Master of Applied Data Science MADS

at University of Canterbury

The degree will comprise a minimum of 180 points as follows:
 

• up to three Foundation Courses

• four courses from advanced data science competencies

• remaining courses from relevant elective options

• DATA601 Applied Data Science Project (45 points).

You can study this qualification full-time in a minimum of 1 year, and part-time in a maximum of 3 years.
 

The courses are:
 

• DATA401 Statistics

• COSC480 Computer Programming

• MBIS623 Data Management

Advanced Data Science Competencies
 

All students take the following courses (unless the Programme Director approves a substitution).

You will enrol in DIGI405 and STAT462 before enrolling in DATA420 and STAT448:
 

• DIGI405 Texts, Discourses and Data: the Humanities and Data Science

• STAT462 Data Mining

• DATA420 Scalable Data Science

• STAT448 Big Data

Compulsory course
 

DATA601 Applied Data Science Project (45 points)

This compulsory project involves working in a team to solve real-world data science problems.
 

Elective courses
 

The remaining courses will be any relevant 400 or 600-level courses in: Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Digital Humanities, Economics, Environmental Science, Finance, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Statistics. Or in any other relevant subject as approved by the Programme Director and the relevant Head of Department.
 

Some examples of elective courses students have enrolled in recently include:
 

• COSC421 Advanced Topics in Security

• COSC424 Secure Software

• COSC428 Computer Vision

• DATA415 Computational Social Choice

• DATA416 Contemporary Issues in Data Science

• DATA417 The Trustworthy Data Scientist

• DATA419 Online Communities and Social Networks

• DATA422 Data Wrangling

• DATA423 Data Science in Industry

• DATA424 Information is Beautiful

• DATA425 Foundations of Deep Learning

• DATA430 Medical Data Informatics

• BIOL459 Genomics

• GISC404 Spatial Analysis

• GISC412 Spatial Data Science

• GISC422 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems

• HLTH462 Quantitative Health Methods

• INFO620 Information Systems Management

• INFO634 Data Analytics and Business Intelligence

• POLS443 Science, Technology and Environmental Policy

• STAT446 Generalised Linear Models

• STAT447 Official Statistics

• STAT450 Advanced Statistical Modelling

• STAT455 Data Collection and Sampling Methods

• STAT456 Time Series and Stochastic Processes

• STAT463 Multivariate Statistical Methods

Potential students can come from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. You will need a B Grade Point Average in 300-level bachelor's degree courses, or have evidence of achievement at postgraduate level.
 

English language requirements for postgraduate qualifications
 

If you want to study towards a postgraduate qualification, eg a Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, or PhD you must have one of the following:
 

FEES (NZD) $47,700

According to industry experts, data scientists know what the technology can offer, what analytics are possible, and can communicate on all those aspects to the wider business. This applies no matter the field or sector, as data and analytics have become so important and integral to organisational decision making. Graduates will be ready to work in a range of industries including: government, corporates, the IT sector, market research and finance, agriculture, and transport.
 

Aotearoa New Zealand and other countries are currently experiencing a skills shortage in this area, and the need for data-savvy professionals with applied experience is growing.
 

An Applied Data Science graduate's skills will include:

• advanced knowledge in data science

• the ability to use data to inform workplace solutions

• planning and implementing data-informed projects

• working in multidisciplinary teams

• have an understanding of what programming can offer.