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University of Southern California

Master of Public Policy Data Science (MPPDS)

MPPDS Curriculum

Big data is revolutionizing the way governments, nonprofits, and private businesses operate and design evidence-based solutions to the challenges they face.  Big data promotes transparency and accountability, and changes financial and operational strategies to create more effective, equitable, and just policies.

The 36-unit Master of Science in Public Policy Data Science program is a cross-disciplinary program offered jointly between the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Students complete a core set of courses to provide a foundation in data science and public policy and choose electives to optimize their preparation for their preferred career path and unique professional opportunities. This program endows students with the skills demanded for the employers of the 21st century.

1. Public Policy Courses

Public Policy Core Courses (12 units):

  • PPD 503 Economics for Public Policy
  • PPD 554 Foundations of Policy Analysis
  • PPD 558 Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Public Policy Elective Options (4 units) – select one course from the following:

  • PPD 555 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation
  • PPD 560 Methods for Policy Analysis
  • PPDE 668 Applied Econometrics for Program Evaluation

2. Data Science Courses

Data Science Core Courses (12 units):

  • DSCI 510 Principles of Programming for Data Science Units: 4
  • DSCI 549 Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science Units: 4
  • DSCI 550 Data Science at Scale Units: 4

Note: Students with a computer science background will have the option of replacing DSCI 510, DSCI 549, and DSCI 550 with DSCI 551, DSCI 552, and DSCI 553.

Data Science Elective Options (4 units) – select one course from the following:

  • DSCI 551 Foundations of Data Management Units: 4
  • DSCI 552 Machine Learning for Data Science Units: 4
  • DSCI 553 Foundations and Applications of Data Mining Units: 4
  • DSCI 554 Data Visualization Units: 4
  • DSCI 555 Interaction Design and Usability Testing Units: 4
  • DSCI 556 User Experience Design and Strategy Units: 4
  • DSCI 560 Data Science Professional Practicum Units: 4

3. Additional Elective

Students will take one additional elective course from either the Public Policy or Data Science elective options.  In total, students will take 12 units of electives, with at least 4 units in Public Policy and at least 4 units in Data Science.

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