The academic objective of the collaborative master’s in Data Science is to provide training in the analysis of Big Data in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary setting, and thereby to provide the skills necessary to undertake a piece of original research. Data Science, or Big Data, is a rapidly growing field without clear boundaries. Although many of the technical foundations arise from Mathematics and Computer Science, data science is often performed in collaborations spanning many disciplines to bring together the needed proficiencies and expertise. As such, the area is fundamentally both multi- and interdisciplinary. Industry has identified Big Data as a main thrust for growth in future business.

The Data Science collaborative master’s is thus multidisciplinary. It will include students and faculty from a variety of disciplines. More importantly, however, the new program will be at its core interdisciplinary and collaborative in that data science research involves new scholarly tools and databases which greatly facilitate dialogue, collaboration and translation between traditionally defined disciplines. The collaborative master’s is also interdisciplinary in that students from different disciplines can learn from each other in developing the same substantive core of understanding and expertise.