New master’s program in data science first of its kind in region

The Medical College of Georgia is welcoming a new Master of Science in Data Science program in Fall 2021.

Dr. Jie Chen, professor of biostatistics in the Department of Population Health Sciences, lead the committee that created this new program.

Out of the Atlanta area, there were no Master of Science degrees in data science. This program aims to be more applicative than similar data analytics degrees and will be the first in the Augusta area.

The program was created to be an accessible and doable degree for students who have a basic mathematical background.

“With the advent of supercomputers and smartphones, there is a surplus of data everywhere. Data scientists make sense of that data by gathering and analyzing big data to answer research questions,” said Chen.

Chen explained that data science combines theory with application and the program aims “to educate students on how to realize theory, write computer codes to analyze data, and interpret the results so it has a reasonable explanation.”

Future graduates of this program can find careers in a variety of sectors with tangible skill sets in gathering, analyzing and interpreting data.

One of Chen’s goals is to “educate our students to have a sense of responsibility to spread knowledge throughout society.”

Read more and apply for the Master of Science in Data Science program here.