Saint Peter’s University Establishes Master of Science in Data Science with a Concentration in Business Analytics

Jersey City, N.J. – January 14, 2014 – Saint Peter’s University today announced a master’s program in data science with a concentration in business analytics, which will be offered beginning in the fall of 2014. The degree program integrates computer science, statistics and data-based business management principles to inform data driven decision making. The program is the first of its kind in the N.Y./N.J. area and was developed to align with the “best of industry applied practice” in big data solutions. The curriculum reflects the most current approaches to the management of data science technology as developed by leaders in the industry such as the Oracle Corporation. Oracle is the world’s leading database company and is currently recognized as a market leader on big data solutions.

“The need for data scientists has become significantly more distinct and urgent in the past few years given the exponential growth of big data,” said Jeffrey Handler, vice president of enrollment and marketing at Saint Peter’s University. “We are extremely pleased to join a select group of universities with our cutting edge data science degree program that will meet this increasing demand and train the next generation of data scientists. Additionally, the University is ideally located in close proximity to New York City, which is quickly becoming an international hub of data science and big data technology.”

Fortune 500 companies are currently seeking to hire data scientists to compete in almost every major industry. The McKinsey Global Institute reported that there will be a shortage of talent necessary for organizations to take advantage of big data. The Institute predicts that by 2018 the United States could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills and the knowledge on how to effectively use big data.

The data science program curriculum provides students with a rigorous course of study in big data technology, application and practice. Courses focus on theory, tools and application. Students will learn to use tools such as R, SAS and Weka. Coursework includes data mining, data visualization, machine learning, statistics, predictive modeling and business analytics. The capstone of the program is a research project in which students apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in data science to solve real-world business problems. Ethical considerations in the field will also be explored.

The data science with a concentration in business analytics degree program will prepare graduates from around the world for careers as predictive modelers and data mining engineers and analysts in data-driven industries such as marketing, finance, banking and healthcare, among others. The program is targeted toward students who have bachelor’s degrees with strong backgrounds in computer science, mathematics, engineering and statistics. The program is comprised of 12 courses/36 credits and is designed for full or part-time students interested in pursuing careers in industry-specific analytical fields and who will want to become the “next generation data scientist.”

Saint Peter’s University has a long history in computer science. Saint Peter’s was the first college in New Jersey to offer computer science as an undergraduate major in 1977. Additionally, Saint Peter’s was the first college in the state to obtain a computer. Academic computer use began at the University in 1964 when an LGP-30 machine was acquired under an NSF grant.

For more information about enrollment in the data science program, course schedule and program guidelines, please visit www.saintpeters.edu/data-science or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at gradadmit@saintpeters.edu or (201) 761-6470.

# # end # #

Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.