Applied Data Science and International Studies, MS

The Master of Science in Applied Data Science program develops and empowers students to use state-of-the-art political assessment models across all scales of political interactions. Students are exposed to various political theories, domains, process, and methods knowledge to help them understand and predict human created uncertainty through the mechanism of politics. Successful students acquire the ability to use a variety of political, economic, statistical, bit data and data analytics tools to solve policy problems that provide them with a distinct competitive advantage in their professional careers. Topics covered span conflict and cooperation, income inequality, national policy development, economic growth, trade, exchange rates, demographic change, and sustainable development.

For admission requirements, see the Admission section of this Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

Coursework: 36 units; no Master’s research paper required.

Final Paper Portfolio: All students are required to submit two papers to the program office. One paper must be written during the student’s first semester in the program. A second paper should represent the student’s best work and may come from any subsequent semester that the student is enrolled in the program. Papers are used for accreditation reviews of the program. The program’s Student Handbook provides additional details.

University Policies: University policies detailed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin apply.

Core Course Requirement (16 units)

SP&E 486 Data Analytics & Visualization
SP&E 317 Advanced Formal Models
SP&E 448 Seminar in Social Network Analysis
SP&E 471 Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics, & Business (Capstone Seminar)

Research Tools (12 units)

INST 400 Math Preparations Workshop (0 units) for those who need basic calculus, linear algebra and probability theory
INST 481 Statistical Methods for Social Sciences (4 units)
INST 483 Multivariate Analysis in International Studies Using SAS (4 units)

And

INST 487 Advanced Topics in Applied Econometrics OR
SP&E 317 Advanced Formal Models OR
SP&E 471 Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics & Business OR
INST 489 Advanced Research Design

Note: MA students who wish to a substitute must gain prior approval by a Faculty Advisor and the Department Chair

Electives (8 units)

Choose one of the following tracks:

Security

INST 401 World Politics
INST 430 Seminar in Conflict & Peace, OR
PP 432 Seminar in Civil War
INST 403 Deterrence and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

International Political Economy

SP&E 411 International Political Economy And
SP&E 410 Political Economy of International Development OR
PP 408 Seminar in Political Demography OR TNDY407I Seminar in Social Demography
SP&E 429 Political Economy of China

Foreign Policy (Choose two classes within a region)

PP 420A Foreign Policy USA
PP 420B Foreign Policy of Latin America
PP 420C Foreign Policy of the Middle East
PP 420D Foreign Policy of Africa
PP 420E Foreign Policy of Europe
PP 420F Foreign Policy of East Asia
PP 420G Foreign Policy of South East Asia

Computational Analytics

ECON 317 Game Theory & Asymmetric Information
SP&E 316 Seminar in Computational & Agent-Based Modeling
SP&E 438 Dynamic Modeling

Health

CGH 300 Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion and Education
CG H302 Epidemiology
SP&E 349F US Health Policy
SP&E 408 Social and Political Demography

Note: Students who wishes to a substitute classes or create additional tracks must gain prior approval by a Faculty Advisor to choose the best courses for your goals.