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What are the four SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks? Which courses do I take?

Justin Moore
Updated

The MITx MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science 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—each Track contains a combination of methods-centered courses and domain analysis courses to provide you with foundational knowledge and hands-on training in a corresponding discipline.

 

The SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks

All four Program Tracks require a learner to complete and earn the Course Certificate for two shared Core Courses, two courses specific to the track; and the Capstone Exam course.

Each of the four SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks has its own edX Program Page. The Program Page describes the Track, lists the courses for that Track, provides convenient access to their Course Pages—for enrollment, and provides the Program Track Bundle purchase option.

Below is a list of the Four SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks, with links to each Track's edX Program Page:

Each Program Track also appears separately in the "Programs" tab of the edX Dashboard, with the following names (the Social Sciences Track existed before the expansion of the program, so its presentation name is formatted differently):

  • Statistics and Data Science (General Track)
  • Statistics and Data Science (Social Sciences Track)
  • Statistics and Data Science (Methods Track)
  • Statistics and Data Science (Time Series and Social Sciences Track)

Learners who enrolled in one or more SDS MicroMasters courses in the past may also notice one or two other items in their edX Dashboard's "Programs" tab. These two items represent the old versions of the two pre-existing SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks. You may safely ignore these two items.

  • Statistics and Data Science (General track) - RETIRED
    • This represents the old version of the General Program Track
  • Statistics and Data Science
    • This represents the old version of the Social Sciences Program Track

 

Important Notes:

  • Not all possible combinations of courses constitute a valid Program Track. Learners can only complete the SDS MicroMasters Program by taking a combination of courses matching one of the four Program Tracks. See this section below for more details
  • One of the courses required by the Social Sciences and Time Series and Social Sciences Program Tracks is split into two parts: a Content Course (14.310x), which contains the Course Material; and an Assessment Course (14.310Fx), which contains the Final Exam. See this section below for more details
  • While there is no mandated course order for any of the SDS MicroMasters Program Tracks, because some courses teach knowledge and skills required for other courses in the program, and because some courses are much more challenging than others, the SDS Team strongly recommends that most learners follow a basic Recommended Course Order. See this FAQ article for more details

 

The SDS MicroMasters Courses

 

The Shared Core Courses

Regardless of which Program Track they pursue, all SDS MicroMasters learners must complete both Core Courses

The General Track

This track will prepare you to become an informed and effective practitioner of data science who adds value to your organization across industries.

In addition to the shared Core Courses and the Capstone Exam, the General Track requires learners to complete:

The Methods Track

This track will prepare you with in-depth knowledge of data science and time series analysis and will enable you to conduct rigorous analysis, inform decision-making processes, and contribute to evidence-based practices across industries.

In addition to the shared Core Courses and the Capstone Exam, the Methods Track requires learners to complete:

The Social Sciences Track

This track will prepare you to extract meaningful insights from social, cultural, economic, and policy-related data and equip you to tackle complex real-world problems and contribute to cutting-edge advancements in AI and data-driven solutions within all social sciences.

In addition to the shared Core Courses and the Capstone Exam, the Social Sciences Track requires learners to complete:

The Time Series and Social Sciences Track

This track will equip you to analyze the impact of interventions on time series data, preparing you for roles in economics, public policy, and social sciences where understanding temporal dynamics is crucial for informed decision-making and policy formulation.

In addition to the shared Core Courses and the Capstone Exam, the Time Series and Social Sciences Track requires learners to complete:

The Capstone Exam Course

Regardless of which Program Track they pursue, all SDS MicroMasters learners must complete the SDS Capstone Exam course to finish the program and earn the MITx MicroMasters Program Credential in Statistics and Data Science (SDS).

The Capstone Exam course serves as a final, overall assessment for the SDS MicroMasters Program, comprising a set of four virtually-proctored cumulative exams covering all of the content taught in the program's Content Courses.

Note: the Capstone Exam course can only be taken last, after all other courses in a Program Track have been completed, and enrollment for the Capstone is managed by the SDS team directly.

For more information about the SDS Capstone Exam, please read this FAQ article, as well as the other articles in the Capstone Exam section of this FAQ.

 

Important Details About 14.310x and 14.310Fx

Learners pursuing the Social Sciences and Time Series and Social Sciences Program Tracks must earn the Course Certificate for 14.310Fx Data Analysis in Social Science: Assessing Your Knowledge. However, this course is split into two parts: the Content Course (14.310x) which contains Course Material and does not award a Course Certificate; and the Assessment Course (14.310Fx), which contains the Final Exam and awards a Course Certificate.

The Content Course must be completed first. The Assessment Course can only be taken after completion of the Content Course. See this FAQ article for details about these courses

 

Schedule of Course Availability

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.

 

The MicroMasters Program Credential in Statistics and Data Science (SDS)

Once a learner has earned the Course Certificates for all four courses constituting one of the four Program Tracks and for the Capstone Exam, they will automatically receive the MicroMasters Program Credential in Statistics and Data Science (SDS). The Program Credential will specify which of the four Program Tracks the learner completed.

 

To be eligible to take the Capstone Exam and complete the program, a learner must complete both of the shared Core Courses and two track-specific courses from the same Program Track—they cannot simply choose any two non-core courses.

For example, if in addition to the two Core Courses, 6.431x and 6.86x, a learner earns the Course Certificates for 14.310Fx & 6.419x, or for 6.419x & IDS.S24x they will not be eligible to take the Capstone Exam and complete the program—because in both cases the courses do not constitute a valid Program Track.

 

However, a learner may also complete more than one of the SDS Program Tracks—receiving 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 General Track, they will receive the MicroMasters Program Credential for the SDS Program on 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 also met the completion requirements for the Methods Track! The SDS Capstone Exam need only be completed once.

 

  • For more details about how to complete the SDS MicroMasters Program and earn the Program Credential, see this FAQ article

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