Mohamed Eltabakh meltabakh@cs.wpi.edu

Associate Professor, Computer Science Department

Graduate Coordinator, Data Science Program

What is the BS/MS program?

•  Allows WPI undergraduate students to efficiently earn a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree

•  Typically done in 4.5 to 5 years

•  Double counting for credits

•  All requirements of both BS & MS must be satisfied 2

Why MS in Data Science?•  Market demand

•  Complement your BS major with Data Science skills

•  Competitive advantage when seeking employment

•  Credential for leadership/management roles

•  Higher pay

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BS/MS saves you Time & Money

What’s Unique about WPI-Data Science•  Truly Inter-Disciplinary Program

– Computing (CS Dept.)– Math & Statistics (Math Dept.)– Business Intelligence (School of Business)

•  Well-established program with cutting-edge courses– 5th year– Big Data, AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement

learning, Math. Foundations in DS, …

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DS Faculty are from the three dept.

What’s Unique about WPI-Data Science (Cont’d)

•  Industry Driven – Advisory board–  Integrating Industrial perspective into our Curriculum– Graduate Qualifying Project (GQP)

•  Team-based, industry sponsored, real-world problems

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MS Degree Requirements (33 Credits)

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MATHEMATICALANALYTICS3credits

DATAMANAGEMENT

3 credits

DATAANALYTICS

&MINING3 credits

BUSINESSINTELLIGENCE

&CASESTUDIES

3 credits

I N T E G R A T I V E D A T A S C I E N C E 3 c r e d i t s

G Q P 3credits T H E S I S 9creditsOR

… E L E C T I V E S … (9 credits) (15 credits)

Complement your BS major with Data Science skills…

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(Biology, Chemistry, Med., Physics, etc.)

(Math, Computational theory, Stats., etc.)

(Computer Science, etc.)

Computational skills, e.g., Big data management, AI, machine learning, interpreting results Math Analytics, e.g., predictive modeling, dimensionality reduction

BS/MS in DS

Computational skills, e.g., data management, AI, machine learning, interpreting results Business Intel., e.g., putting theory into practice, story telling

BS/MS in DS BS/MS in DS

Math Analytics, e.g., predictive modeling, dimensionality reduction Business Intel., e.g., putting theory into practice, story telling

Regarding BS/MS program•  Conversion Mechanism for Grad/Undergrad

–  1/6 unit = 1 grad. credit–  1/3 unit = 2 grad. credits–  1/2 unit = 3 grad. credits

•  Double Counting–  Up to 12 credits (~40%) can be double counted towards your MS degree

•  Works both ways–  4000-level courses count for MS credits–  Graduate courses count towards 4000-level BS requirements

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Undergrad Course (1/3 unit)

Grad Course (3 credits)

What and How to Double Count?

•  Many 4000-Level courses can double count–  List is in the Graduate catalog–  Instructor approval–  Translate to 2 graduate credits– Need to do more work for extra 1/6 unit (1 credit)

•  Requires registering for a 1/6 unit Independent Study course

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Select courses that satisfy distinct core areas

MATHEMATICALANALYTICS3credits

DATAMANAGEMENT3 credits

DATAANALYTICS

&MINING3 credits

BUSINESSINTELLIGENCE

&CASESTUDIES3 credits

Satisfying a core area is independent

of # credits

What and How to Double Count? (Cont’d)

•  Taking DS Graduate Courses while being undergrad– E.g., DS501 (or any one in the course chart)– May count as 1/2 unit towards your 4000-level undergrad degree– Check your department requirements

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There are undergrad & grad course pairs that CANNOT be both taken for credit (Check Graduate Catalog)

What and How to Double Count? (Cont’d)

•  Beyond the pre-approved courses (in the catalog)– Other 4000-level and graduate courses require submitting

petitions – Subject to approval based on how much a course is related to

Data Science– Check with DS Graduate Coordinator first

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How and When Do I Join the Program?•  Junior year (or early in Senior year)

– Allow time to select the appropriate 4000-level or Grad courses

•  Submit an application – Application fee waived for BS/MS students– Not required to take TOEFL or GRE exams– statement and three (faculty) references

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Once graduated with the BS degree, you are not eligible to apply for the BS/MS program