MS in Civic Analytics
Admission Requirements
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:
- Baccalaureate Field: Baccalaureate degree holders in any field may be admitted to the program. Students will be advised that prior coursework in statistics, geographic information systems, mathematics, or information technology disciplines is desirable.
- Grade Point Average: Minimum 2.75/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study.
- Evidence of Quantitative and Analytical Skills: Due to the quantitative nature of the Master of Science in Civic Analytics (MSCA) degree, applicants are asked to have or prove evidence of one or more of the following:
- Bachelor or higher degree with coursework in data analysis or visualization
- Transcripts that include a grade of B or higher in a course in statistics or calculus
- Completion of a data science boot camp, training in coding and data, or relevant professional certifications
- Professional or volunteer experience, internship placement, or works products related to quantitative analysis
- GRE or GMAT scores
- Other supporting evidence that the applicant deems appropriate
Students who are unable to provide any of the items listed above are still encouraged to apply. The department offers supplemental instruction for students needing additional preparation.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score:
- TOEFL iBT 90, with subscores of Reading 21, Listening 21, Speaking 25, and Writing 23, OR,
- IELTS Academic 6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores, OR,
- PTE-Academic 61, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
- Personal Statement Required. The brief personal statement shall address how the MSCA degree will further the student’s educational and career objectives. The student will also provide an expanded narrative that discusses their familiarity with information technology and applied statistics.
- Additional Materials
- Required: Applicants must submit a resume.
- Prerequisites: The applicant must provide documentation that they have completed an undergraduate or graduate‐level data analysis or statistics course in the last three years with a grade of B or higher. This course will be more than a research design course and cover descriptive and inferential statistics. If the student does not have such a course but meets the other requirements for admission, they will be required to enroll in PA 402 or equivalent course. This requirement would be waived for those coming to the program with a statistics degree.
- Optional: Applicants may submit a 5–10 page writing sample and up to three letters of recommendation. These letters should be from instructors familiar with the applicant’s academic training or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s professional experiences.
- Nondegree Applicants Nondegree Applicants must submit an official transcript from their baccalaureate institution, resume, and a letter stating which courses they would like to take and why they feel nondegree admission would be beneficial.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 53.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
Public Service Foundations (10 hours) | ||
| Foundations of Public Service | ||
| Public Policy Development and Process | ||
| Data Ethics and Information Security | ||
Analytics and Data Applications (24 hours) | ||
| Civic Technology | ||
| Data Management | ||
| Data Analytics | ||
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Public Managers | ||
| Coding for Civic Data Applications | ||
| AI & Machine Learning | ||
Research Methods (8 hours) | ||
| Public Program Evaluation | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis I | ||
| Electives (8 hours) | ||
| Select 8 hours from the following. Students must select at least one advanced methods elective. | ||
| Principles of Data Analysis | ||
| Economics for Management and Policy a | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Management of Information Technology | ||
| Strategic Management: Planning and Measurement | ||
| Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Public Procurement and Contracting | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis II a | ||
| Intergovernmental Management | ||
| Development and Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Survey Data Collection Methods: Theory and Practice | ||
| Applied Survey Sampling and Analysis | ||
| Urban Public Policy | ||
| Intermediate GIS for Planning and Policy a | ||
| Complexity-based Models for Planning and Policy a | ||
| Advanced Visualization Techniques a | ||
| Topics in Geospatial Analysis and Visualization | ||
| Programming for Data Science in Business | ||
| Information Security | ||
| Multivariate Analysis a | ||
| Business Data Mining a | ||
| Information Systems in Organizations | ||
| Data and Prescriptive Analytics a | ||
| Advanced Database Management | ||
| Analytics Strategy and Practice a | ||
| Business Data Visualization | ||
| Machine Learning and Statistical Methods for Business Analytics | ||
| Deep Learning and Modern Applications a | ||
| Internship or Professional Project (3 hours) | ||
| Internship in Civic Data and Technology | ||
| Professional Portfolio | ||
OR | ||
| Civic Analytics Capstone | ||
| Professional Portfolio | ||
| The internship and capstone courses can be waived for those with professional experience or demonstrated competence, as evaluated by the MSCA Director of Graduate Studies. Students waived of this requirement must replace the course with an equivalent number of elective hours to meet degree requirement. All students are required to complete PA 592. | ||
- a
Students must select one advanced methods elective. This course fulfills that requirement.
- Comprehensive Examination: None
- Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options: Coursework only. No other options available.