DSE MS Curricula

Data Science and Engineering Master of Science Curricula

• MS Data Science and Engineering with Thesis Option

• MS Data Science and Engineering with Coursework-Only Option

The Master of Science in Data Science and Engineering (MSDSE) consists of 30 credits.

Although copied below, the official degree requirements may be found in the Graduate Catalog (select current year catalog and then Graduate Programs, Certificates and Specializations > Data Science and Engineering). The MSDSE (coursework option) is offered wholly on-campus as well as entirely online.

MS Data Science and Engineering with Thesis Option

The candidate must complete 30 credits consisting of:

(a) Required Courses:

DSE 510 Practicum in Data Science and Engineering (3cr),
SIE 501 Introduction to Graduate Research (1cr),
SIE 502 Research Methods (1cr), and
INT 601 Responsible Conduct of Research (1cr)

(b) One, two, or all three of the Foundation Courses unless the material has been covered in previous coursework and the course(s) are explicitly waived by the current instructor and the graduate coordinator,

(d) 6 credits of thesis

(e) further course credits from within the Foundation Courses, Theme Areas, or Domain Specializations to arrive at the total of 30 credits.

MS Data Science and Engineering with Coursework-Only Option

The candidate must complete 30 credits consisting of:

(a) Required Course: DSE 510 Practicum in Data Science and Engineering (3cr)

(d) It is recommended that at least one course includes a substantial practical experience. Options include DSE 589 Graduate Project, DSE 590 Information Systems Internship, or a course from an approved list.

(e) further course credits from within the Foundation Courses, Theme Areas, or Domain Specializations to arrive at the total of 30 credits

Advising Notes

(1) Online Curricula – For coursework-only options that may be completed entirely online, see the sample DSE O nline Model Curriculum

(2) Course Waivers – If some required courses are duplicative of courses that may have been taken in the student’s undergraduate degree program, those courses need not be repeated, and the student will select in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the DSE Graduate Coordinator additional approved courses to arrive at the total of 30 credit hours. A course waiver form must be submitted. If waived for a course in a Core Theme area, up to three credits are satisfied in that area and an additional approved course outside of the Core Theme areas may therefore be chosen.

(3) Course Waivers for Foundation Courses – Students are expected to take all three Foundation Courses unless they have waivers for one or more of those courses. Previous coursework within the University of Maine System that automatically supplies a waiver for each of the three foundation course areas is as follows:

Statistics: STS232, STS332, STS434, ECE316, CHB350, CIS370 (UMA)
Programming: Although Python is the programming language most frequently used currently in subsequent courses, any of the following will waive the foundation programming requirement. COS 125, ECE 177, MEE 125, CIE 115, combination of CIS 110 and 120 (UMA), CIS 449 (UMA), CIS 454 (UMA), or SIE507
Systems: COS420, ECE 331 and ECE 473, CIS330 and CIS221 and [CIS244 or CIS246] (UMA)

Other coursework may also meet the waiver requirements and should be applied for using the usual course waiver form. Please attach the course syllabi for the previous coursework when submitting the waiver request.

(4) Courses Pursued on Other UMS Campus – Typically up to two courses taken on other UMS campuses as listed under the DSE Graduate Course Groupings may be accepted on a student Program of Study. If such a course is taken from another campus, it must first be approved on your Program of Study (See Master’s POS or Grad Certificate POS). After approval, you must complete the Domestic Study Away Form (DSAF) for each course taken on another campus. Each DSAF should be submitted near the time in which you enroll in any course from away. Sign it, submit it first to the Graduate Coordinator (harlan.onsrud@maine.edu) and then send the form with those two signatures to the UMaine Graduate School (debbi.clements@maine.edu). The graduate school will forward the form to other campus offices that may need it to validate your active student status, particularly if you are receiving any financial aid.

(5) Transfer Courses – Any course taken at another university that is included for credit on your Program of Study is viewed as a transfer course. This requires approval typically through the Program of Study approval process (see below).

(6) Programs of Study (POS) – If needed for study away courses or for documenting the acceptance of transfer courses, please complete the POS form immediately upon admission. Otherwise, completing the POS after one or two semesters in the program is fine. (See https://umaine.edu/graduate/ > Students> Forms and Documents> Master’s and CAS Program of Study and/or Certificate Program of Study as appropriate.) In completing the form, you may determine the semester in which DSE courses are typically offered by consulting the course tables or, alternatively, see when SIE courses are typically offered by consulting the Graduate Student Guide on pages 11 through 14.

(7) On-Leave Status – If you decide to enroll in no courses for one or more regular academic year semesters, your are required to submit a Request for On-Leave Status. If you fail to submit such a request, you are assumed to have left the program by the Graduate School.

(8) Application for Graduation – As graduation approaches, you should file a Completion of Degree Requirements form with the Graduate School. This often first requires submission of a Change in Program of Study form to ensure that any changes in your POS have been approved by the faculty. (See https://umaine.edu/graduate/students/forms-and-documents/ > Change in Program of Study and/or Completion of Degree Requirements as appropriate.)