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Combined Degree: Computer Science, B.S. and Data Science and Analytics, M.S.
Grand Valley State University combined degree programs offer students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree, meeting their unique personal, academic, and career goals. Pursuing a combined degree program can reduce the cost and total time required to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree.
Visit the program website for more information.
Listen to Podcast
Source: EMSI, 2020
Program Overview
The computer science major provides students with the intellectual foundations and experiences necessary to succeed professionally in the computing and information technology field. The data science and analytics degree provides students with the fundamental analytics background necessary to work with big and complex data sets in any discipline.
This combined degree has applications to health, social, political, and environmental issues as science and technology disciplines. It provides training in key technical areas while also developing business and communication skills.
Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the program and obtain both the B.S. in computer science and M.S. in data science and analytics within the accelerated time frame. Students apply directly to the School of Computing and Information Systems during their second academic year. Application requirements include:
- Overall GPA of 3.25 or greater
- Admission to the undergraduate program
- 60 hours of academic credit completed or in progress
- Two letters of recommendation
- Academic transcripts
- Letter of intent
Why Pursue a Combined Degree at Grand Valley?
- The number of job postings for data science grew 57 percent for the first quarter of 2017. Data-related jobs are expected to grow by 11 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- This program is designed with the working professional in mind, and offers classes in the evening.
- The program includes field experiences and collaborative assignments and projects.
- Passionate practitioners with years of experience in the field.
- The degree has a strong emphasis in the fundamentals of data science.
- Accelerate your career trajectory and complete your degrees one step ahead of the competition.
Location & Format
All undergraduate students begin their academic career at Grand
Valley's Allendale
Campus; classes for graduate students in this major meet downtown on
the Robert C. Pew Grand
Rapids Campus.
- Face To Face
Coursework
Students admitted to this program will count up to 12 credits of graduate work in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree, and may count towards both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Students are encouraged to meet with their graduate program director to ensure all requirements are met.
Career Options
Students will go on to have successful careers in:
- Finance and insurance
- Knowledge storage and retrieval
- Marketing
- National security
- Political science and polling
- Public transportation and safety
- Science and analytics
- Social media analytics
Skills Employers Want
The M.S. in Data Science and Analytics at GVSU will develop the skills you need to land the job you want. Whether the skills are advanced or general, you will build a resume of qualifications that are sure to attract employers. The following skills correlate with those pulled from actual data science job postings.
- SQL Programming
- Business Intelligence
- Strategic Planning
- Project Management
- Agile Software Development
- Dashboard
- Business Analytics
- Data Management
- Big Data
Source: EMSI 2020
Helpful Links
For More Information
School of Computing and Information SystemsJerry Scripps, Ph.D., Program Director
C-2-100 Mackinac
Hall
(616) 331-2060
scrippsj@gvsu.edu
cis.gvsu.edu