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The Accelerated Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) at Northwestern University – School of Professional Studies (SPS) is a rigorous, full-time, STEM-designated program designed to fast-track careers in data science. Ideal for recent graduates and early-career professionals, this intensive 12-month program delivers a comprehensive education in statistical analysis, machine learning, data engineering, and business-focused applications.
Leveraging Northwestern’s academic excellence and its location in the Chicago tech and finance corridor, the program blends theoretical depth with real-world relevance. Students graduate equipped to lead in data-intensive roles across industry, government, healthcare, and research.
Program Format & Duration
Full-time cohort program completed in 12 months
On-campus, in-person learning experience in Evanston, Illinois
Fall start only; structured quarterly schedule
Includes capstone project and career development support
Core Curriculum Components
The Accelerated MSDS program consists of 12 courses (48 graduate credits) across foundational, technical, and domain-specific areas.
Core Data Science Foundations
MSDS 401-DL: Introduction to Data Science
MSDS 402-DL: Math for Data Scientists
MSDS 403-DL: Statistics for Data Science
MSDS 420-DL: Database Systems & Data Preparation
MSDS 422-DL: Practical Machine Learning
MSDS 460-DL: Decision Analytics
Programming & Technology
MSDS 430-DL: Python for Data Science
MSDS 432-DL: Data Engineering and Data Warehousing
MSDS 453-DL: Big Data and Cloud Computing
MSDS 474-DL: Deep Learning or NLP (Elective)
Capstone & Integration
MSDS 498-DL: Capstone Project
Students apply data science methods to a real-world problem in a team or individual setting. Projects may be industry-sponsored or faculty-mentored research challenges.
Ethics & Communication
MSDS 485-DL: Data Governance, Ethics, and Law
Emphasis on ethical AI, data privacy, and responsible innovation
The Northwestern Accelerated MSDS program is designed for hands-on, real-world experience, focusing on building deployable skills and career-ready portfolios.
Capstone Project
In the final quarter, students complete a comprehensive data science capstone where they:
Scope a data-centric problem
Clean and engineer datasets
Build predictive models or optimization solutions
Visualize results and communicate outcomes to stakeholders
Capstones often simulate the demands of a data science role in a business or research setting.
Applied Coursework
Throughout the year, students work on:
Case studies and business analytics challenges
Applied machine learning using real-world datasets
Data pipeline development and cloud integration
Visualization dashboards and storytelling for executive decision-making
Tools & Platforms
Students gain technical fluency in:
Python, R, SQL
Hadoop, Spark, AWS, GCP, Azure
Docker, Airflow, Git
TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn
Power BI, Tableau, D3.js
Career Support
Northwestern SPS offers:
Resume and portfolio development
Technical interview workshops
Data science career panels and employer networking
Optional career coaching and job search resources
Students also benefit from access to Northwestern's broader career network and alumni connections in tech, consulting, and finance.
Graduates of Northwestern’s Accelerated MSDS are known for their technical strength, business alignment, and deployment-ready capabilities. The program prepares students to immediately contribute in data-intensive roles across sectors.
Career Outcomes
Hiring Industries
Graduate Study Options
While the MSDS is a terminal degree, some students pursue:
Salary Overview-
Top Employers-
Geographic Placement-
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What This Means for You-
Bachelor’s Degree: Hold an accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent foreign degree.Official Transcripts (U.S.) / Course-by-Course Evaluation (International): Upload official transcripts from U.S. institutions or a NACES course-by-course evaluation including language-of-instruction info for non‑U.S. degrees.Statement of Purpose: Submit a 300–550 word statement describing how the program aligns with your academic and professional goals. Resume/CV: Include a professional resume detailing education, skills, and relevant experience.Letters of Recommendation: Provide two (N/A–Accelerated) or unspecified quantity (standard), contact portal will request recommenders. Application Fee: Pay a non-refundable $75 fee.English Proficiency: Submit TOEFL iBT ≥ 100 or IELTS ≥ 7, or meet equivalency via English-taught transcript or evaluation.Deadlines (Accelerated Full‑Time Program): Applications for fall must be submitted by December 1, with admission only for fall starts.Three Year Degree: Northwestern SPS’s Accelerated M.S. in Data Science requires a U.S.-equivalent bachelor’s degree, and international applicants with a three-year degree must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation showing that their degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s explicitly required—Northwestern mandates this step for eligibility.WES: A WES or other NACES-approved course-by-course evaluation is required, not optional—transcript evaluations must indicate U.S. degree equivalence and include language-of-instruction details. Data AnalystData ScientistBusiness AnalystStatisticianStatistical ProgrammerSAS ProgrammerMachine Learning EngineerDeep Learning EngineerAI ResearcherData EngineerBI DeveloperData ArchitectAnalytics ConsultantAdvisory ConsultantQuantitative AnalystRisk AnalystOperations AnalystMarketing AnalystResearch ScientistInsights AnalystForecasting AnalystHealthcare Data AnalystFinancial Data AnalystProduct Analyst
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