Interdisciplinary Programs

The MSDS can be obtained in conjunction with a limited number of bachelor's degree programs as a 4+1 combination. Here the x in Bx can be A for Arts, S for Science or other letters for other degrees. At the time of writing, the bachelor's degrees available are as follows. Any of the bachelor's degrees from the DMS may be combined with the MSDS: B.A. in mathematics or mathematics mducation, B.S. in actuarial sciences, applied mathematics, mathematics and economics, mathematics education, or quantitative biology, or honors versions of any of them, HBx. Similarly, any of the bachelor's degrees from CIS, electrical and computer engineering (ECE), mechanical engineering (ME), or physics and astronomy (DPA) are available for combining with the MSDS as a 4+1 program. From CIS, these are computer science (B.A., B.S.), information systems (B.S.) and honors versions (HBx). From ECE, these are computer engineering (BCpE), electrical engineering (BEE) and honors versions (HBx). From ME, these are bachelor of mechanical engineering (BME) and the honors version (HBME). From DPA, these are B.S., B.A., HBS, HBA options in each of physics or astronomy, as well as B.A. and HBA in physics education. Up to six credits from the graduate coursework may be applied to the bachelor's degree that come from the area of the undergraduate major. For example, mathematics courses may be applied to a major from DMS, computer science courses can be applied to a major from CIS, and electrical engineering courses may be applied to a major from ECE. Students who wish to be admitted to the Bx/MSDS 4+1 program should submit an application during the junior year of academic study toward an undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware as described below. 

Combined bachelor's and MSDS 4+1 admissions requirements

Current UD students who wish to be admitted to the combined bachelor's/MSDS 4+1 program should submit an application during the junior year of academic study toward an undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware. Interested students should consult with an advisor from the MSDS program about the courses to be taken in order to fill out the “Graduate Course Approval Form for 4+1 Admission Approval” from the Graduate College. After submitting that form, the student may then apply to the bachelor's/MSDS 4+1 program. At a minimum, the applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 and a GPA of 3.4 in their undergraduate major. For any bachelor's degree, the applicant must have completed the background requirements listed above by the end of the fourth year of undergraduate study. Two letters of recommendation from University of Delaware faculty and academic transcripts must be submitted. Neither the GRE nor the TOEFL exam is required for 4+1 program applications.

Applying to the 4+1 Bx/MSDS program

Students interested in applying to the combined 4+1 Bx/MSDS program should submit a graduate admissions application. In addition to the admissions application, students will also need to submit transcripts, a personal statement, a graduate course approval form and two letters of recommendation. You should email your graduate course approval form to msds-admin@udel.edu and submit the rest of your application materials directly to the admissions portal. The GRE requirement is waived for students entering the MSDS program as 4+1 Bx/MSDS students.

The admission application will request contact information for three recommenders. You will enter two recommenders’ contact information in the first two places. For the third recommender, enter the MSDS program coordinator’s information (Tiffany Harrison, msds-admin@udel.edu). The MSDS program coordinator will upload your approved graduate course approval form, and this will be uploaded by the MSDS program as your third recommendation.

The graduate course approval form should be discussed with the MSDS program administration and the undergraduate advisor prior to submission. The courses planned in that form are the initial plan for earning the MSDS and for planning which two graduate courses will be applied to the bachelor’s degree.

Graduating as an MSDS 4+1 student

Students beginning the final semester of MSDS study (the +1 year) should complete a graduation application form by the deadline for that semester. In addition to the graduation application form, 4+1 students will need to submit a transfer of credit form indicating which undergraduate credits are to be applied to the graduate degree. Both documents should be forwarded to the Graduate College by the graduation application deadline (listed in the academic calendar).

By the end of the second week of the final semester of the MSDS, the student should express interest in the convocation ceremony for the MSDS to the program administration.

Main MSDS degree:

• Data Science (MS)

Dual Degree

• Data Science/Applied Mathematics (MS/Ph.D.)
• Data Science/Mathematics (MS/Ph.D.)

4+1 options (for current UD undergrads):

Computer and Information Sciences:

• Computer Science/Data Science 4+1 (BA/MS)
• Computer Science/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Information Systems/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Computer Engineering/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Electrical Engineering/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)

Mathematical Sciences

• Actuarial Sciences/Data Science (BS/MS)
• Applied Mathematics/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Mathematics and Economics/Data Science (BS/MS)
• Mathematics Education/Data Science (BA/MS)
• Mathematics Education/Data Science (BS/MS)
• Mathematics/Data Science (BA/MS)
• Mathematics/Data Science (BS/MS)
• Quantitative Biology/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)

Mechanical Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering/Data Science 4+1 (BME/MS)

Physics and Astronomy

• Astronomy/Data Science 4+1 (BA/MS)
• Physics/Data Science 4+1 (BA/MS)
• Physics/Data Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Physics Education/Data Science 4+1 (BA/MS)