The STEM-designated Master of Science in Applied Data Science (MSADS) degree develops and empowers students to use state-of-the-art political assessment models across all scales of political interaction. 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, geostrategic risk, economic growth, trade, exchange rates, demographic change, and sustainable development.

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.

General Requirements

Coursework: 36 units; no Master’s research paper required. Students that require additional skills (e.g., additional mathematics training) may need to take no more than 8 units of additional classes. 

Final Paper Portfolio:  All students in the Department of Politics and Policy 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.

Degree Requirements

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Core Courses (16 units)

Courses listed from foundational to progressively advanced 

• SPE 489 – Computational Tools for Social Science 

• SPE 487 – Visualizing Data 

• SPE 486 -  Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning 

• SPE 471 - Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics, & Business Decisions

Research Tools (12 units)

• PP481 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis 

• PP 482 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods

• PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis (various letters and topics) 

Note: MS students who wish to use a substitute research tool must gain prior approval by a faculty advisor and the Division Director.

Electives (8 units)

Take 8 units from one of the following tracks:

Computational Analytics

• ECON 317 – Game Theory & Asymmetric Information 

• SPE 316 – Computational & Agent-Based Modeling 

• SPE 438 – Dynamic Modeling 

• SPE 448 – Seminar in Social Network Analysis 

• TNDY 336 – Analysis of Social Networks 

International Political Economy

Required:

• SPE 411 - International Political Economy

One additional course selected from:

• SPE 410 - Political Economy of International Development

• PP 408 - Seminar in World Politics: Political Demography & Development

• TNDY 407I - Special Seminar in Social Demography

• SPE 429 - Political Economy of China

• SPE 359 - Economics Development: Household and Local Development Issues 

Security

• PP 401 – World Politics 

• PP 430 – Perspectives in Conflict & Peace 

• PP 432 – Seminar in Civil War 

Health

• CGH 300 - Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion & Education 

• CGH302 – Epidemiology 

• PP 408 - Seminar in World Politics: Political Demography & Development

• TNDY 407I - Special Seminar in Social Demography

 

Note: Students who wish to substitute a class must document the change and gain prior approval by a faculty advisor to choose the best courses for their goals.