The Master of Science in Applied Data Science & International Studies (MSADS) program trains you in strategic analysis, leveraging CGU’s world-class expertise and scholarship in the latest computational, behavioral, visualization, and data-driven decision-making techniques for both public and private sectors.

MSADS students are exposed to various social science theories, domains, process, and methods knowledge to help them understand and predict human uncertainty across politics, economics, and business behaviors. You will gain a distinct competitive advantage in your professional career through understanding and using these political, economic, statistical, big data, and data analytics tools to solve public and private sector problems. Topics covered in the MSADS program span national policy development, business strategy, conflict and cooperation, income inequality, economic growth, trade, exchange rates, demographic change, and sustainable development.

Program Highlights
  • An individualized curriculum lets you customize your program experience to more effectively achieve your career goals.
  • Benefit from CGU’s reputation for extensive expertise in solving real world challenges across politics, business, economics, and policy, using data science for governments and corporations
  • Choose specializations in areas of professional interest, including business, health, evaluation, and environmental issues
  • Pursue an MS in conjunction with another degree, such as an MS in Information Systems & Technology. You earn a diploma for each degree  and “double count” some units from one program to the other to decrease your required total units.
  • This program is STEM designated, allowing international students who hold F-1 visas to apply for OPT work authorizations for a total of 36 months (an initial 1-year period and a 24-month OPT STEM extension) of paid work experience in the U.S. after graduation.

Program At a Glance

UNITS
36 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME*
1.5 years

*This estimate assumes full-time registration and pursuit of the degree. Actual completion times will vary and may be higher, depending on full- or part-time course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

COURSES BEGIN
Fall | Spring | Summer

DEPARTMENT
International Studies

DEGREE AWARDED
MS in Applied Data Science & International Studies

Featured Courses

PP/INTL 401
World Politics

Provides a broad survey of competing perspectives on international relations.

IST 344
Data Analytics & Information Visualization

Provides a deep understanding of the important principles and techniques for translating organizational data into visual stories that can be used by managers to make data-driven decisions.

SPE 471
Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics & Business

Introduces students to decision making and the strategy process through multiple techniques, creating a strategy toolkit with applications in politics, economics, and business.

SPE 411
International Political Economy

Prepares students to analyze the complex interactions between political and economic trends, both domestically and at the international level. 

SPE 448
Seminar in Social Network Analytics

Explores social network analysis, including the measurement and structure of networks, the collection and analysis of network data, and network modeling.

SPE 317
Advanced Formal Models

Examines the mechanics of a variety of formal models—including their underlying logic, implementation, and application—and explores game theory, spatial bargaining, social network analysis, and more.

Curriculum

Students can choose a track from among a large number of social science and behavioral applications. The core program focuses on domain theories across international economics, world politics, security, international political economy, and regional comparative politics. Students are encouraged to choose specializations in areas of professional interest including business, health, evaluation, or environmental issues.

An individualized curriculum should be developed early on in consultation with your faculty advisor, as the career path you wish to pursue upon graduation heavily influences the selection of elective courses and research tools.

Core Courses (16 units)

Data Analytics & Visualization
Advanced Formal Models
Seminar in Social Network Analysis
Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics & Business (Capstone Seminar)

Electives (8 units)
Security
World Politics
Seminar in Conflict & Peace or
Seminar in Civil War
Seminar in Deterrence and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

International Political Economy
International Political Economy
and
Political Economy of International Development or
Seminar in Political Demography or Seminar in Social Demography
Political Economy of China

Foreign Policy (Choose two classes within a region)
Foreign Policy USA
Foreign Policy of Latin America
Foreign Policy of the Middle East
Foreign Policy of Africa
Foreign Policy of Europe
Foreign Policy of East Asia
Foreign Policy of South East Asia

Computational Analytics
Game Theory
Seminar in Computational & Agent-Based Modeling
Dynamic Modeling

Health
Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion & Education
Epidemiology

Note: Students who wish to substitute classes or create additional tracks must gain prior approval by a faculty advisor to choose the best courses for their goals.

Research Methods (12 units)
Select one sequence only

SEQUENCE A
Quantitative Research Methods
Data Analysis Using SAS or R
Applied Data Analysis

SEQUENCE B
Econometrics I (Prerequisite: Probability & Statistics for Econometrics)
Econometrics II or Time Series Econometrics
Applied Data Analysis

SEQUENCE C
Nonparametric & Computational Statistics (Prerequisite: Statistical Theory or instructor’s permission)
Reliability Theory (Probability; Stochastic Processes would also be helpful) or
Data Mining or
Large-Scale Inference or
Applied Data Analysis

Faculty & Research
Yi Feng profile image

Yi Feng

Luther Lee Jr. Memorial Chair Professor

Research Interests

International Political Economy, International Relations, Political Economy of China and Latin America, Quantitative Methodology

Mark Abdollahian profile image

Mark Abdollahian

Full Clinical Professor

Research Interests

Strategic Decision Making, International Political Economy, Sustainable Development

Jacek Kugler profile image

Jacek Kugler

Elisabeth Helm Rosecrans Professor of International Relations

Research Interests

Causes and Consequences of War, Political Performance, Power Transition

Melissa Rogers profile image

Melissa Rogers

Associate Professor, International Studies
Co-Director, Inequality and Policy Research Center
Field Chair, Comparative Politics

Research Interests

Comparative Politics, Political Economy, Economic Inequality

 

Affiliated & Extended Faculty

In addition CGU’s core international studies faculty, students may take courses with tenured or tenure-track international studies faculty throughout The Claremont Colleges.

View Affiliated & Extended Faculty ›

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

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John Moore

Assistant Director of Admissions
T: 909-607-3925
E: john.moore@cgu.edu