Mastering data science: The MOOC-to-MADS pathway

As data science and programming skills become increasingly relevant, people across industries find themselves thinking, “I should have learned to code.” Many enroll in Python 3 Programming, a massive open online course taught by University of Michigan faculty. The Py3 MOOC is designed to offer a standalone primer in programming, but according to faculty and students, it also serves as an ideal springboard into the Master of Applied Data Science at the School of Information. 

“The Py3 MOOC really laid out the fundamentals of Python so that I would be ready for the MADS program,” said Kyle Debro (MADS ’24). He completed his bachelor’s degree in 2022 after over a decade working as a bartender. Debro wanted to make a career pivot, and he saw that data scientists are in demand. “With all the advancements in technology, data is a huge world that’s rapidly evolving,” he realized.

The MADS program is a fully-online master’s degree. It provides a flexible and rigorous course of study in applied data science. “I would say that MADS is definitely the next step for Py3 learners who want to go the data science route,” said Steve Oney, an instructor of the Py3 MOOC and associate professor of information. 

While the MADS program is designed for people who don’t have an undergraduate computer science degree, students are required to have basic proficiency in Python.

This is a huge advantage of moving from MOOC to MADS, according to associate professor of information Christoper Brooks, who teaches in both programs. “Students who complete the Python 3 specialization are successful in the MADS program,” he said. “Anybody can pass an entrance exam if they really want to. But students who can get all the way through Python 3 have demonstrated independence as programmers.”

Students who complete the Py3 MOOC are given an assessment waiver when applying to MADS, eliminating the requirement — and the expense — of taking an online assessment to demonstrate proficiency in Python and statistics. “That was one of the biggest reasons I was able to apply,” said Debro, for whom the cost of the assessment posed a burden. 

As a MADS student, Debro is expanding his knowledge beyond programming — gaining experience in data manipulation, statistical analysis, machine learning, natural language processing and communicating data. 

“There’s a greater sense of community in the MADS program and more thorough instruction,” he said. “You get open communication with some of the best instructors in the world, with the convenience of learning courses on your own time.” 

While MOOCs are a low-cost way to learn foundational skills from faculty, “They’re not a replacement for a degree,” Brooks said. “In the MADS program, you get access to the breadth of opportunities the School of Information has, including career outcomes and job placements.”

According to data from UMSI’s Career Development Office, 2022 graduates of the MADS program landed with an average salary of $122,000. For those who retained the same employer post-degree, salaries went up an average of 15-20%. 

Lydia Schrandt (MADS ’24) is earning her MADS degree while working as a senior manager of SEO strategic content at Coursera and living in Houston, Texas.

“I work on a data-driven team in a data-driven company, and I knew I could empower myself and my team to drive better impact if I was better at gathering insights from data,” she said. Prior to enrolling in the Py3 MOOC, she had very little programming knowledge. 

“I fell in love with Python,” she said. “And MADS felt like the perfect opportunity to build my skills while opening up greater career flexibility in the future.” Schrandt has enjoyed getting to know her course instructors through office hours and relying on them for a “gentle nudge in the right direction” whenever she hits a wall. 

An unexpected benefit, for someone who “used to hate the idea of group projects,” has been feeling supported by a community of fellow learners. Schrandt now looks forward to working on projects with classmates who live across the country and world from her. 

Each MADS cohort holds about 150 students. “You get to experience your classmates’ diverse backgrounds, learn who they are, partner with them on projects and grow throughout the program with them,” Brooks said. “It's been really powerful.” 

This environment is representative of UMSI as a whole, according to Oney. “What I value most about UMSI is that it’s very diverse and still very cohesive,” he said. While faculty work across many areas of specialization, “There’s a shared appreciation for what we’re working on collectively and communication across boundaries.”

Brooks and fellow instructors in the MADS program invest effort in cultivating community. When students in the first MADS cohort showed an interest in sports, Brooks worked with them to co-create a sports analytics class as an independent study. 

“I’m not a huge sports person,” he admitted, “but it was really infectious to have all of these different students who were interested.” Now, SIADS 687: Sports Analytics has grown into a regular class, culminating in a data science competition with a trophy for the winners. 

Whether students are looking to make a career pivot or become more effective in their current roles, Brooks said graduates leave with something to show for their time in the program. 

“I've seen amazing life changes while people are in the MADS program, and that's something that's really special and really different about this kind of program versus a typical undergraduate degree,” Brooks said. “The number of students I've seen where their LinkedIn profile changes from the day they came into the program, to adding ‘data scientist’ in front of their job title, is phenomenal.”

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Learn more about the Master of Applied Data Science and apply by Nov. 15, 2023, for the winter 2024 term.