According to 2020 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 15% over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations. This demand, coupled with salaries that are about three times the national average, makes the launch particularly timely for working professionals facing economic and job downturns greater than at any time since the Great Depression.
“The field of data science touches almost every industry in our economy,” said Scott Rixner, a professor in the Rice’s Department of Computer Science. “This degree will provide those seeking to find new careers, or to advance in their current careers, the opportunity to acquire an indispensable skill set and to build future-focused critical expertise that will drive future innovation.”
The COVID-19 pandemic further contributed to this market demand through the rapid acceleration of technology across industries in the workforce. For professionals aiming to thrive in their current careers or pivot into new ones, data science skills and expertise are vital.
Featuring both online and on-campus options, Rice’s master’s degree program in data science will bolster recent graduates and professionals with their current careers or help them pivot to new ones. The degree, which will begin classes this fall, is offered through the George R. Brown School of Engineering and managed by the Department of Computer Science, which is ranked as one of the nation’s top 20 by U.S. News & World Report.
The Master of Data Science degree program offers multidisciplinary, interdepartmental and intercollegiate instruction with degrees that are customizable and specialized. The non-thesis curriculum consists of a rigorous blend of courses that deliver the skills needed to collect, evaluate, interpret and present data for effective decision-making across a variety of industries.
Along with the online Master of Computer Science degree that was launched in 2019, the new degree adds to the Brown School’s portfolio of degrees in a field that has quickly become a critical enabler across many sectors.
“Data science has revolutionized all fields of study and many sectors of the industry where data is central to the scientific or industrial endeavor,” said Rice Dean of Engineering Luay Nakhleh, a computer scientist who helped oversee the creation of the Master of Data Science program as department chair. “Data-driven discovery has complemented hypothesis-driven discovery, and it is here to stay. This degree positions our students for rewarding, life-long careers that provide meaningful impact in design and research in a multitude of industries.”