Mission

The mission of this program is to address the growing interest for individuals who are well-versed in the latest data analysis techniques. Also, this program is well-suited for a wide audience—ranging from those who are recent graduates to those who are early to mid-career professionals in nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private companies. Graduates will be able to find employment as policy analysts, management analysts, economists, quantitative researchers, data scientists, research associates, operations research analysts, and market research analysts, among others.

Another goal for the program is to train students to be able to step into any situation in which there is a need for rigorous data analysis that can be disseminated across any number of landscapes. This program lies at the intersection between data analysis and public policy, where students will be trained to answer challenging policy-related questions by utilizing a core toolkit built from economics, causal inference, data ethics, data management, data visualization, and behavioral analysis. Students will also be able to receive specialized training in specific policy-content areas including education, health, environmental, and social policy. It is the interdisciplinary nature of this program that sets it apart, where the graduates of this program will be able to conduct many forms of data analysis while also being able to apply those skills to a wide variety of policy-related issues.

Program Timeline

The program can be completed within two years, but students have up to five years to complete the degree requirements. The pace at which you progress is determined by the number of credits you take per semester. Courses are offered in fall, spring, and summer semesters.