THECB approves new M.S degree in Data Analytics and Information Systems

SAN MARCOS – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has authorized Texas State University to offer a new Master of Science degree program with a major in Data Analytics and Information Systems.

The degree program was approved by the Texas State University System Board of Regents in August. The Department of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods (CISQM) in the McCoy College of Business Administration will begin offering the new degree program in fall 2019.

"We are excited about this program because we see a lot of job opportunities out there. That's the single most important driving force behind our offering this program," said Ju Long, chair of the Department of CISQM. "There is a huge market demand for graduates who can use data analysis methods and information technologies to derive actionable business intelligence. The supply right now is very limited, but the demand is high."

Often referred to as "big data" and "data analytics," companies are collecting millions of terabytes of information, but are struggling to understand that massive amount of information and use it strategically. It's a new challenge in a rapidly-evolving field that barely existed a decade ago. The science of analyzing data to make sound business decisions and gain competitive advantage has received widespread attention among business and government enterprises in the last few years.

"There's a treasure trove of data available, but the big challenge is that companies need expertise in managing and analyzing these massive troves of data," Long said. "So, we have a huge increase in demand for data analysts, data scientists, data engineers.

"Business is looking for people who can transform these massive data sets into actionable business insights, visualize these insights and present them to people who may not have a background in statistics," she said. "They can take that data, present it in an understandable way and help companies make better decisions."

 Variously referred to as Business Intelligence, Data Analytics or Data Science, this emerging field uniquely combines mathematical and statistical modeling, data visualization and information systems. Information technologies and data analysis techniques are used in the industry to develop models, theories and hypotheses to facilitate better-informed decision making by managers, scientists and researchers.

The program will be delivered via a combination of face-to-face classes on the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses, hybrid, Distance Learning Platform (DLP)  and online instruction.

For more information about this new degree program, contact Long via email at jl38@txstate.edu or visit www.cis.txstate.edu/Prospective/MSDAIS.html.