Illinois Institute of Technology will make its Master of Data Science program available online starting in fall 2015.

Unlike many business or liberal arts school programs, which teach students how to answer well-defined questions, IIT’s Master of Data Science program teaches students how to analyze data like a scientist and creatively uncover value hidden in data.

Working professionals will now be able to earn the Master of Data Science online, either part-time or full-time. Illinois Tech made this change in response to requests it has received from prospective students and industry leaders since the program was launched in June 2013.

“Although the Master of Data Science is successful among traditional students, we’ve discovered that working professionals are very interested in our program but need the flexibility of online classes,” said Shlomo Engelson Argamon, professor of computer science and director of the program. “This change will allow more people to earn the degree.”

Data scientists are in increasingly high demand. As the volume of data increases, more organizations are hiring data scientists to help them make sense of their data and identify opportunities. In 2011, McKinsey predicted a shortage of 190,000 of these professionals by 2018. Currently, according to Glassdoor, the average salary for data scientists is over $118,000 per year.

Illinois Tech, one of the Midwest’s top science and engineering universities, offers the interdisciplinary Master of Data Science program to produce mathematically and computationally sophisticated data scientists. Students acquire a deep and broad knowledge of theoretical principles of machine learning, statistics, high-performance computing, and data engineering, as well as the practical skills to apply them. They become effective communicators. They also learn how to maintain ethical principles in complex and dynamic professional situations. Students integrate this knowledge through a real-world data science practicum, working with leading companies and researchers in the Chicago area. By focusing on teaching fundamental principles and methods in the context of a variety of business, scientific, and other applications, the program offers students a firm foundation for their long-term professional growth.

Courses are taught by professors in the departments of applied mathematics and computer science who are internationally known for their research and scholarship. A seminar series brings in additional outstanding researchers and practitioners.

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