As public and private organizations are increasingly combining various data sources, including survey data, for the purpose of decision making, the need for professional development in data generation, quality and analysis is on the rise. The online Master of Professional Studies in Survey and Data Science, will provide post-baccalaureate training for individuals interested in broadening their knowledge and understanding of the emerging field of data science, the conduct of sample surveys, practical applications of data analysis and survey methodology, and data management, along with the skills needed to communicate results.
The learning format:
Online: The online environment is convenient for working professionals who cannot easily travel to a traditional campus. Like our Certificate programs, online lectures are prerecorded and accessed on a weekly basis from the course website. At a designated time each week, students will meet online as a class, along with the instructor, to discuss material. All courses require students to have a webcam, headset with a microphone, and have a reliable computer and Internet access.
Schedule of courses: The online program follows the semester calendar. Most courses are intentionally designed to be 1 or 2 credits so that students can more easily fit them into their schedules as well as build on top of introductory courses in a modular way. In the case of a 1-credit course, there are 4 units/weeks; a 2-credit course is 8 units/weeks, and a 3-credit course will run for 12 units/weeks.
International: This program is unique because of its international reach. Courses are shared with our international partners, providing a rich perspective to class discussions.
To achieve the Master of Professional Studies in Survey and Data Science, students must complete 30 credits of coursework from the online courses offered. Of these 30 credits, 19 credits are from core courses and 11 credits are from electives.
Courses of study with 5 areas of focus are offered: 1) Research Question, 2) Data Output/Access, 3) Data Analysis, 4) Data Curation/Storage, and 5) Data Generating Process. From each area, students must complete a designated number of credits (noted in the 3rd row of the table below) that comprise the 19 core credits for the degree. The courses that fall under two categories can be counted toward the minimum credits required in either of those categories. For example, SURV627 falls under both areas 3 and 5 and thus can counted toward either area 3 or area 5.
The first course a student should take is SURV400: Fundamentals of Survey and Data Science. It is the only required course for the MPS degree program. This course will provide a broad overview for the rest of the material but also serves as a prerequisite for many of the other courses.
All online courses are listed in the table below. See the "Course Offerings" section of our website for course descriptions and syllabi.
Please apply through the Graduate School at the University of Maryland. (https://www.gradschool.umd.edu/). Under the list of all programs, scroll to find "Survey and Data Science" which is the MPDS online degree. This page will provide information about the application procedure.
MPDS program is 30 credits. Course credits are charged at a flat rate of $1187 per credit (JPSM flat rate before Fall 2024 was $1142).
An example of tuition and fees if the MPDS is followed during the course of 2 years:
| Semester | Course Credits | Tuition | Fees | Totals |
| Application | $0 | $75 | $75.00 | |
| Fall 1 | 6 | $7,122 | $0 | $7,122.00 |
| Spring 1 | 6 | $7,122 | $0 | $7,122.00 |
| Summer 1 | 3 | $7,122 | $96 | $3,657.00 |
| Fall 2 | 6 | $7,122 | $0 | $7,122.00 |
| Spring 2 | 6 | $7,122 | $0 | $7,122.00 |
| Summer 2 | 3 | $7,122 | $96 | $3,657.00 |
| Totals | 30 | $35,610.00 | $381.00 | $35,802.00 |
Note: These amounts are subject to change as per University of Maryland policies.
