Data Science, PhD

Students completing the Ph.D. in Data Science will demonstrate competency in the core concepts and techniques of data science, which come from both computer science and statistics. At BGSU, students will develop appropriate techniques to analyze structured, unstructured, or dynamic datasets, understand the principles of analytical methods, and articulate the strengths and limitations of analytical methods. Students will learn the skills needed to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences. The program is designed to identify and respond to ethical concerns with the provenance and use of data while developing new techniques for the analysis of complex datasets.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the doctoral degree, students in the Data Science program are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate competency in the core concepts and techniques of data science, which come from both computer science and statistics.
• Demonstrate the ability to use or develop appropriate techniques to analyze structured, unstructured, or dynamic datasets.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles that underlie analytical methods, to articulate the strengths and limitations of analytical methods, and to defend choices to use some methods over others.
• Demonstrate the ability communicate effectively to technical and non-technical audiences orally, in writing, and with effective visualization.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and respond to ethical concerns with the provenance and use of data.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop new techniques for the analysis of complex datasets or real-time modeling and decision-making, or extend existing techniques to novel and challenging datasets.
• Demonstrate the ability to organize data using tools appropriate to the problem, code new techniques in the appropriate computer language, optimize for performance and scalability, and distribute new tools to the data science community in a usable form.

Admission Requirements

Master’s degree in Science in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a closely related field is preferred. Those admitted without sufficient background may be asked to complete the MS in Data Science program first. 

Additional Documents required:

• Submit scores  from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) 
• Three Letters of Recommendation  from faculty or professionals who know you well
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements