, the year-long capstone projects serve to underscore the ever-increasing value of data science to both industry and society.
Fairfield's new graduate program positions the University to play a vital role in an exponentially growing field. For the third consecutive year, Glassdoor has ranked data scientist #1 on its “” list. This ranking is determined by an algorithm that combines three factors: the number of job openings, salary, and an overall job satisfaction rating. Currently in 2018, Glassdoor reports more than 4,500 data scientist job openings in the U.S., a median base salary of $110,000, and a 4.2/5 satisfaction rating. Data scientist career opportunities span commercial, financial, health, and manufacturing sectors, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Applications to Fairfield’s MSADS program are accepted on a rolling basis. For admission requirements and details on how to apply, visit the School of Engineering’s MS in Applied Data Science program website at www.fairfield.edu/msads. If you have any questions, or if you would like to set up an appointment with the MSADS program director to learn more, please e-mail Dr. Adrian Rusu at rusu@fairfield.edu.
