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, processes, and methodological  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, 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.   

Degree Requirements

 

Coursework: 36 units; no Master’s research paper required. Students that require additional skills (e.g., additional mathematics training) will complete this degree by taking additional classes not to exceed a maximum of 44 units.

 

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.

 

Admission. Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

 

University Policies.  Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.

 

Core Course Requirement (16 units)

• SPE 486 -  Data Analytics & Visualization (4 units)
• SPE 471 - Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics, & Business Decisions (4 units)
• SPE 487 – Visualizing Data (4 units)
• SPE 489 – Computational Tools for Social Science (4 units)

 

 

Research Tools (12 units)

• PP481 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis (4 units)
• PP 482 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (4 units) 
• PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis (various letters and topics) (4 units)

 Note: MA students who wish to use a substitute research tool must gain prior approval by a Faculty Advisor and the Division Director

 

Electives (8 units)

Choose one of the following tracks:

Computational Analytics (8 units from the following)

• ECON 317 – Game Theory & Asymmetric Information (4 units)
• SPE 316 – Computational & Agent-Based Modeling (4 units)
• SPE 438 – Dynamic Modeling (4 units)
• SPE 448 – Seminar in Social Network Analysis (4 units)
• TNDY 336 – Analysis of Social Networks (4 units)

International Political Economy (8 units from the following)

• SPE 411 - International Political Economy (4 units) And
• SPE 410 - Political Economy of International Development (4 units) OR
• PP 408 - Seminar in World Politics: Political Demography & Development ( 4 units) OR TNDY407I - Special Seminar in Social Demography (4 units)
• SPE 429 - Political Economy of China (4 units)
• SPE 359 - Economics Development: Household and Local Development Issues (4 units)

Security (8 units from the following)

• PP 401 – World Politics (4 units)
• PP 430 – Perspectives in Conflict & Peace (4 units)
• PP 432 – Seminar in Civil War (4 units)
• SPE 403 – Deterrence & Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (4 units)

Health

• CGH 300 - Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion & Education (4 units)
• CGH302 – Epidemiology (4 units)
• SPE 349F - US Health Policy (4 units)
• PP 408 - Seminar in World Politics: Political Demography & Development (4 units)

 

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