Master of Science in Communication Data Science

Program Director (Data Science): Yolanda Gil, PhD
Program Co-Director (Communication): Jessica Neff, PhD

The Master of Science in Communication Data Science is a cross-disciplinary joint degree program offered by the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Students will complete a core set of courses to provide a foundation in data science and communication and choose electives to optimize their preparation for their preferred career path and unique professional opportunities. They will be experts in the emerging field of data science for communication. Graduates will learn about theories and principles underlying human communication and the ways in which people utilize and engage with communication technologies.

The curriculum is designed to be accessible to students with any background, including students with a communication background and no computer science knowledge as well as students with a computer science background and no communication knowledge. Students with undergraduate degrees in computer science, engineering, science or mathematics will acquire the necessary knowledge to analyze health data with diverse sources and purposes and can request to replace introductory data science courses with more advanced ones. Students with undergraduate degrees in communication, journalism, and related disciplines will acquire formal and practical data science skills and can request to substitute introductory courses in communication with more advanced ones. There is no requirement of prior knowledge of programming or computer science, as the curriculum is designed with special introductory courses that are accessible to students with diverse backgrounds.

Students will learn a range of data science skills such as developing scalable data systems, using state-of-the-art software and infrastructure for data science, designing data analyses with statistical methods, and working in multi-disciplinary data science teams. They will also understand the technical underpinnings of emerging communication platforms, ranging from social media to enterprise collaboration platforms to virtual and augmented reality. Students will have the capability to build these technologies and effectively manage teams that do so. They will also master the theoretical and technical tools to investigate and analyze large volumes of data generated by digital communication platforms using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Prospective students can refer to the Annenberg website for more information about the program.

Upon completion of this program, students can explore careers in traditional media outlets as well as technology companies. Newspapers and network/cable news need individuals who understand the new technology-enabled social communication paradigms and can help translate this knowledge into new sources of information.

In the corporate world, the need to understand and capitalize on social media is pervasive, and the unique expertise this degree provides leaves graduates well positioned to design creative approaches to reach new audiences. In addition, as technology becomes ubiquitous in society, the role of the informed communicator has become very important in formal and informal formats. Many companies seek a combination of communication and data science skills to improve their products and reach new markets.

Applications will be reviewed by both the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the Viterbi School of Engineering.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Students with a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, social sciences, engineering or computer science are welcome to apply.

Prospective students will need to complete and submit:

The USC Graduate Admission Application, along with:
- Electronic Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letters of Recommendation (1 Required)
English Proficiency Requirement (International Students Only)
Financial Documentation (On-Campus International Students Only)

As of September 7, 2021, the GRE exam is not required.

The most up to date description of the program is in the USC Catalogue. Course descriptions are available here.

Total Units: 32

Core Foundation Courses (20 units):

COMM 502 Theoretical Approaches to Multidisciplinary Design Projects (4 units)
CMGT 515 Innovation and the Information Economy (4 units)
DSCI 510 Principles of Programming for Data Science (4 units)
DSCI 549 Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science (4 units)
DSCI 550 Data Science at Scale (4 units)

Data Science Elective - Choose One Course (4 units):

DSCI 529 Security and Privacy (4 units)
DSCI 552 Machine Learning for Data Science (4 units)
DSCI 553 Foundations and Applications of Data Mining (4 units)
DSCI 554 Data Visualization (4 units)
DSCI 560 Data Science Professional Practicum (4 units)
DSCI 564 Probability and Statistics for Data Science (4 units)
DSCI 599 Special Topics (4 Units) (with adviser approval)

Communication Electives - Choose Two Courses (8 units):

CMGT 507 Information Management (4 units)
CMGT 510 Communication, Values, Attitudes and Behavior (4 units)
CMGT 515 Innovation and the Information Economy (4 units)
CMGT 528 Web Strategies for Organizations (4 units)
CMGT 530 Social Dynamics of Communication Technologies (4 units)
CMGT 537 The Industry, Science and Culture of Video Games (4 units)
CMGT 541 Integrated Communication Strategies (4 units)
CMGT 555 Online Marketing Communication Development and Analysis (4 units)
CMGT 568 Influencer Strategies (4 units)
CMGT 587 Audience Analysis (4 units)

Notes:

The fastest you may finish this program is in 4 semesters (2 academic years). Students may only take 2 courses per semester.

All information contained here is summarized from the USC Catalogue and is considered non-official. For all rules, regulations, procedures, and outlines, please see the current academic year USC Catalogue. The USC Catalogue supersedes all other publications.

Current students follow degree requirements in effect for the academic year they began their studies at USC. If you are a current student, please refer to your STARS report or the appropriate USC Catalogue for your year. Students seeking to advance their catalogue year to follow updated curricula may contact their department advisor.

Published on April 27th, 2017

Last updated on June 15th, 2022