MS in Data Science: self-paced, 10 months, under $10k

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by Seylan, Jun 5, 2020.

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  1. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    I'm in my 7th course. I anticipate finishing in April or June depending on whether I double up the next 2 courses.
     
  2. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    I have gotten behind in this course, but working to catch up.

    Finished assignments 1-4:

    Assignment 1: Ceate and visualize a simple Decision Tree
    Assignment 2: Create and visualize GradientBoostingRegressor, RandomForestRegressor, and DecisionTreeRegressors
    Assignment 3: Read in some data and create 3D plots to visualize it, and execute grid searches (which search through hyperparameters to regularize a model, to find the optimal model)
    Assignment 4: Complete some by-hand matrix addition, matrix subtraction, matrix multiplication

    Basically we're learning how to code different models and use them to find the optimal solution to various machine learning problems.

    Working on Assignment 5 now, where we do some matrix multiplication and plotting in code.
     
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  3. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Submitted Assignments 1-5. I spent a looong time on assignment 5. The goal was to learn how to do various linear algebraic transformations. I don't understand why we had to do this, but it's done! I've completed 65% of the course material so assuming I get okay grades on them I should have a passing grade, but I submitted them all today so I expect it will be a while before I hear back.

    Assignment 6, which I'm working on now, involves building a model to predict the toxicity of mushrooms using the K Nearest Neighbor algorithm.

    Assignment 7 involves building a neural network.
     
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  5. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Completed Assignment 6! It was a biggie.

    Completed Assignment 7. We had to build a neural network that would complete a regression task (we were given X and Z points in a 3D spiral and we had to predict the Y based on a scatterplot of similar data.) This module included 3 hours of video that I didn't actually watch because I ran out of time. So I was able to build the model just based on my previous knowledge of other ML tasks in Python but I couldn't get my plotting to work properly. I got away with a 7.5 out of 10.

    Got 100% on the final quiz, so my final grade was 89.3, so close to an A-! But I'll take my B+.

    Next term, which doesn't start until January 10, I'll be completing DTSC-600 Introduction to Data Visualization which uses Tableau and Qlik, and also DTSC-690 Ethical and Philosophical Issues in Data Science. 600 is supposed to be a pretty manageable course, and 691 is discussion board posts and essays which is a nice change of pace from the programming.
     
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  6. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    UTA is a good option for students who can wait. UTA's application deadline is in December, admission is given in April for a September start and then you have to take courses on the semester schedule so they recommend 2-3 years for the coursework on top of the 9 months for admission. You also need to have previously completed multivariate calculus and linear algebra courses. I started my first class at Eastern 3 weeks after applying.
     
  7. The only thing more expensive than a decent school/program is a cheaper school/program (money, time, opportunity cost) that doesn't get you where you want to be. ;)
     
  8. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    DTSC 690: Ethical and Philosophical Issues in Data Science will be my next course. Unlike in other courses, this one includes mandatory discussion board posts that make up 50% of the grade, and a 15-minute presentation on any topic of ethical, religious, philosophical or moral implications of data science. This course has 42 readings, mostly journal articles, grouped into 7 modules (1 per week of the course.) The shortest module is Week 7: Wrapping Up, with 3 readings. The longest is Week 4: Bias/Fairness, with 8 readings. The mean is 6.
     
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  9. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    I finished my final 2 courses in Eastern's MS in Data Science Sunday the 12th and just confirmed my passing grades (both A's) today. The only thing left for me now is to wait for the Registrar's office to verify my degree completion and I am good to go.
    I really enjoyed this program, especially my final project. I plan on transitioning to a Data Scientist role (I am currently a Data Analyst) next year.
     
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  10. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    You're right ahead of me. Finished 680 last term, taking 600 and 690 next term. What did you choose for your capstone?
     
  11. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    I built a model that can predict health insurance premium rates in a specific county, given the public health and other demographic data of the target county. I work in health insurance, so this was right up my alley.
     
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  12. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    The key is to actually know what you need to get where you want to be. UTA and Georgia Tech both have great programs. Some folks need the reputation and network those schools offer to get the position that they want. For me, I already have degrees from high ranked schools, so that wasn't as important to me. I liked Georgia Tech's program, but it would have taken me a solid year and a half longer to complete the degree, which would be a year and a half of missed salary increase as a data scientist. Since I am already a data analyst, the only thing that was preventing the transition was the degree. I might go back and do the UTA or Georgia Tech MS in Computer Science later, but that will be just for fun.
     
  13. addision

    addision Member

    Well,

    I applied just before the holidays and I received a decision today that they have denied my application. I am wondering if it is because TESC does not include a GPA on their transcripts. I was too late in the day for me to try to reach someone. I also didn't have a lot of my math courses on the TESC transcript so I wonder what the issue was.

    I will call next week and see.
     
  14. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    @addision - Which degree did you complete at TESU? That's strange, I know a couple of people apply with a BSBA (nothing to do with data science) and they got in. What was the reason for denying the application?

    I don't think it was the non-GPA, there may have been a few things that may have missed, let me check their requirements on the MS Data Science page at Eastern.

    See below: I would ask them for permission to be admitted on a provisional basis, essentially that's conditional acceptance, so you can "show" how well you can handle the first couple of courses before they unconditionally accept you.

    Admissions Requirements

    Official transcript(s) confirming a Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited institution*, preferably but not necessarily accredited by an accreditor endorsed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If the applicant submits a "Request for Official College Transcript" form, Eastern University will request the transcript(s) on your behalf.

    *Applicants with unaccredited Bachelor's Degrees can be considered for admission on a case by case basis.
    Transcripted studies should reflect adequate preparation for study in the relevant graduate program.

    Current resume

    Earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred with particular importance placed on the last two years of the undergraduate record. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 but above 2.5 will be considered on a case by case basis.

    International Students:
    International applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide a minimum TOEFL score of 79 (internet-based test), 550 (written test), or 213 (computer-based test) taken within 2 years of the desired term of entry. The institutional code for Eastern University is 2220. For more information visit www.toefl.org.

    Eastern University reserves the right to require the evaluation of an international transcript by the World Education Service (WES). Applicants would be responsible for the submission and any fees. For more information, visit www.wes.org.

    Please see the Prospective International Students' First Stop website for information on additional admissions requirements.

    Note: Where student preparation for the graduate program is in question, Eastern University reserves the right to admit students on a provisional basis or to deny admissions to the program.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2022
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  15. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Math courses are not part of the minimum requirements (my undergrad is in Human Services), I think there must be something missing in your application or they've made an error. They are very good about provisional admits, so I would just get in touch with your enrollment counselor and see what the missing item is.
     
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  16. DrSchmoe

    DrSchmoe Member

    That happened to me once. I applied for a Ph.D program some time back at a local school. After not hearing anything for 4 weeks I strolled over to the campus and asked my would-be advisor what's the status (he already told me months earlier that he was going to admit me and take me as his student). The department looked all over for my application/file, and eventually found it in the "Rejected" basket. lol. They said it was placed there by accident. So yeah, I agree that an error is a possibility.
     
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  17. addision

    addision Member

    I called them first thing this morning to ask and my enrollment counselor wasn't available. By the time I arrived at work I had an email explaining that they based the decision off of my TESC transcript and that it had no GPA. Based on that she said that if I send an explination of why TESC does not add grades to the transcript and a well worded explanation of what I have accounplished after my degree that would enable me to complete their program, then she would send that back for reconsideration.

    I responded that I would draft the letter and I would send in all the other transcripts of the transfer units. She then responded that that should be enough to get my application approved.

    I have the BSBA in Business (Operations Management) from TESC and I completed additional math courses (Calc I, II, and III) in addition to the requirements for my degree as well as C++, and Data Structures courses all with an 'A' letter grade. That should be enough to show I am capable.
     
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  18. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the info! That's useful for other people who may not have a GPA on their transcript.
     
  19. Rachel83az

    Rachel83az Well-Known Member

    Is this because you did the degree before TESU started requiring the capstone/cornerstone?

    I think current TESU degrees do have a GPA based on at least those two courses, don't they?
     

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