A laptop on a table showing data model graphs on the screen.

Data Science - Master of Science (M.S.) Graduate Degree Program

Earn a Data Science M.S. at the University of Montana

The Data Science M.S. at the University of Montana is housed in the Department of Mathematical Sciences — and that distinction matters. UM's data science program was one of the first of its kind in the nation, founded by faculty who wrote the first data science textbook used in courses here. The M.S. provides graduate-level grounding in both the mathematical foundations of data science and the practical application of methods — from machine learning and statistical modeling to real-world consulting projects with industry partners. Data Scientist has been named the #1 Best Job in America by Glassdoor, and the national median annual wage for data scientists is $103,930 (BLS). Admission requires an undergraduate mathematics minor equivalent and at least one programming course — making this a natural next step for strong undergraduates in math, statistics, computer science, or related quantitative fields, including UM's own Statistics and Data Science B.A. and Computer Science B.S.

FAQs

  • It is a graduate degree housed in UM's Department of Mathematical Sciences that combines rigorous grounding in data science foundations — statistics, machine learning, and mathematical modeling — with practical application through industry partnerships, faculty-guided consulting projects, and real-world team problem-solving. The program sits within the same department that produced the first data science textbook.

  • Candidates should have coursework equivalent to an undergraduate mathematics minor and at least one course in computer programming. Students must also meet the general requirements of the UM Graduate School. Each admitted student is assigned a faculty advisor who must approve their individual course of study.

  • Data scientists work across industries including technology, finance, healthcare, environmental science, and public health — in roles including data scientist, machine learning engineer, research analyst, statistician, and quantitative analyst. The national median annual wage for data scientists is $103,930 (BLS), with the field projected to grow 35% through 2031 — seven times faster than the average for all occupations.

  • The undergraduate programs (Statistics and Data Science B.A. and Computer Science - Data Science B.S.) provide foundational training for industry entry. The M.S. develops deeper mathematical and methodological expertise, research capability, and the advanced applied skills that position graduates for senior data science roles, doctoral study, or leadership in quantitative research. The M.S. is offered through Mathematical Sciences; the undergraduate CS Data Science concentration is offered through Computer Science.

  • The program features industry partnerships across the U.S. that provide team-based consulting projects, internship access, and career opportunities — embedding students in real-world data problems before they graduate. These connections are a deliberate part of the program design, not an add-on.

  • Both programs are offered through UM's Department of Mathematical Sciences and share a common curricular foundation in data science methods. The Big Data Analytics Certificate is an undergraduate-level credential available alongside any UM major. The M.S. is a full graduate degree. Students interested in graduate-level study should apply to the M.S.; the certificate is best suited for undergraduates seeking to add data science credentials to a primary major in another field.

Jump To

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Data Scientist has been named “Best Job in America”- Glassdoor

# 1

state for startup activity - The Kauffman Index

1st

Our program was one of the first in the nation

Other Data Science Degree Options at UM

Careers

  • Data Scientist
  • Data Analyst
  • Financial Analyst
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Applications Architect
student studying on laptop

Virtual Internship Projects

Industry partnerships across the US provide meaningful team projects, as well as internship and career opportunities.

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Professor Brian Steele

The founder of the program in Math wrote the first data science textbook, which is used in our courses.  It will introduce you to the blend of math and statistics used to study large data sets and the more nitty gritty techniques used in "data cleaning”.