Is there any way to reduce the time needed to take the SDS MicroMasters courses?

By planning your SDS MicroMasters Program journey efficiently, you can reduce the amount of time required to complete the MicroMasters Program Credential—for instance, by choosing a Program Track and course order that minimizes semesters in which no courses are available for you to take. However, it isn't possible to reduce the duration of each course session, or to take courses in semesters when they aren't available.

Learners following the recommended Course Order considerations can expect to complete the SDS MicroMasters Program in around 18-24 months, though shorter lengths are sometimes possible—depending on the choice of Program Track, course order, and starting time.

MicroMasters Program Credential Requirements

To complete the MITx MicroMasters Program Credential in Statistics and Data Science, you must earn the Course Certificates for all four courses constituting one of the four Program Tracks and then earn the Course Certificate for 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.

• For more information about how to complete the SDS MicroMasters Program and earn the Program Credential, see this FAQ article
• For more information about how to earn the Course Certificate for an SDS MicroMasters course, see this FAQ article

Course Format

The courses in the MITx MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science (SDS) are delivered in an online-only format and Instructor-paced format.

SDS MicroMasters courses have schedules designed by their instruction teams. Course content becomes available only after the start date of the course session, and is released on a schedule unique to each course—typically weekly. Course Assessments—Mid-term and Final Exams—are only available to complete during set time windows, and Final Course Scores are only released after the close of the course session.

This means that it isn't possible to accelerate your progress in a course beyond a certain point, or to complete a course early—before its end date.

• For more information about Course Format, see this FAQ article

Schedule of Course Availability

The SDS program's courses are offered on a set, staggered schedule, with certain courses available during each of the three SDS semesters each year:

• Spring—starting in January/February
• Summer—starting in May/June
• Fall—starting in August/September.

Most SDS courses run on an alternating schedule, with two sessions being offered one year, and one session the next. 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. Consequently, the SDS Team recommends that most learners take only one SDS MicroMasters course per semester.

This means that it isn't possible to take any SDS course during any semester, and even taking more than one course concurrently (not recommended) can only shorten the total Program Duration by a relatively small amount of time.

• For more information about taking SDS courses concurrently, see this FAQ article
• For more information about the program's Schedule of Course Availability, see this FAQ article
• See also this FAQ article about Recommended Course Order