5th Year Master of Information and Data Science

For UC Berkeley Undergraduates

The 5th Year MIDS provides Cal students with a streamlined path to a professional master’s degree.

Curriculum

MIDS classes prepare students to derive insights from real-world data sets to influence decision-making, changing both minds and behaviors in a variety of settings.

Tailored for UC Berkeley undergraduates interested in data science careers, the 5th Year Master of Information and Data Science program takes an interdisciplinary approach to data science instruction and equips students for careers in organizations that are relying increasingly on data to make decisions. The 5th Year MIDS provides Cal students with a path to earning a professional master’s degree through focused advising and guided preparation. Students learn to derive insights from real-world data sets, using the latest tools and analytical methods to interpret and communicate their findings in ways that influence decision-making, changing both minds and behaviors in a variety of settings.

Delivered using state-of-the-art online technology, this program is designed from the ground up by UC Berkeley I School faculty. Courses are taught by I School faculty, leading industry practitioners and post-doctoral scholars.

By 2020, the demand for data scientists and data engineers is projected to grow by 39%, with an additional 364,000 new job listings.
— BHEF & IBM Quant Crunch Report (2017)

Student Experience

Seamlessly Bringing UC Berkeley’s On-Campus Student Experience Online

  • A robust online learning experience. Delivered using a web-based platform and featuring self-paced, online coursework and live, collaborative seminars driven by problem solving and discussions, the 5th Year MIDS online classroom creates a rich learning experience with no back row.

  • Immersion. Crafted to deliver additional learning, networking, and community-building opportunities, this three- to four-day program on the UC Berkeley campus or another location relevant to data science, offers the chance to meet faculty and classmates, attend lectures and workshops, participate in career workshops and company visits, and attend networking events with industry leaders and alumni.

  • Face-to-face interaction. The online platform facilitates collaboration and leads to real connections between students, faculty, and peers.

  • Dedicated student support. Fully integrated into the I School community, you will receive academic, technical, and career services support.

Individual and Lifelong Career Support

  • Connections in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco is the epicenter of the data revolution. As a 5th Year MIDS student, you will build valuable connections through an extensive global network.

  • Support for professional development. 5th Year MIDS students will receive career coaching and advising designed to help them transition smoothly from student to data professional.

  • MIDS for Life. This program offers 5th Year MIDS students lifelong access to the I School Virtual Campus, where students can retrieve all previously completed MIDS coursework and recorded class sections. Alumni may also view the most up-to-date asynchronous course content, including content for newly released courses, at no charge.

Professional Development

5th Year MIDS students receive career coaching and advising to help them transition smoothly from student to data professional.

Online Learning Experience

A web-based platform with self-paced, online coursework and live, collaborative seminars, the 5th Year MIDS online classroom creates a rich learning experience with no back row.

Face-to-Face Interaction

The online platform facilitates collaboration and leads to real connections between students, faculty, and peers.

Academic Overview

Through a hands-on, project-based approach to learning, the 5th Year MIDS program features a rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum that draws on insights from social sciences, computer science, statistics, management, and law.

The program’s challenging, relevant curriculum focuses on problem solving, preparing you to creatively apply methods of data collection, analysis, and presentation to address and solve problems in areas of human interest, government, and business.

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Online Learning Environment

Live Classes

Students form close relationships with their classmates and instructors in small, face-to-face, weekly video seminars capped at 18 students. During class, students discuss the weekly coursework and participate in group problem-solving.

Coursework

Students complete self-paced coursework that prepares them for the weekly live classes. Course content includes dynamic videos, interactive case studies, self-paced lectures, and collaborative activities that foster teamwork.

Last updated:

May 18, 2023