美國大學(xué)數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)專業(yè)解讀

維基百科說：

In general terms, Data Science is the extraction of knowledge from data, which is a continuation of the field data mining and predictive analytics, also known as knowledge discovery and data mining.(一般來講，數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)就是從數(shù)據(jù)中提取信息知識(shí)，即是數(shù)據(jù)挖掘與預(yù)測分析的延伸，亦是發(fā)掘知識(shí)與數(shù)據(jù)的過程。)所以，通俗來講，數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)，就是通過分析數(shù)據(jù)，來挖掘獲得這些數(shù)據(jù)中的潛在信息。

Data science還有其他幾個(gè)類似的別稱，比如Data Mining(NJIT)、Data Analytics(Cornell University)、Data Studies、Data Science and Management(Imperial College (London, UK))、Predictive Analytics(DePaul University)、Business Analysis(NYU/Fordham University)、Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (Carnegie Mellon University)等等。

所以，在針對這個(gè)專業(yè)選校時(shí)，一定要注意，不要只看名稱，而是要重點(diǎn)看課程設(shè)置。

那么，Data Science的主要學(xué)什么呢?

根據(jù)對于一些課程的整合，大概是以下三個(gè)方面：

1.模型，算法;

2.數(shù)據(jù)結(jié)構(gòu)

3.visualization(可視化)。

由此課程設(shè)置，可以預(yù)測該專業(yè)的背景要求。仔細(xì)觀察，可以看出這些課程，都是與計(jì)算機(jī)密切相關(guān)的。并且，比如可視化，目前應(yīng)用比較多的，當(dāng)屬machine learning，也就是通過計(jì)算機(jī)圖形與圖像處理，從而將我們所需要的數(shù)據(jù)在電腦屏幕上顯示出來。所以，整個(gè)過程，需要一定的計(jì)算機(jī)技能，如編程、算法。另一方面，通過數(shù)據(jù)，分析挖掘出有用信息，因此，如果申請者具有一定的數(shù)學(xué)、統(tǒng)計(jì)分析基礎(chǔ)的話，更有利于獲得申請成功。

根據(jù)這個(gè)專業(yè)的開設(shè)情況，一般是開設(shè)在計(jì)算機(jī)相關(guān)院系下，或者商學(xué)院下，所以其就業(yè)方向，大多是計(jì)算機(jī)領(lǐng)域，或者商業(yè)領(lǐng)域。

下面為大家介紹一下哥倫比亞大學(xué)和康奈爾大學(xué)的數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)專業(yè)

Columbia University

項(xiàng)目名稱：Master of Science in Data Science

項(xiàng)目鏈接：http://datascience.columbia.edu/master-science-data-science-0

該學(xué)校專門開設(shè)了Data Science Institute，由此可見其對于這一專業(yè)的重視，而該項(xiàng)目是2014年秋季新開的。

課程設(shè)置：

一共需要修完30學(xué)分，其中21學(xué)分為必修課：

STAT W4105 PROBABILITY

CSOR W4246 ALGORITHMS FOR DATA SCIENCE

STAT W4702 STATISTICAL INFERENCE AND MODELING

COMS W4121 COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR DATA SCIENCE

COMS W4721 MACHINE LEARNING FOR DATA SCIENCE

STAT W4701 EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION

ENGI E4800 DATA SCIENCE CAPSTONE AND ETHICS

申請要求：

*ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate degree

Prior quantitative coursework (calculus, linear algebra, etc...)

Prior introductory to computer programming coursework

* Online application

* Uploaded trans from every post-secondary institution attended

*Three recommendation letters

*Personal statement

*Curriculum vitae / resumé

* Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores

*$85 non-refundable application fee

* TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic test scores

* 截止日期：2月15日

Cornell University

項(xiàng)目名稱：

Masters of Engineering in Operations Research and Information Engineering – Data Analytics Concentration

該項(xiàng)目開設(shè)在School of Operations Research and Information Engineering下面。The Data Analytics Concentration focuses on the theory and tools needed to make fact-based, data-driven decisions associated with the development, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services. The required course work for this concentration consists of three complementary areas that are collectively essential for effective data analysis.

Tuition for 2014-15 is currently $23,525 per semester, or $47,050 for the academic year.

該項(xiàng)目分為如下三個(gè)方向：

申請要求：

1.M.Eng. Program Prerequisites：

A standard engineering calculus sequence, including linear algebra and vector calculus

A calculus-based probability and statistics course equivalent to ENGRD 2700**

An intermediate-level computer programming course equivalent to ENGRD 2110**, conducted in a widely used language such as C, C++, Java, or MATLAB

**ENGRD 2700 and ENGRD 2110 are offered Fall, Spring, and Summer at Cornell

2.截止日期：秋季-12月1日;春季-9月1日

3.托福要求：總分不低于100分，其中Writing 20, Listening 15, Reading 20, Speaking 22。特別注意，這是硬性要求，達(dá)不到這個(gè)要求，是不會(huì)被錄取的。準(zhǔn)確的說，是沒有辦法提交網(wǎng)申的。

免托的條件：

1. 英語國家的公民;

2. 在說英語的國家在申請期間內(nèi)的近5年內(nèi)上了至少兩年英語授課的課程。

4.GRE

5.常規(guī)材料：CV、2 RL、PS、成績單

Fall 2014 MEng Class

71 new MEng students (其中，data analytics、Applied Operations Research、Information Technology這三個(gè)分支的學(xué)生總數(shù)占比35%-50%)

37 universities

23 undergraduate majors

9 countries

Class Statistics

Median Undergraduate GPA: 3.68 / 4.00

Median GRE - Q: 169 GRE - V: 156 GRE - A: 3.5

55% Male, 45% Female

75% International, 25% US Citizens

55% have UG degrees from US institutions

這里大概算一下，假如data analytics、Applied Operations Research、Information Technology這三個(gè)分支的學(xué)生總數(shù)占比50%，學(xué)生數(shù)平均分布的，加之國際生占比75%，那么Data Analytics的錄取學(xué)生數(shù)大概是71*75%*50%/3=8.875，也就是大概是9個(gè)人，那么中國學(xué)生會(huì)錄取幾個(gè)呢?由此可想而知，這個(gè)學(xué)校該專業(yè)的申請難度。