The Data Science and Engineering programs offered at the University of Maine are intended to meet the growing demand for graduates with core skills in managing and analyzing complex data and addressing data analytics challenges. Students from diverse backgrounds may advance their career potential by building knowledge in the domain. The graduate certificate begins this process as either a stand-alone graduate credential or leading to a full graduate degree. Practitioners across business, industry and government acquire base skills in order to keep up with changing information technology and data challenges in their work environments. The Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Engineering (GCDSE) consists of 15 credits and is designed to provide a foundation in key aspects of the field.

 

A candidate must complete 15 graduate course credits on-campus or online on a program of study approved by advisors that includes:

• A specified foundation course in each of statistics, programming, and systems unless waived based on previous coursework
• DSE 510 Practicum in Data Science and Engineering (3cr)
• 9 course credits drawn from at least three of the five Theme Areas
• further elective course credits from within the Foundation Courses, Theme Areas, or Domain Specializations as needed to arrive at the total of 15 credits

 

If none of the foundation courses are waived, the graduate certificate may require up to 21 credits to complete. If all are waived based on previous coursework, at least one elective course will be necessary to complete the 15 credit requirement.

Students in consultation with their adviser should not select courses that are duplicative of courses that may have been taken in the student’s undergraduate degree program.  For instance, if a previously taken course is duplicative of a course in one of the five core theme areas, simply select another course in that area or another theme area so that the total is still 9 course credits in three of the five core Theme Areas.

Typically, distance students view class sessions over the internet that have been recorded with the on-campus students although some sessions may be pre-recorded. Students in both class sections accomplish the same assignments and exams. Online students may, at their option, participate in most classes live over the internet. Work sessions and/or office hours are typically offered at times convenient for online students.

 

Course Descriptions

Titles and prerequisites for courses in the program as well as alternative more advanced courses if some courses are waived may be found at Data Science and Engineering Graduate Course Groupings. For more detailed course descriptions and sample syllabi see the DSE Program Course Descriptions.

 

Student Eligibility and Admission Criteria

Students desiring to acquire the Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Engineering should apply by completing the Graduate Certificate Application. The entire application packet including transcripts, essay, and a current resume that includes contact information for three references must be received before a formal acceptance will be issued typically. Admissions are rolling. The time limit for completion of the Graduate Certificate is the same as that set by the Graduate School for completion of a master’s degree.

 

Continuation of DSE Certificate to M.S. in Data Science and Engineering

When nearing or upon completion of the DSE Graduate Certificate, students may apply for the MS Data Science and Engineering or another closely related MS degree such as the MSIS or MSSI. They must meet all the master’s requirements for admission. Students may transfer most or all of the courses in which they received a grade of B or higher from the DSE Certificate to the MS degree.

 

Additional Information

For additional information on application and program requirements, see Advising Notes.

 

Data Science and Engineering Graduate Faculty

 

Ali Abedi, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Kathleen P. Bell, Professor, Economics

Sudarshan Chawathe, Associate Professor, Computer Science

Prabuddha Chakrovathy, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Compter Engineering

Phillip Dickens, Associate Professor, Computer Science

Matthew Dube,  Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems

Richard Eason, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Keith Evans, Associate Professor, Economics

Sepidah Ghanavati, Associate Professor, Computer Science

Nicholas Giudice, Professor, Spatial Computing

Ramesh C. Gupta, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics

Pushpa Gupta, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics

Torsten Hahmann, Associate Professor, Spatial Computing

Daniel Hayes, Associate Professor, Forest Resources

David Hiebeler, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics

Raymond Hintz, Professor, Surveying Engineering Technology

Don Hummels, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Jon Ippolito, Professor, New Media

Shaleen Jain, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Nory Jones, Professor, Maine Business School

Andre Khalil, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Benjamin King, Assistant Professor, Bioinformatics

Anne Kelly Knowles, Professor, History

Cyndy Loftin, Associate Professor, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology

Yonggong (Tim) Lu, Associate Professor, Maine Business School

Jonathan Malacarne, Assistant Professor, Economics

Craig Mason, Professor, Education and Applied Quantitative Methods

Brian McGill, Professor, Biological Science

Silvia Nittel, Associate Professor, Spatial Computing

Nigel Pitt, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics

Parinaz Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran, Assistant Professor, Forest Resources

Nimesha Ranasinghe, Assistant Professor, Spatial Computing

Andrew Reeve, Professor, Earth and Climate Sciences

Penny Rheingans, Professor, Computer Science

Judith Rosenbaum, Associate Professor, Communication and Journalism

Ali Shirazi, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Andrew Thomas, Professor, School of Marine Sciences

Vince Weaver,  Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

J. Michael Weber, Professor, Maine Business School

Zheng (David) Wei, Assistant Professor, Mathematics and Statistics

Aaron Weiskittel, Professor, School of Forest Resources

Thomas Wiesen, Assistant Professor, Economics

Manuel Woersdoerfer, Assistant Professor, Maine Business School

Terry S. Yoo,  Associate Professor, Computer Science

Yifeng Zhu, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering