teaches data visualization, which focuses on preprocessing
and presenting data in a way that a client can easily use;
Professor Kuter is teaching the statistics courses, which focus on
understanding what techniques are needed in order to analyze
data.
Promoting Data Science Environment
Saint Mary’s has many advantages over other institutes,
including its size, location, and mission. The greatest edge
of the institution is its relatively small size, which intentionally
allows the faculty to provide individualized education to each
student. Saint Mary’s location is also an advantage, which
may seem surprising given that it is not located on the west
coast, but rather in South Bend, IN. However, there is a growing
number of tech and data science-related industries that have
been popping up in the region just over the last few years.
The institute has a wonderful mayor devoted to the field and
growing the local economy, as well as a Regional Development
Authority for the greater South Bend – Elkhart region that also
helps promote growth in the industry. Finally, the mission of
Saint Mary’s, with a Catholic tradition, gives the institution an
edge for candidates interested in using data science for social
good and to make a difference in the world.
Real-World Experience Designed for Students
Students in the Data Science Master’s degree program at
Saint Mary’s are required to complete a practicum project. The
practicum at Saint Mary’s College is an opportunity for students
to directly experience the work of a data scientist or data
analytics professional. It consists of project-based learning on
a significant and contributory business objective in conjunction
with practicing professionals in one of many appropriate
industries. Students may complete the practicum by working on
a project at the student’s place of employment or by obtaining
an internship in the area of data science.
Educating as Per Industry Demands
Most businesses need data experts in decision-making and
strategic initiatives. Saint Mary’s is well positioned to empower
its graduate students with knowledge that is needed in order
to solve complex problems that arise in this field. The institute
is focused on practical applications, without losing track of
the concepts necessary to develop new methods or tools. It is
also on the front edge of promoting women in science; its 4+1
program develops Saint Mary’s undergraduates into successful
employees or entrepreneurs.Eminence Through Recognitions and Collaboration
Since the college launched the program, it has graduated two
cohorts of diverse, successful students, and will welcome the
fourth cohort of future data scientists in August. The institute
organizes Data Science Hackathon in successful collaboration
with a local healthcare analytics company in which participants
compete on building a predictive model from text data, and it
has been attended by nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate
students from schools in Indiana and Illinois. The winners of
the event were offered jobs at a local data analytics firm, and
these connections were made during a networking portion of
the hackathon.
Saint Mary’s graduates are working to develop data
science teams at major state-wide insurance companies and
employed as contractors on government funded initiatives to
investigate solutions to the opioid crisis, and creating their own
consulting firms to provide analytics services to governments
and businesses in developing countries. One of the graduates
won a Five-Minute Student Project Presentation competition
at the National Professional Science Master’s Association’s
annual conference in Washington D.C. His victory helped him
earn financial support for his future projects and initiatives.
Achievements like these make the college proud of its graduates
and the work they do!Crafting a Niche
Since Saint Mary’s is a college, it spent a significant amount
of time developing a viable program. The institute has worked
hard to discover its niche, given the multitude of similar
programs that have appeared in the last few years, and it is
working on establishing a brand.Streaming Trends to Be Inculcated in Education
Bogdan believes data is all around the world, inviting experts to
dig in and discover new trends, patterns, and make decisions
based upon them. “The rise of artificial intelligence sets the
stage for data experts to provide better solutions to common
problems of the society. Data driven actions provide better
results, so not only do large corporations and industry leaders
need the work of data scientists, but more and more small
businesses are looking to data scientists to help them make
better informed decisions,” he added.46
THE 10 MOST PROMINENT ANALYTICS AND
46 DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTES IN 2019THE 10 MOST PROMINENT ANALYTICS AND
DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTES IN 2019