Is there a recommended course order for the SDS MicroMasters Program?

There is no mandated order in which the SDS MicroMasters courses must be completed. Depending on your background, schedule, and goals you can choose to take the courses in whichever order works best for you. However, the SDS MicroMasters team does strongly recommend that most learners follow a basic course order priority, outlined below.

Start With Entry-Point Courses...

The two Core Courses shared by all four Program Tracks—6.431x Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data and 6.86x Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning—are entry points to the program. Probability does not require proficiency with any knowledge or skills taught in other SDS courses, but Machine Learning does require proficiency with Python programming (not taught in any SDS course) and at least familiarity with undergraduate-level probability theory—which can be supplied by taking 6.431x first, but may also be provided by pre-existing academic background.

These two courses supply knowledge and skills that are required by several other SDS courses, and so the SDS team strongly recommends that most learners start the program with these courses.

The Track Course 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists (part of the Social Sciences and the Time Series and Social Sciences Program Tracks) is also an entry-point course. It does not require proficiency with knowledge or skills taught in other SDS courses.

Then Take the Track Courses...

The other two courses required by each Program Track—the Track Courses—may be taken in any order, but some are much more challenging than others.

• 14.310x is comparable to the entry-point courses and may be taken first
• 18.6501x is more challenging than the entry-point courses. It requires knowledge and skills taught in 6.431x
• IDS.S24x is more challenging than the entry-point courses. It requires knowledge and skills taught in 6.431x
• 6.419x is the most challenging course. It requires knowledge and skills from both 6.431x and 6.86x

The Capstone Exam course can only be taken after completing all four of a Program Track's required courses, and so it must be taken last.

SDS MicroMasters Program Courses

Core Courses (Required for all Tracks)

• 6.431x Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data
• 6.86x Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning

Track Courses (Determined by the Program Track)

• 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists (Content) / 14.310Fx Data Analysis in Social Science: Assessing Your Knowledge (Assessment)
• 18.6501x Fundamentals of Statistics
• 6.419x Data Analysis: Statistical Modeling Computation in Applications
• IDS.S24x Learning Time Series with Interventions

Capstone Exam (Required for all Tracks)

• DS.CFx Capstone Exam in Statistics and Data Science

Planning Considerations

Please keep the following important details in mind when planning your schedule:

• Pre-Requisite  Knowledge and Skills: Each SDS MicroMasters course lists specific pre-requisites—knowledge and skills that learners are assumed to be proficient with before starting the course. See this FAQ article for more information
• Concurrent Courses: The SDS MicroMasters team recommends that most learners attempt only one SDS course per semester. While at least two SDS courses are offered each semester, the schedule of course availability is not designed to facilitate learners taking multiple courses concurrently. For instance, if two courses are running, one may require knowledge and skills taught in the other
• Python Programming Requirement: Python programming is not taught or reviewed in any SDS course, including 6.86x, IDS.S24x, or 6.419x—but proficiency is expected as a pre-requisite for these courses. For learners without a strong knowledge of Python, we recommend completing Introduction to Computer Science and Programming with Python for free on edX—or another free introductory Python course of their preference
• Social Sciences Track: If you choose to pursue one of the two Social Sciences Tracks you must complete the Content Course 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists with a passing score before you can take the required Assessment Course, 14.310Fx Data Analysis in Social Science: Assessing Your Knowledge. You do not have to pay for the Content Course. You should take it on the Audit track, for free
  • Because the Content Course is also part of another MITx MicroMasters Program (DEDP), 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists is offered on the MITx Online Platform—not the edX.org Platform. The Assessment Course 14.310Fx Data Analysis in Social Science: Assessing Your Knowledge is offered on the edX.org Platform, with the rest of the SDS program's courses
  • Read more about this requirement on the edX course page for 14.310Fx Data Analysis in Social Science: Assessing Your Knowledge under "About this course", or in this FAQ article

Recommended Course Order

Because several SDS MicroMasters courses build on concepts and material from other courses in the program, the SDS MicroMasters Team recommends that most learners follow the basic course orders presented below, for each Program Track:

The General Track

• Courses 1 & 2: (in any order)
  • 6.431x Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data
  • 6.86x Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning
• Course 3: 18.6501x Fundamentals of Statistics
• Course 4: 6.419x Data Analysis: Statistical Modeling Computation in Applications

The Methods Track

• Courses 1 & 2: (in any order)
  • 6.431x Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data
  • 6.86x Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning
• Course 3: 18.6501x Fundamentals of Statistics
• Course 4: IDS.S24x Learning Time Series with Interventions

The Social Sciences Track

• Courses 1-3: (in any order—but 14.310 must precede 14.310Fx)
  • 6.431x Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data
  • 6.86x Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning
  • 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists (on MITx Online) and its assessment 14.310x Data Analysis in Social Science—Assessing Your Knowledge (on edX.org)
• Course 4: 18.6501x Fundamentals of Statistics

The Time Series and Social Sciences Track

• Courses 1-3: (in any order—but 14.310 must precede 14.310Fx)
  • 6.431x Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data
  • 6.86x Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning
  • 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists (on MITx Online) and its assessment 14.310x Data Analysis in Social Science—Assessing Your Knowledge (on edX.org)
• Course 4: IDS.S24x Learning Time Series with Interventions

Regardless of which SDS Program Track you pursue, you must earn the Course Certificate for all four component courses before you will be eligible to take the Capstone Exam in Statistics and Data Science

However, as noted above, although the SDS MicroMasters team strongly advises most learners to follow these basic course order recommendations, there is no mandated course order. Exceptionally well-prepared learners may meet the knowledge and skills requirements for the more challenging courses and may be able to successfully take courses outside of the basic recommended order. Ultimately, other than the Capstone Exam, learners may choose to take the courses in whichever order works best for them, and are welcome to take more than one course per semester if both their personal schedule and the SDS schedule of course availability allow.

SDS Schedule of Course Availability

It is also important to keep in mind that the SDS program's courses are offered on a set, staggered schedule, with certain courses available during each of three SDS semesters each year. Not all courses will be available to start at any time.  For a visual representation of the schedule of SDS course availability, please refer to the Upcoming Dates page.