• Students must take an approved online data ethics course, such as the one available at https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-science-ethics.  You should enroll in the “Purchase Course” option in order to receive a certificate.
  • To be reimbursed  for this course, please follow the instructions below.

Submit an online Petty Cash request at Reimbursement Form (office.com), using the following information:

  1. Approver JHED: ssetzer1
  2. Reimbursement amount is likely $49.00 (unfortunately, tax is not reimbursable)
  3. Reason for Request: Required DSM ethics course
  4. Attach receipt as backup documentation. If there is no place to attach the receipt, please email it to [email protected].
  5. You will receive an email once the reimbursement is approved and will have 60 days to pick up the check from the Petty Cash Office in Wyman Building Room G36A. Be sure to bring picture ID.

The following courses are mandated by the Whiting School of Engineering for all graduate students:

Graduate students being paid by certain U.S. government agencies are required to take the in-person version of the Responsible Conduct of Research training.  Please see the WSE RCR website for more information.  It is YOUR responsibility to ensure you take the proper course.  Failure to do so could affect your ability to graduate.

  • Students who enroll Fall 2023 or later are not required to take seminar, however, we strongly encouraged you to do so.

  • Beginning Fall 2021, all foreign students for whom English is not the first language, will be required to undergo assessment, and possible placement in one or more professional communication courses to help with grammar, pronunciation and idiomatic expression.  More information about ESL courses, can be found on the Center for Leadership Education website.

Minimum Grade Requirements:  A course grade of B- or higher is required to meet all course requirements. A grade of C or C+ is permitted in one course which can be used towards program requirements.

Academic probation: 

  • Any student receiving one grade of C- or below will be placed on probation.
  • A grade of C or C+ is permitted in one course which can be used towards program requirements. This grade of C/C+ will not trigger probation. If the student receives 2 additional C/C+ grades, the student will be placed on academic probation.
  • While on probation, student must earn a B- or higher in all courses. An additional C-/C/C+ grade may result in dismissal.
  • If student earns a B- or above in all courses during the probationary semester, probation will be lifted.

(*) Students should be aware that, if a course is retaken, the original grade will remain on the academic transcript and will be included in any GPA calculation.

  • Retake policy: Students are allowed to retake a course only once (per course), upon agreement of both the student’s advisor and the course instructor.

Data Science students are encouraged to complete the Electronic Program Plan form early in their first semester and meet with their advisor each semester to discuss progress and changes to the proposed plan.

  • Each semester, students will be required to review, update and submit their program plan before any advisor hold will be removed from their SIS account allowing them to register for courses.
  • Students will be required to submit their final program plan, with any changes and posted grades prior to degree conferral.

  • Should I wait for my advisor to contact me or should I contact him or her?
    It is up to the student to reach out to their advisors and ask for advice for course selection and other matters. Advisors are, in general, responsive to emails, but it is okay to nudge them if no answer was received after a few days. 
  • Are all courses listed in the program available every semester?
    Not necessarily. Students should carefully review the recent history of the classes they are interested in by running a class search on SIS. Students must also be aware that, while classes having been offered in past semesters is often a good indication of their future availability, this is not a guarantee, since changes may occur in departmental programs. It is therefore important to allow some flexibility in course planning.
  • Am I guaranteed to be able to register to any course I am interested in?
    The AMS department reserves seats in data science classes for Data Science Master’s students, and several courses in the Computer Science Department are restricted to graduate students in Computer Science and Data Science. However, for all courses, the number of enrolled students is limited by logistic considerations, such as classroom size and number of available TAs. Data science courses are in high demand, and students may be placed on a wait list (without guarantee to be ultimately able to enroll), especially if they register several days after the opening date.
  • What are my recourses if I am placed on a wait list?
    They are unfortunately limited, but it is always possible to petition the course instructor for admission, especially if this course is the only path to graduation. Adding a student from the wait list to a course is the sole decision of the instructor. In particular, the student’s academic advisor, or the master’s academic staff will not be able to provide much help in this matter. Again, it is important to make sure that the course plan over the typical three semesters of the program includes alternate options in case such a situation occurs.
  • When should I start contacting faculty for the capstone experience?
    The best time should be during the second semester in the program, with a goal to start working on the capstone at or before the beginning of the third semester. It is up to students to reach out to faculty for this purpose. Note that students should not register to 553.806 until their capstone proposal has been accepted.

Other Data Science Program Links: