Graduate Catalog

Program Structure and Requirements

Overall Program Structure

The MSc CODS program consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours distributed as follows: 12 credit hours of Program Core courses, 9 credit hours of Program Elective courses, 9 credit hours of Master’s Thesis and a zero credit Research Methods course. The components of the program are summarized in the table below.

Program Component Credit Hours
Seminar in Research Methods 0
Program Core 12
Program Electives 9
Master’s Thesis 9
Total 30

Program Requirements

Students seeking the degree of MSc in Computational Data Science must successfully complete a minimum 30 credit hours as specified in the program requirements detailed below, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0. Course selection should be made in consultation with the student’s Main Advisor. All courses have a credit rating of three credits each, except the Seminar in Research Methods and the Master’s Thesis.

Program Core (12 credit hours)

Students must complete the core courses listed below.

Core Courses

ENGR 695Seminar in Research Methods

0

CODS 608Distributed Sys and Cloud Comp

3

CODS 610Model Estimation

3

CODS 620Advanced Statistical Inference

3

CODS 622Data Science with Machine Learning

3

Program Electives and Concentrations (9 credit hours)

Students must select three courses from the list below. Subject to approval of the Main Advisor and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, students can select one elective course (3 credit hours) from the MSc in Computer Science or the MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering programs at KU.

Program Elective Courses

CODS 612Computational Methods and Optimization in Finance

3

CODS 623Health Data Science

3

CODS 624Space-Time Data Science

3

CODS 626
Financial Derivatives and Risk Management

3

CODS 630
Advanced Computer Networks

3

CODS 631
Blockchain Fundamentals and Applications

3

CODS 634
Artificial Intelligence

3

CODS 635
Deep Learning Systems Design

3

CODS 636Introduction to High Performance Computing

3

CODS 637
GPU Programming

3

CODS 640
Financial Cyber Security

3

CODS 641Natural Language Proc. & Info. Retrieval

3

CODS 642
Database Systems Concepts and Design

3

CODS 643
Mobile and Pervasive Computing

3

CODS 644
Data Science for Business Applications

3

CODS 645
Financial Machine Learning

3

CODS 650
Data Processing and Visualization

3

CODS 694
Selected Topics in Computational Data Science

3

Concentration in Computational Systems

The MSc CODS program offers an optional concentration in Computational Systems. Students choosing this concentration are expected to attain the following concentration specific learning outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate proficiency in analysis and design of major aspects of computational systems for data science applications.

In addition to program specific core courses, students who opt for the concentration in Computational Systems must complete a minimum of three courses (9 credit hours) from the list below and a thesis within the domain of the concentration. The concentration will be specified on the student’s official transcript.

Concentration Courses

CODS 630
Advanced Computer Networks

3

CODS 631
Blockchain Fundamentals and Applications

3

CODS 635
Deep Learning Systems Design

3

CODS 636Introduction to High Performance Computing

3

CODS 637
GPU Programming

3

CODS 642
Database Systems Concepts and Design

3

CODS 643
Mobile and Pervasive Computing

3

Concentration in Data Analytics

The MSc CODS program offers an optional concentration in Data Analytics. Students choosing this concentration are expected to attain the following concentration specific learning outcomes:

  1. Apply advanced data analytic techniques to a range of application domains.

In addition to program specific core courses, students who opt for the concentration in Data Analytics must complete a minimum of three courses (9 credit hours) from the list below and a thesis within the domain of the concentration. The concentration will be specified on the student’s official transcript.

Concentration Courses

CODS 623Health Data Science

3

CODS 624Space-Time Data Science

3

CODS 635
Deep Learning Systems Design

3

CODS 640
Financial Cyber Security

3

CODS 641Natural Language Proc. & Info. Retrieval

3

CODS 644
Data Science for Business Applications

3

CODS 645
Financial Machine Learning

3

CODS 650
Data Processing and Visualization

3

Master’s Thesis (minimum 9 credit hours)

Students must complete a Master’s Thesis that involves creative, research-oriented work within the field of computational data science, under direct supervision of a faculty advisor from the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department or the Mathematics Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as a co-advisor. The outcome of research should demonstrate the synthesis of information into knowledge in a form that may be used by others. The research findings must be documented in a formal thesis and defended successfully in a viva voce examination. Furthermore, the research should lead to publishable quality scholarly articles.

Thesis

CODS 699Master's Thesis

9