Analytics and Data Science, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Website: https://datascience.kennesaw.edu/degrees-programs/index.php

Phone: (470) 578-2865

Email: DataSciencePhD@kennesaw.edu

Program Description

Kennesaw State University’s Ph.D. with a major in Analytics and Data Science is an advanced degree, which trains individuals to translate large, structured and unstructured, complex data into information to improve decision-making, and become independent researchers. This highly interdisciplinary curriculum includes heavy emphasis on programming, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data mining, statistical modeling, and the mathematical foundations to support these concepts. The program also emphasizes communication skills, data ethics, and application of results to business and research problems. Graduates can pursue a position in the private or public sector as a “practicing” Data Scientist or a position within academia, where they are uniquely qualified to teach the next generation of data scientists.

Admission Requirements

The following are requirements beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements

Online Graduate Application
Transcripts - Official transcripts from EACH College and/or University you have attended. Must be in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically from the institution directly to Graduate Admissions.
GRE Score Report - Minimum Quantitative score is 160. Preferred Analytical Writing Score of 3.5.
Resume or CV
Statement of Intent describing how this degree facilitates your career goals.
Three Letters of Recommendation 
- At least one must be from an academic source.
- At least one must be from a source outside of the academic community. 
Successful completion of Math courses through Calculus II
Proficiency in at least one analytical programming language (e.g., Python, SAS, R).

Admission Criteria for Unique Cases

Currently, there are no exceptions to the admission requirements.

Transfer Credit

No credit from outside institutions is accepted for this degree program.

Petition to Graduate

Each candidate must petition to graduate online. For more information, please view the corresponding section of Academic Policies .

Program of Study

Required Core (24 credits)

Electives and Concentration (21 hours)

Students can take any 8000 or 9000 level course in DS, STAT, MATH, CS, or IT (other disciplines by permission of the director).

Compter Science Concentration

Students interested in pursuing a concentration in Computer Science must take at least five of their seven electives from the following courses (minimum 15 credit hours):

Research (33 hours)

Students will take a minimum of 15 hours of DS 9900 in order to graduate. This course should only be taken by students who have already completed comprehensive exams or with permission of the program coordinator.