UMBC Undergraduate Students

I am an undergraduate student at UMBC. Can I take one Data Science courses as an elective? What’s the enrollment procedure?

Short Answer: If you (1) are within seven credits of graduation; (2) have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; (3)already have taken courses on calculus, statistics, and programming, and (4) if you meet the prerequisites of that course, then yes you might take that course.

Long Answer: University System of Maryland undergraduate students who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the discipline in which the graduate course is to be taken and who are within seven credits of graduation may register in the undergraduate college for certain 600-level and higher courses, which may later be counted for credit toward a graduate degree at UMBC if the student is in an approved accelerated program. Except in approved accelerated programs, the credits must be in addition to those required for the student’s undergraduate degree. Credits in the senior year exceeding those required for graduation cannot be used for graduate credit without prior written approval of the appropriate faculty and the Graduate School.

Procedure: Please fill out the “Data Science Course Enrollment Request Form (For Non-Majors)”. A link to this form is given in the course description. Filling out this form does not guarantee a spot for you in that class. We give permissions to non-data science students two weeks before the semester starts on a first come first serve basis. If the class is full, we can’t accommodate such requests.

Accelerated Data Science Program: BS or BA/MPS in Data Science

UMBC undergraduate students have the option of applying to the accelerated Data Science Bachelor’s/MPS program in the Spring Semester of their junior year and may take up to nine graduate credits that can be applied to both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students benefit by shortening the time to degree completion, experience the cost savings of taking graduate courses at undergraduate tuition rates, experience flexible learning options (some courses taught in evening or in hybrid format) and gain practical knowledge and skills.
Admissions Requirements for CMSC students
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Maintain good academic standing throughout the duration of undergraduate degree
  • Students are required to complete CMSC 331, CMSC 341, and STAT 355.*

*Note that the three courses mentioned above have certain prerequisites. Students are suggested to take MATH 151, MATH 152, MATH 221, CMSC 201, CMSC 202, and CMSC 203 in their first and second years if they are interested in this accelerated Bachelor/MPS degree focusing on Data Science.

Admissions Requirements for non-CMSC students
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Maintain good academic standing throughout the duration of undergraduate degree
  • Students are required to complete the following courses before applying:
    • Statistics (STAT 351 or STAT 355 or equivalent)
    • Linear Algebra (MATH 221 or equivalent)
    • Programming (CMSC 201 or IS 147 or equivalent)
Application Process

Please discuss with your academic advisor before you submit an application

PART 1

PART 2

  • One semester prior to completion of your bachelor’s degree, submit an application for the MPS: Data Science program to the Graduate School. The graduate school application fee is waived for UMBC students.
  • Once admitted to the MPS Data Science program, complete transfer of credits form to Graduate School for nine credits
How it Works
  • Students are required to take 10 courses (30 credits) in order to get their MPS degree. Nine of these 30 credits will be double-counted towards their undergraduate degree.
  • Students are advised to spread these 10 courses into four more semesters. For example
    • Fall of 4th year: DATA 601 and BS/BA courses
    • Spring of 4th year: DATA 602, DATA 607, and BS/BA courses
    • Fall of 5th year: DATA 603, DATA 604, DATA 605, Elective Course-1
    • Spring of 5th year: DATA 606, Elective Course-2, Elective Course-3
Accelerated Bachelor/MPS Program Regulations and Procedures

Once admitted to the combined program, the student must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average. No more than two “C” grades may be received in all courses taken after admission. If the GPA falls below 3.0 or if more than two “C” grades are received, the student will be removed from the combined program. This does not affect the student’s eligibility for the bachelor degree under normal University undergraduate requirements. Any one “D” or “F” also results in removal from the combined program.

Students in the combined program must formally apply for admission to the Graduate School before the application deadline during the semester in which the course work for the bachelor degree is completed. No more than 9 credits of graduate courses may be taken while the student is paying undergraduate tuition.