MSc in Data Science

GWU’s MSDS program strongly emphasizes real-world applications and interdisciplinary collaboration, especially given its D.C. location and proximity to federal agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.

Capstone Project

• A two-semester, team-based experience working on a client-sourced data problem

• Projects are often sponsored by public agencies, nonprofits, private firms, or GW research centers

• Students address end-to-end data science challenges: data acquisition, preprocessing, modeling, evaluation, and communication

• Final deliverables include a technical report and presentation to stakeholders

Sample capstone topics:

• Predictive modeling for opioid overdose risk

• Analysis of refugee migration data

• NLP-based media bias detection

• Transportation efficiency in D.C. metro systems

• Urban sustainability and climate modeling

Industry & Research Engagement

• Access to internships and partnerships with federal agencies (e.g., NIH, Census Bureau, World Bank)

• Involvement with the GW Data Science Institute, a hub for applied research and industry collaboration

• Regular guest lectures, policy data forums, and workshops with professionals from government, tech, and consulting

GWU MSDS graduates are prepared to work in data-centric roles across public and private sectors, with a strong emphasis on ethics, communication, and impact.

Career Outcomes

Common roles include:

• Data Scientist / Applied Scientist
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Data Analyst / BI Analyst
• AI Policy Advisor
• Data Engineer / ETL Developer
• Public Health or Education Data Analyst
• Computational Social Scientist

Industries & Employers

• Government & Public Policy: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Defense, NIH, World Bank, IMF
• Consulting: Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Accenture, EY
• Technology & Analytics: Amazon, IBM, Google, Capital One
• Healthcare & Pharma: MedStar, HHS, FDA, Inova
• Media, Education & Nonprofit: Pew Research, Urban Institute, Brookings Institution

Graduate Study & Research Paths

Some students pursue:

• PhDs in Data Science, Statistics, Political Science, or Computational Social Science
• Dual degrees (e.g., MSDS + MPH, MPA, or Law)
• Fellowships and data-for-good initiatives with think tanks or UN agencies

Salary Overview-

• Average starting salary is $72241
• Typical range is $55000 to $100000
• Nearly half of graduates receive a signing bonus averaging $6350
• Seventy-nine percent are employed within six months of graduation

Top Employers-

• Graduates have joined leading employers across the United States
• Examples include
• American Express
• Citi Group
• Food and Drug Administration
• Top consulting firms
• Major tech companies
• These organizations actively recruit through strong partnerships with the program

Geographic Placement-

• Most graduates find roles in major US cities
• New York City sees the highest concentration with 32 percent
• Boston follows with 11 percent
• Chicago accounts for 8 percent
• While some pursue international roles the program strongly supports U S based employment

Industry Sectors-

• Graduates work across several fields including
• Finance and Banking
• Technology and Software
• Government and Public Health
• Consulting
• Healthcare and Biotech
• Each sector offers a range of analytics and data science opportunities

Career Growth and Progression-

• Graduates often begin in analyst roles such as
• Data Analyst
• Statistician
• Statistical Programmer
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Analytics Consultant
• Quantitative Analyst
• Over time, some take on leadership or specialist roles within their industry

What This Means for You-

• This program gives you a strong launch into the data science field
• Starting salaries are competitive and often include signing bonuses
• You can explore a variety of industries and career paths
• Locations like New York Boston and Chicago offer strong hiring activity
• Graduates see steady career growth in analytics machine learning and consulting roles