UConn To Address Need For 'Skilled Data Scientists' With New Program

STORRS, CT — Citing a demand for "knowledgeable and skilled data scientists" in sectors like online streaming, health care systems, retail and researcher, the University of Connecticut is introducing a new multidisciplinary Master’s in Data Science program this fall.

The program has an inaugural full-time "cohort" of 20 students, UConn officials said.

Based on the main Storrs campus, the 11-month, 30-credit program will draw from faculty expertise in five of UConn’s schools and colleges:

• The College of Agriculture
• Health and Natural Resources
• The School of Business
• The School of Engineering
• The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• The Neag School of Education

The core curriculum features 18 multidisciplinary credits and includes a strong focus on ethics as well as design, programming, machine learning, and data analysis students can choose from 12 different areas of concentration within the program that range from bioinformatics to cybersecurity to social and behavioral analytics, UConn officials said.

As part of the focus on ethics, all students in the program will be required to complete a dedicated two-credit course in data ethics and "ethical concepts" have been intentionally woven throughout all elements of the curriculum, officials said.