Program Description

The Master of Science in Social Data Analytics and Research degree program builds on faculty expertise in criminology, economics, geospatial information sciences, political science, public and nonprofit management, public policy, political economy and sociology to equip students with advanced training that is widely applicable in a variety of fields.

As demand for social data production, collection and analysis increases — driven by government, nonprofit and private sector organizations, as well as doctoral programs and advanced research institutions — students with advanced training and expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies will have the skills and experienced needed to thrive in many different industries.

Taught by internationally recognized faculty at The University of Texas at Dallas, graduates of the Social Data Analytics and Research program develop advanced expertise in:

• Social science research design and evaluation.
• Quantitative and qualitative data discovery and analysis.
• Social science methodologies, theories and philosophical dimensions, as well as the ethics of social science practice.
• Applied social science in the service of public policy and action.

Responding to an ever-increasing need across public and private sectors for social data analytics and research, the program equips students with rigorous multidisciplinary proficiencies in social data production, collection and investigation.

Benefits

The Social Data Analytics and Research master’s program ensures that students gain a broad understanding of their discipline, apply their knowledge and analytical skills to create effective and novel solutions to practical problems and communicate and work effectively in collaborative environments.

Other benefits include:

• World-Class Faculty: The program is led by faculty of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences who are widely cited experts in their respective fields.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Courses in the Social Data Analytics and Research master’s program will introduce students to new ideas, technologies and competencies while preparing them to succeed in both public and private sectors.
• Facilities: Students have full access to four state-of-the-art computer laboratories housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. All computers are network linked and hold full suites of leading survey, qualitative, spatial and statistical analysis software, including Qualtrics, NVivo, ArcGis, ENVI, EViews, R, STATA, and SAS.
• Location: Situated in the greater Dallas region—recently rated by Forbes magazine as the #1 “Best City for Jobs”—UT Dallas provides students with easy access to employers and internship opportunities, not to mention a large and supportive alumni population.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Social Data Analytics and Research master’s program have gone on to pursue a wide variety of careers, such as:

• Data Scientist or Analyst
• Data Mining Specialist
• Database Manager
• Statistician
• Program Evaluation Analyst
• Decision Support Analyst
• Research Analyst
• Opinion Polling Statistician
• Community Intelligence Expert
• Information Resource Analyst.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Application Deadlines and Requirements

Please take note of all application deadlines and visit the Apply Now webpage to begin the application process.

Applicants to the Social Data Analytics and Research master’s degree program should have:

• A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education.
• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale.
• Test Scores: GRE not required.
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from individuals who can judge the candidate’s potential for success in the master’s degree program.
• Admissions Essay: Applicants must submit a one-page essay outlining personal background, education and professional objectives.
• International applicants must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 on the internet-based test. Scores must be less than two years old. See the Graduate Catalog for additional information regarding English proficiency requirements for international applicants.

About the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

Founded in 1975 as the School of Social Sciences, the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS) is a compact, focused policy school embedded within a large, Carnegie-recognized Tier One university. EPPS students receive all of the benefits of studying at a major research university while also capitalizing on personalized instruction and close connections with faculty and classmates of a small college.

An EPPS education is interdisciplinary. Our nine discipline areas include:

• Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Cyber and Big Data Analytics
• Economics
• Geospatial Information Sciences
• Political Science
• Public and Nonprofit Management
• Public Policy and Political Economy
• Public Health, and
• Sociology

All nine disciplines are interrelated, and an understanding of one informs a better understanding of the others. For this reason, we encourage our students to explore the various majors and minors within EPPS and to take classes across majors. 

As an undergraduate in EPPS, you will have the opportunity to work with professors who are probing issues that will affect your future. You will develop the vital skills you need to thrive in a rapidly evolving, highly competitive job market. EPPS will prepare you for careers in government, non-profits and the private sector that enable you to make a real difference in the world of today and tomorrow.  The school has six affiliated centers and initiatives:

• Texas Schools Project

• Institute for Urban Policy Research
• Army ROTC – Comet Battalion
• North Texas Quality of Life Initiative
• Taiwan Studies Program
• Initiative for Civil Leadership

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts: Criminology, economics, geospatial information sciences, international political economy, political science, public affairs, public health, public policy, sociology

Master of Science: Applied sociology, criminology, cyber security, technology and policy, economics, geospatial information sciences, international political economy, social data analytics and research

Master of Arts: Political science

Master of Public Affairs: Public affairs

Master of Public Policy: Public policy

Doctor of Philosophy: Criminology, economics, geospatial information sciences, political science, public affairs, public policy and political economy

Undergraduate Certificates

Undergraduate Certificates

EPPS offers the following 12-hour undergraduate certificates, which generally can be completed in one year of part-time evening classes:

• Nonprofit Management: designed to provide an overview of the nature and context of nonprofit organizations and develop competencies needed by nonprofit managers.

Graduate Certificates

EPPS offers the following 15-hour graduate certificates, which generally can be completed in one year of part-time evening classes:

• Arts Manageement and Leadership: focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to work in the nonprofit sector professional settings providing visual or performing arts content and services.
• Economic and Demographic Data Analysis: focusing on the understanding and application of quantitative analysis of demographic and economic data.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): focusing on the application of GIS in government, private sector and scientific areas.
• Geospatial Intelligence: focusing on the application of geospatial ideas and techniques to national security and other intelligence activity.
• International Banking and Monetary Systems: focusing on applications for monetary economics, forecasting, and macroeconomic aspects of banking
• Local Government Management: designed to broaden knowledge of important issues and approaches employed by professional local public administrators.
• Nonprofit Management: designed to provide an overview of the nature and context of nonprofit organizations and develop competencies needed by nonprofit managers.
• Program Evaluation: designed to provide students the opportunity to gain competencies in the design and implementation of program evaluations in fields such as education, health care, human services, criminal justice and economic development.
• Public Budgeting and Financial Management: designed to enhance students’ understanding and experience in public budgeting and financial management and control, governmental or non-profit accounting, and public expenditure planning, management, and fiscal control.
• Public Human Resources Management: designed to give students a full introduction to the principles, strategies, and techniques of public human resources management.
• Remote Sensing: focusing on remote sensing and digital image processing.
• Spatial Data Science: focusing on big data handling, machine learning, programming skills, and capabilities in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing/drone, geovisualization, locational intelligence, and spatial pattern analysis.
• Nonprofit Management: designed to broaden knowledge of important issues in the nonprofit sector and learn practical skills of managing people and data that are key to securing managerial positions and being successful in the nonprofit sector.