The University of Illinois has partnered with Coursera to launch the first MOOC-based Master's Degree in Data Science.
The program is offered in partnership with the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and the Department of Statistics. Students receive lectures through Coursera’s massive open online course (MOOC) platform. MCS-DS students are assessed by Illinois faculty and teaching assistants on their assignments, projects, and exams. Registered students receive university course credits and transcripts.
The MCS-DS is offered by CS @ ILLINOIS, a U.S. News & World Report top five CS graduate program, in collaboration with the University’s Statistics Department and top-ranked iSchool.
AT A GLANCE
The Master of Computer Science in Data Science (MCS-DS) leads the MCS degree through a focus on core competencies in machine learning, data mining, data visualization, and cloud computing, It also includes interdisciplinary data science courses, offered in cooperation with the Department of Statistics and the School of Information Science.
If you select the Data Science track, your courses and projects will focus on:
Professionals who want to use big data to understand the world, discover new insights, and optimize their decision-making will find value in the MCS-DS program. Analyzing the rising tide of data has become important to a wide range of fields, including the humanities, medicine, and business, as well as engineering and the sciences. Students will gain a strong foundation that will enable them to bring data science to bear on these areas. The program is designed so that students can complete it at their own pace as they balance their personal and professional commitments. Most students complete the degree in less than three years, though it can be completed in as little as one year or, if needed, as many as five years.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition: $670 per credit hour, for a total of $21,440 for the complete 32 credit hour degree.
ProctorU fees: Most courses require one or more exams. Exams are proctored online through ProctorU and are billed directly to the student when an exam is scheduled, at $8.75 (30-min. exam), $14.75 (1-hr. exam), $21.50 (90-min. and 2-hour exam), or $30.25 (3-hour exam).
Cloud Computing Service fees (e.g., Amazon Web Services): Vary, depending on the course. We often offer free credits for students as part of the class.
For the entire degree, you won’t be billed upfront. Instead, you’ll pay as you go. Every time you take a course, you’ll pay tuition for that course only. If you need to pause your coursework for a term due to work, family, or other responsibilities, you won’t be charged for that term.
Who may apply
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree. If it is not in computer science, applicants must have sufficient background in computer programming as well as data structures and algorithms. The recommended undergraduate GPA for applicants applying to the Professional Master's program is a 3.2/4.0 or higher.
To earn the accredited degree, you must be admitted as a degree-seeking student through the Graduate College at the University of Illinois. However, you may begin taking courses and Specializations on Coursera at any time, including prior to admission into the program.
Click here to request more information
Sit in on a Degree Course
You don’t have to wait to get started towards your MCS degree — you can try out an open course online and begin learning today. If you later apply and are admitted to the degree program, your assignments completed in open courses can count toward completion of degree courses.
Take one of these open courses or Specializations to learn from Illinois MCS degree instructors and complete assignments that give you a head start on degree courses.
The program is offered in partnership with the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and the Department of Statistics. Students receive lectures through Coursera’s massive open online course (MOOC) platform. MCS-DS students are assessed by Illinois faculty and teaching assistants on their assignments, projects, and exams. Registered students receive university course credits and transcripts.
The MCS-DS is offered by CS @ ILLINOIS, a U.S. News & World Report top five CS graduate program, in collaboration with the University’s Statistics Department and top-ranked iSchool.
AT A GLANCE
- Provider: University of Illinois
- Platform: Coursera
- Cost: $21,440
- Length: 12 - 36 months (Each course requires 10 - 12 hours per week, depending on the student’s background)
- Credits: 32 credit hours (8 courses)
- Format: Completely online
- Link to Degree Page: Master of Computer Science in Data Science | Coursera | Coursera
The Master of Computer Science in Data Science (MCS-DS) leads the MCS degree through a focus on core competencies in machine learning, data mining, data visualization, and cloud computing, It also includes interdisciplinary data science courses, offered in cooperation with the Department of Statistics and the School of Information Science.
If you select the Data Science track, your courses and projects will focus on:
- Machine Learning: Coursework focusing on tool-oriented and problem-directed approaches to machine learning with applications in computer vision, natural language processing, geopositioning, and voice & music.
- Data Visualization: Coursework designed to show you how to create effective and understandable data presentations. Learn database visualization tools like Tableau. Use D3.js to develop reactive web pages for narrative data storytelling.
- Data Mining: This course shows you how to discover patterns in structured data. You’ll also learn to retrieve information from unstructured data sources, such as natural language text.
- Cloud Computing: Coursework on the cloud computing technology, infrastructure and application development that is essential for supporting the discovery and extraction of knowledge from big data.
Professionals who want to use big data to understand the world, discover new insights, and optimize their decision-making will find value in the MCS-DS program. Analyzing the rising tide of data has become important to a wide range of fields, including the humanities, medicine, and business, as well as engineering and the sciences. Students will gain a strong foundation that will enable them to bring data science to bear on these areas. The program is designed so that students can complete it at their own pace as they balance their personal and professional commitments. Most students complete the degree in less than three years, though it can be completed in as little as one year or, if needed, as many as five years.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition: $670 per credit hour, for a total of $21,440 for the complete 32 credit hour degree.
ProctorU fees: Most courses require one or more exams. Exams are proctored online through ProctorU and are billed directly to the student when an exam is scheduled, at $8.75 (30-min. exam), $14.75 (1-hr. exam), $21.50 (90-min. and 2-hour exam), or $30.25 (3-hour exam).
Cloud Computing Service fees (e.g., Amazon Web Services): Vary, depending on the course. We often offer free credits for students as part of the class.
For the entire degree, you won’t be billed upfront. Instead, you’ll pay as you go. Every time you take a course, you’ll pay tuition for that course only. If you need to pause your coursework for a term due to work, family, or other responsibilities, you won’t be charged for that term.
Who may apply
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree. If it is not in computer science, applicants must have sufficient background in computer programming as well as data structures and algorithms. The recommended undergraduate GPA for applicants applying to the Professional Master's program is a 3.2/4.0 or higher.
To earn the accredited degree, you must be admitted as a degree-seeking student through the Graduate College at the University of Illinois. However, you may begin taking courses and Specializations on Coursera at any time, including prior to admission into the program.
Click here to request more information
Sit in on a Degree Course
You don’t have to wait to get started towards your MCS degree — you can try out an open course online and begin learning today. If you later apply and are admitted to the degree program, your assignments completed in open courses can count toward completion of degree courses.
Take one of these open courses or Specializations to learn from Illinois MCS degree instructors and complete assignments that give you a head start on degree courses.
- Cloud Computing Specialization
- Cloud Computing Concepts, Part 1
- Data Mining Specialization
- Data Visualization