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Majors & Degrees

DSU announces collaborative master’s degree in analytics

April 7, 2014

Dakota State University was recently approved by the SD Board of Regents to offer a master’s degree in analytics both online and on campus. The degree is part of a collaborative effort between DSU and South Dakota State University to fill the need for graduates in information technology, analytics, and data-driven decision making.

DSU will offer the Master of Science in analytics which capitalizes on DSU’s strengths in information systems, computer science and information technology. SDSU will offer the Master of Science in data science and use SDSU’s strengths in statistics and computational science. With the two fields interrelated, these programs will meet the growing regional and national needs for a skilled workforce by leveraging the established expertise at each institution.

Both of the programs share core courses in analytics, data science and supporting technologies with each University teaching three of the six core courses. From there, each degree program allows students to specialize with a distinct set of courses which tailor the degree toward specific career goals. The DSU analytics program emphasizes information systems and technology foundations. Students also have the option to complete one of the elective course “tracks” including information systems, healthcare analytics or a general business-focused track.

The joint effort between the Universities gives students the benefit of being taught by experts from each institution, giving them a broader understanding of analytics and data science. Grads of the program will be better equipped to enter into one of the fastest growing occupations in the nation. More and more businesses are looking to what “analytics and big data” can do for them and how they can use these large data sets to make better business decisions.

Dakota State also plans to have a new doctoral degree in cyber security starting in the fall. The program will be the second doctorate degree offered by DSU.