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What is the MITx MicroMasters Program® Credential in Statistics and Data Science?

Elizabeth Breda
Updated

The MITx MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science is a comprehensive online program developed by MITx and the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). The program comprises four distinct Program Tracks, each consisting of four intensive online courses followed by a virtually-proctored Capstone Exam course. The design of the SDS MicroMasters program is multidisciplinary, with each Track containing a combination of methods-centered courses and domain analysis courses to provide learners with foundational knowledge and hands-on training in a corresponding discipline.

The courses are taught by MIT faculty and administered by the IDSS. They are designed to mirror on-campus graduate-level coursework—featuring a similar pace and level of rigor as on-campus courses at MIT. The program is designed for learners who want sophisticated and rigorous training in data science—without leaving their day job or compromising quality.

 

General Information

  • The SDS program requires learners to complete a Program Track, comprising two shared Core Courses and two track-specific Elective or Track Courses, as well as the Capstone Exam course
  • SDS courses are between 14-17 weeks long and require approximately 10-15 hours of effort per week
  • The duration of the program will vary based on learner scheduling and course order decisions—but an estimated average duration is approximately 18-24 months
  • The total estimated effort amount for the program will likewise vary, from around 630 to 860 hours
  • The program's courses are available for purchase both altogether, as Program Track Bundles, or separately, as individual courses. Purchased separately, the courses cost $300 USD each, for a total program cost of $1,500 USD. Purchased altogether in the Program Bundle, the program costs $1,350 USD, reflecting a 10% discount

 

The Program Credential

The MITx MicroMasters Program Credential in Statistics and Data Science is a standalone professional certificate offered by MITx and delivered through the edX platform. The Program Credential will specify which of the four Program Tracks a learner completed.

Obtaining the Program Credential opens up additional opportunities for learners. Credential holders become affiliate members of the MIT Alumni Association, and are eligible to pursue pathways to a graduate degree at MIT and other institutions. MIT does not currently offer a pathway to a Master’s degree, but credential holders may apply to the MIT Doctoral Program in Social and Engineering Systems (SES) which is offered through the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). For more information about pathways from our MicroMasters Program Credential to a graduate degree, including a list of participating institutions for each MicroMasters program, please visit the Pathways to a Graduate Program page.

MicroMasters programs and courses are not degree-granting and do not carry academic credit on their own. Obtaining the Program Credential does not guarantee admission to MIT or any Pathway Programs. For further information about the program and to enroll, please visit the Program Page on edX.

 

How to Complete the SDS MicroMasters Program

To complete the SDS MicroMasters Program and earn the Program Credential, you must earn the Course Certificate for four Content Courses constituting one of the four Program Tracks and then take and pass the SDS Capstone Exam.

To earn the Course Certificate for an SDS course (including the Capstone Exam), you must take the course on the Verified/Certificate (Paid) enrollment track and earn a passing score.

The four SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks are:

  • General
  • Methods
  • Social Sciences
  • Time Series and Social Sciences

All four Program Tracks include the two shared Core Courses—6.431x Probability and 6.86x Machine Learning; two other specific courses, determined by the Track; and the Capstone Exam course—which can only be completed after having earned the Course Certificate for the Track's other four courses.

 

Learners may complete more than one of the Program Tracks. Learners will receive a separate SDS MicroMasters Program Credential for each Program Track as they complete the requirements for each Track.

For example, if a learner completes the SDS MicroMasters Program's General Track, they will receive the Program Credential for the General Track once they complete the SDS Capstone Exam course. If the learner later completes IDS.S24x Learning Time Series with Interventions, they will then also receive the Program Credential for the Methods Track—as upon earning the IDS.S24x Course Certificate they will have met the completion requirements for that Track! The SDS Capstone Exam need only be completed once.

 

Below is a basic list of the SDS MicroMasters courses. However, please read the What are the four SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks? FAQ article for more information and details about the Program Tracks and their courses.

Shared Core Courses (Required for all Tracks)

General Track Courses

Methods Track Courses

Social Sciences Track Courses

Time Series and Social Sciences Track Courses

Capstone Exam Course (Required for all Tracks)

 

The current and upcoming Schedule of Course Availability for the SDS MicroMasters Program can be found on the SDS Program's Upcoming Dates page, presented as a visual calendar format at the top of the page and as detailed text further down the page. All dates for future sessions presented on the Upcoming Dates page are subject to change by up to 1-2 weeks.

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