program description

the master of science in statistical data science at san francisco state offers a comprehensive curriculum in the fields of statistics and data science under the guidance of a faculty encompassing many different areas of research to prepare students with diverse backgrounds (including statistics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and other quantitative fields) for the data science workforce.

the program curriculum emphasizes the following four aspects: first, students will train in depth in modern statistical and machine learning techniques in addition to classical statistics theory and applications. second, they will learn and polish computational skills for various types of data sets including large-scale data ubiquitous in business, technology, and science. third, these two aspects of the program are built on a solid foundation of statistics theory and understanding of mathematical principles behind techniques and algorithms. finally, the program has built-in flexibility for different backgrounds and career plans through various electives. 

after graduation, students are expected to seek employment as data scientists/analysts in the san francisco bay area's technology, pharmaceutical, and financial industries.