Distance Learning

MIT to Launch Online Micromasters in Data Science

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 04/24/18

The Statistics and Data Science Center (SDSC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is launching a new online micromasters in statistics and data science.

Currently under development by MIT faculty, the program will be available through edX in the fall and will feature a curriculum covering foundational knowledge of data science's methods and tools, in-depth coverage of probability and statistics and opportunities to experiment with data analysis techniques and machine learning algorithms.

"The demand for data scientists is growing rapidly," said Krishna Rajagopal, dean for digital learning, in a prepared statement. "This new program increases the supply of professionals who are masters of the data science of today, and who have the foundational understanding needed to keep on top of the data science of tomorrow."

MIT's micromasters programs are open to anyone who wants to enroll with no application process. Students in the program complete a set of graduate-level courses and then take a virtually-proctored online exam to earn a certificate.

"The MicroMasters program precisely addresses the unmet educational demand of working professionals who are trying to train themselves in statistics and data science in a rigorous manner without leaving their day job and without compromising on quality," said Devavrat Shah, MIT professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, in a prepared statement.

In related news, the SDSC also plans to launch an interdisciplinary doctoral program in statistics in the fall. Students in that program will take core classes in probability and statistics and data analysis and computation classes that will vary by home department. Departments participating in the program include Aeronautics and Astronautics, Economics, Mathematics, and Political Science and Social and Engineering Systems.