Accelerated 4+1 Program for Saint Mary's undergraduate students

Current college students meeting the requirements set forth below may apply to the Master of Science in Data Science program under the 4+1 option. If admitted to the data science master’s program, you will take up to four graduate level courses in the program while in the junior and/or senior year of your bachelor’s program, allowing you to earn up to twelve credits toward your master’s degree while still an undergraduate (in other words, saving you money!). 

Who Should Apply

• College sophomores, juniors, and seniors in college
• Individuals who possess any of the following:
  • Technical skills
  • Familiarity with mathematics and statistics
  • Computer programming experience
  • Leadership skills
  • A passion for data

Application Requirements for 4+1

The applicant is a current second semester sophomore or junior majoring/minoring in mathematics, business, computer science, information systems, the sciences, health science, or quantitative social science

or

The applicant is a current first semester senior majoring/minoring in mathematics, business, computer science, information systems, the sciences, health science, or quantitative social science who has registered for a graduate Data Science course in her current semester.

and

• an application form (will be available later in spring 2025 - complete this form to be notified when it's live)
• a personal statement that describes how the experiences in your life make you ideally suited to become a data scientist
• official transcripts
• completion of prerequisite courses

Prerequisite Courses for 4+1 students

• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Statistics
• Computer Programming
• Linear Algebra (or equivalent)

How to Strengthen Your Application

• Take additional classes in quantitative disciplines
  • Required Pre-requisites: Introductory Statistics, Calculus 1 and 2
  • Suggested Electives: Calculus 3, Probability Theory, Differential Equations, additional Statistics
• Explore computer programming, particularly Python
• Engage in leadership opportunities
• Gain practical experience through internships
• Build relationships with your professors to secure letters of recommendation

Prerequisites and Core Competencies

The most competitive candidates will satisfy the prerequisites and core competencies as follows:

• A quantitative undergraduate major (examples include but are not limited to mathematics, the sciences, social sciences, and business with a quantitative emphasis)
• One semester of calculus preferred
• Familiarity with computer programming
• Familiarity with statistics
• Familiarity with linear algebra

*Candidates who meet some but not all of the prerequisites and core competencies are encouraged to apply and will be considered conditionally. The Program Director can identify opportunities for those candidates to gain familiarity in the relevant area(s).

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but prospective students interested in the accelerated 4+1 program are encouraged to apply early in order to increase their chance of admission. The program has a regular decision priority deadline of April 15; applications may be submitted after this date if seats are available. 

For students interested in the accelerated 3+1 program that the College is launching in Fall 2025, the Office of Admission will consider high school applicants who list their number one major as Mathematics, Computing and Applied Mathematics, Statistical and Actuarial Mathematics, or Physics and Applied Mathematics on the admission application. Students will be notified in their admission letter if they qualify to pursue the accelerated 3+1 bachelor's to master's program in Data Science.

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships are available for the accelerated programs. You will be notified if you qualify for scholarships.