Curriculum Planning

Before you Begin

Credits for Prior Learning

If you participated in one of our Boot Camp courses, please connect with your Admissions Counselor and provide them with the following:

Resume
Full completed Portfolio should be emailed to applicationservices@datascience.smu.edu
- Must meet requirements (B+ average on homework and projects, capstone project, 90+% attendance)
Letter of recommendation from bootcamp instructor
Transcripts from any college/uni with 12+ credits

Transfer Credits

If you previously completed Master's level credit towards a Data Science degree at another Institution, please connect with your Admissions Counselor and provide them with the following:

Syllabus for completed course
Grades for completed course (transcript with final course grade)

Course Substitution

You may be eligible to substitute the DS7330 File Organization and Database Management course based on your work experience. If you feel your work experience could satisfy the requirements for this course, please schedule a meeting with your Student Success Advisor to explore the possibility of enrolling in an elective instead.

After meeting with your Student Success Advisor, if you decide to move forward with the petition process, complete and submit this substitute form to your Admissions Counselor for review.

Plans of Study

There are two plans of study for you to choose from: 5-term or 6-term. You are not required to maintain the same track throughout the program and can adjust your course load for each term - as needed. If you are coming in with Credits for Prior Learning, please meet with your Student Success Advisor discuss other options that are available to you.

It's estimated that each course requires an average of 16 hours a week for success. This time is broken into various course requirements:
- 90 minute weekly live class with course attendance via Zoom
- Asynchronous videos created by SMU faculty with pertinent course curriculum
- Projects, papers, exams, and group work

Here you'll find the list of all the courses and when they are offered.

If you have questions or would like to adjust your plan of study, please contact the DataScience@SMU Student Success team: studentsupport@datascience.smu.edu OR 844.768.5637.

Below are sample course schedules

Technology Requirements

My.SMU is the where students access adminstrative functions as part of your online program. Here you can access your Financial portal for bill payments, view your unofficial transcripts, apply for graduation, register for courses, view course information to include schedule, and course descriptions, as well as other functions pertinent to your Program requirements.
The Digital Campus is where students "step foot" inside their course itself. Here you can access your 90 minute live weekly class, communicate with your Professor and fellow classmates, review prior live course recordings, submit assignments, and take exams.
Download the app to access the Digital Campus on your mobile device. The Degrees with edX Mobile App will allow you to download and store course module videos, text and documents on your mobile device. When you have an internet connection, you will be able to download content and then view it at any time, whether or not you have an internet connection. Any progress you make while in offline mode will sync and update the next time you are online. Note: You will not be able to take quizzes, submit assignments or respond to discussions while using the Degrees with edX app.
- - App Name: Degrees with edX
  - Apple Store
  - Google Play Store
Zoom is the platform embedded into your Digital Campus, in which you will attend your weekly live class. You will receive a Zoom account via SMU, this is the account you will use to attend your live sessions and work with fellow students on various projects throughout the program.
SMU email address is assigned to each student once they deposit. This will be the sole source of communication between you and the school to include your professor, student success advisor, fellow classmates, and official school correspondence. It is an Outlook application and is available via Microsoft 365.
- Microsoft 365 is available to all active students at SMU.

Areas of Specialization

Master the machine learning techniques needed to build self-optimizing systems and provide solutions to problems or processes in any organization. Learn more about the Machine Learning Specialization.

Master the analytical tools required to synthesize qualitative data and effectively communicate results to key stakeholders to inform strategic decision-making. Learn more about the Business Analytics Specialization.

Immersion

The immersion is designed to offer additional learning, networking and relationship-building opportunities. Taking place on the SMU campus in Texas, the immersion is a two-day experience (Friday and Saturday). Students will have the chance to meet in person with classmates, faculty, industry leaders, and employers for hands-on workshops, panels, lectures and informational sessions. Students are required to attend the immersion in their first term in the program, and will then return for another to present capstone projects.

Immersion DOs:

Submit your survey with dietary and rooming needs on time
Read the posted draft agenda and review the maps and instructions provided
Take the day off so you don’t have work distractions on Friday
Bring your laptop for the Saturday activity
Wear comfortable shoes for walking around campus
Network with capstone students and speakers at every break opportunity
Make plans to connect socially with your immersion cohort after the formal activities end
Bring an umbrella, sunscreen, jacket or any other weather appropriate accessory for walking across campus
Choose a buddy to help you get around / know where you are

Immersion DONTs:

Be late or skip any sessions – points will be deducted from your attendance grade
Fail to report your allergies and dietary restrictions or eat other peoples “special food”
Bring guests with you to any official parts of the agenda
Take calls or meetings during the event days
Stay out so late/ party so hard on Friday night that you can’t participate well on Saturday

Capstone

Capstone is a 2-part course that is taken in your final two terms of the program. Students will spend the first of two consecutive terms working on a collaborative group project that consists of 2 partners. Students will develop and work on their projects under faculty supervision. Students will spend the second of two consecutive terms working to complete their project and present on campus as well as submitting a final project paper. Students are eligible to enroll in the Capstone course once they have earned over 19.5 credit hours.

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