Master of Information and Data Science

Master’s in Data Science Online from UC Berkeley

The number 2–ranked Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) program,* delivered online, prepares students to be leaders in the data science field.

The online master’s program brings UC Berkeley to students, wherever they are. The WASC-accredited program blends a multidisciplinary curriculum, experienced faculty from UC Berkeley and top data-driven companies, an accomplished network of peers, and the flexibility of online learning.

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Complete a Rigorous, Holistic Curriculum

The multidisciplinary online data science master’s curriculum draws upon computer science, social sciences, statistics, management, and law. Students use the latest tools and analytical methods to work with data at scale, derive insights from complex and unstructured data, and solve real-world problems.

The core curriculum focuses on the following key skills:

  • Research design
  • Data cleansing
  • Data engineering
  • Data mining and exploring
  • Data visualization
  • Information ethics and privacy
  • Statistical analysis
  • Machine learning

Experiential, project-based learning is a hallmark of the MIDS program. Students work collaboratively with the latest tools, environments, and processes on real-world data science problems, so they are prepared to work as leaders in the industry.

Online Data Science Program Paths

The 27-unit online program is designed for the working professional and can be completed at a flexible pace.

  • The standard path is designed for working professionals to complete part-time and can be completed in 20 months, with two courses per semester.

  • The accelerated path gives students the opportunity to take three courses per semester to complete the program in only 12 months.

  • The decelerated path allows students to drop down to one course per semester after the first term and complete the program in no more than 32 months.

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Featured Courses

The MIDS curriculum features a wide range of courses that provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how data science can be used to inform decision-making in their organizations. Students will complete programming-focused courses, like the featured courses below, in concurrence with courses that focus on the ethical impact of data science and how to effectively communicate results.

Applied Machine Learning

Students will learn how to apply crucial machine learning techniques to solve problems, run evaluations and interpret results, and understand scaling up from thousands of data points to billions.

Behind the Data: Humans and Values

This course examines the legal, policy, and ethical issues that arise throughout the full life cycle of data science. Students use case studies to explore these issues across various domains, such as criminal justice, national security, health, marketing, politics, education, and employment.

Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning

This course is a broad introduction to linguistic phenomena and our attempts to analyze them with machine learning. The course covers a wide range of concepts, with a focus on practical applications such as information extraction, machine translation, sentiment analysis, and summarization.

 

Admissions Requirements

The master’s in data science program is seeking applicants who can make a positive impact on the I School community and beyond. A complete application must include the following:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose and additional admissions statements
  • Two professional letters of recommendation
  • Current resume
  • Application fee
  • TOEFL scores (if applicable)
  • GRE or GMAT scores are optional.

Last updated:

November 1, 2023