The Data Science Boom: How UC San Diego is Preparing Professionals for the Future

Article Content

As data-driven decision-making and artificial intelligence (AI) become essential across virtually all industries to stay competitive, the demand for skilled data science professionals is skyrocketing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 42% job growth in the field between 2023 and 2033. As AI and data science reshape the workforce, professionals with expertise in this field are more valuable than ever.

UC San Diego’s online Master of Data Science (MDS) program is stepping up to meet this need by offering flexible learning options for working professionals, career changers, military personnel and student athletes in the growing field of data science. Part of the School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences (SCIDS) at UC San Diego, the program is offered in cooperation with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering. This offering complements the school’s suite of master’s programs, which includes a fully residential Master of Science in Data Science and a weekend professional Master of Advanced Studies in Data Science and Engineering. 

Launched in 2022 and relative to other such programs, the online MDS program has a significantly higher enrollment of women and students from nontraditional backgrounds. This reality emphasizes the school’s commitment to expanding the reach of its program, making a UC San Diego education accessible to anyone, no matter who they are or where they live.

“By leveraging the flexibility of innovative online learning, we are making learning needs in AI and Data Science accessible to current and prospective students and in a manner that works best for individual circumstances,” said SCIDS Interim Dean Rajesh Gupta, also the founding director of HDSI.

The program’s flexibility is what draws students in. For military service members and student-athletes, the ability to pursue a degree from anywhere in the world is critical, especially for students with limited time due to their profession and commitments. Mitchell Farrington, an operations analyst (15A) with the U.S. Air Force and a second lieutenant based at Randolph AFB in Texas, is a first-quarter student in the online MDS program. However, Farrington is not new to the UC San Diego community. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics and his master's in public policy from the university. For Farrington, the decision to enroll in UC San Diego’s online program was based on two key factors: standards and flexibility.

“I’m on full-time active duty, so my time is quite limited. The in-person options in San Antonio didn’t meet the standards and flexibility I was hoping for,” Farrington said. “I chose UC San Diego because, as an alumnus, I know the university has very high academic standards that I deeply value.”

That flexibility is what makes the program manageable for professionals like Farrington.

“Taking only two courses at a time, with all lectures immediately available, makes this program much more reasonable given work obligations,” Farrington said.

The 18-month program provides an introduction to data science so those without a computer science background can thrive and includes courses taught by national and international experts, scientists and researchers. The program also provides the academic rigor and depth that meet the excellence in standards and expectations for which UC San Diego has been academically recognized.

Julia Haynes, a San Diego County native and tennis standout for the Tritons, gained national recognition as the first UC San Diego player to earn a national ranking since the university transitioned to Division I. Haynes received her undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Columbia University and is currently a graduate student in the MDS program. She hopes to become a professor. Haynes underscored the program's flexibility and quality over traditional settings.

“I often had to miss many classes due to travel. Without recorded lectures, it was difficult to make up what was missed. Now, with the asynchronous format, I do not have to miss anything due to practice or matches. Also, because of the online nature of the program, the lectures are very high quality. In my undergraduate years, even if a class was recorded, it was difficult to see the board or hear the professor. Now, I can watch high-quality videos and pause or rewind anytime. I can understand lectures better than I would in a traditional setting,” Haynes explained.

Beyond coursework, Haynes has also been moved by the program’s academic resources and advisors.

“There are many resources in this program, such as various advising resources. There is a program advisor, and a library resources advisor. I was surprised and excited to learn that there is a resource to help students with publishing papers, which I plan on eventually utilizing, as I am in the process of publishing a paper,” she said.

Currently, 152 students are enrolled in the MDS program. Alumni pursue careers as data scientists, data engineers and data analysts, across various industries and functional domains, for companies such as Amazon, Dexcom, SDG&E, Sony and more.
For more information about the online MDS program, its offerings and to apply, visit the website.

Learn more about research and education at UC San Diego in: Artificial Intelligence