Yes. The online MS-DS program falls under the University of Colorado Boulder’s overall accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Yes. Simply enroll in any course and take as many as you like. No commitment is required. You can also enroll in the non-credit course on the Coursera platform and upgrade to the for-credit version at a later time by paying the associated tuition.

You can access course materials on the Coursera platform—lecture videos, quizzes, and readings—anytime and anywhere. Courses have been designed by CU Boulder’s faculty specifically for an online learning environment.

If a course uses proctoring for the final exam, the exam will be administered by ProctorU, a proctoring service that allows you to complete exams or project-based assessments online.

If you have any questions about the program, email us at datascience@colorado.edu.

The program is designed to be flexible for working individuals. Students who take three courses per session will complete the MS-DS degree in about two years. There are six eight-week sessions per year. The degree is flexible. Take more courses per session to complete the degree more quickly, or fewer courses per session if you prefer a slower pace. Please note that you must complete all courses within eight years.

The work for each course you enroll in may take four to six hours of work per week depending on your knowledge and skill.

You can learn at your own pace in a flexible and fully online format. Take only the coursework you need to build credentials that will advance your career, from individual courses to the full master’s degree.

30 credits are required to earn the Master of Science in Data Science degree. Each course is worth one credit.

You can take as many courses as you would like at the same time. You must complete all for-credit coursework and exams by the last day of each session. It’s recommended that you start with one course and decide from there if it is feasible to take more at the same time.

Yes. When you successfully complete the online MS-DS degree, you may come to campus to participate in the graduation ceremony.

No. You cannot switch between the MS-DS on Coursera and the on-campus program.

Yes. The same renowned and expert faculty at CU Boulder teach both online and on-campus courses.

Yes. There are weekly online office hours during which you may interact with course facilitators and ask questions.

No. Online students do not have access to on-campus facilities. However, once admitted you can access online resources including CU Boulder libraries, Career Services, and Forever Buffs Alumni Services.

Once you enroll in a for-credit course, you will receive a CU email address. . There is no physical ID card.

Yes. The Slack channel and discussion forums are ways to connect and network. The program also hosts a number of in-person and online networking events throughout the year.

Yes. Once admitted to the program, you’ll have access to Handshake, a comprehensive resource for all things career related, and VMock online resume review. Graduates can also join the Forever Buffs alumni association.

No. Internships are not part of the program.

There is no application to submit. Admission is performance-based, which means you simply need to show that you can do the work.

To get started, complete the enrollment form during an enrollment window. Indicate you want to earn the master’s degree if applicable, and pay the tuition for the course(s) you are taking that term. Complete a pathway of three for-credit courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and you will automatically be admitted into the master’s degree.

No. There is no application or application fee.

No. Transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted.

There are currently no scholarships or financial aid available for this program.

Tuition is $525 per credit hour and $15,750 for the full 30-credit master’s degree. With “pay-as-you-go” tuition, you pay only for the courses you are taking in the upcoming term at the time of enrollment.

There are no formal prerequisites. However, you should be knowledgeable in the following:

• Python
• R programming
• Calculus including derivatives and integrals
• Linear algebra including matrix multiplication, matrix inversion, and solving linear systems using matrices

To be admitted to the MS-DS program, you must enroll in and complete a “Pathway Specialization” with a 3.0 GPA or better. Your pathway is a series of three one-credit courses in either statistics or computer science. All the pathway courses are part of the core degree curriculum, so your progress will directly stack toward a full degree.

You do not need any specific background to be admitted to the program. However, it is helpful to have previous experience in statistics and computer science. Not sure if you're ready for a for-credit class? You can enroll in a Pathway Specialization as a non-credit learner, which gives you the option to preview course content. Then, you can upgrade to the for-credit version and pay tuition when you are ready.

You are also welcome to enroll in the Bridge to Data Science courses if you need to brush up on your statistics and/or programming skills. These non-credit courses are designed to prepare you for the MS-DS program.

Yes, it’s the same as the on-campus program. Upon program completion, you will receive your diploma. It is a degree conferred for a Master of Science in Data Science, and it does not have any "online" or "Coursera" designations.