MS in Data Analytics and Policy
The Master of Science in Data Analytics and Policy program prepares students to use analytics to tackle policy challenges in the public and private sectors. Students graduate with expertise in cutting-edge analytical methods relied upon by government agencies, research institutes, private companies, and nonprofit organizations. The program emphasizes the application of analytics to substantive issues to develop students into data-driven leaders.
The schedule for completing this 12-course degree program is flexible. Many students work full time while attending the program on a part-time basis and complete their degree in two years. Full-time students can complete the degree more quickly. The MS in Data Analytics and Policy program is offered primarily online, although some courses may be offered onsite in Washington, D.C.
Students may choose to earn a concentration within one of the following specialized areas: political behavior and policy analysis, geospatial analysis, statistical analysis, or public management. The electives cover a wide range of analytical methods, including machine learning, predictive analysis, text analysis, database management systems, computational modeling, civic technology, economic analysis, survey methodology, and risk analysis.
Admissions Criteria for All Advanced Academic Programs
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the materials and credentials required for all programs, the Master of Science in Data Analytics and Policy program requires:
- Resume or academic CV
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose: Please provide a statement, up to one page in length, describing your personal background and/or a part of your life experience that has shaped you or your goals. Feel free to elaborate on personal challenges and opportunities that have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree at Johns Hopkins.
- Writing sample: A 1,250- to 1,750-word writing sample that demonstrates your ability to make and support an argument. Writing samples written within the last five years are preferred. Writing samples may not be co-authored. If you do not have an appropriate academic or professional sample on hand, you may respond to the following prompt: “Describe a current policy challenge and explain what should be done to address it.”
Program Requirements
Students in the MS in Data Analytics and Policy program must complete:
- Five required core courses
- Seven elective courses
Core Courses
The five required core courses provide the foundations for conducting and presenting the results of quantitative data analysis.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses - Required | 15 | |
| Probability and Statistics | ||
| Programming and Data Management | ||
| Quantitative Methods | ||
| Data Visualization | ||
| Capstone for Data Analytics and Policy | ||
| Electives | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Electives and Concentrations
Students will complete seven elective courses for the MS in Data Analytics and Policy, in addition to required core courses.
There are four concentrations offered through the MS in Data Analytics and Policy program. Pursuing a concentration is optional. To earn a concentration, four of the student’s electives must be in the concentration area.
All courses from the concentrations on this page may count as one of the seven elective courses, unless specifically noted otherwise.
Concentration in Statistical Analysis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AS.470.624 | Healthcare Analytics and Policy | 3 |
| AS.470.643 | Text as Data | 3 |
| AS.470.667 | Machine Learning Methods and Applications | 3 |
| AS.470.669 | Math for Data Scientists | 3 |
| AS.470.694 | Big Data Management Systems | 3 |
| AS.470.699 | Applied Performance Analytics | 3 |
| AS.470.703 | Urban Data Analytics | 3 |
| AS.470.708 | Unleashing Open Data with Python | 3 |
| AS.470.738 | Policy, Technology and Innovation | 3 |
| AS.470.743 | Data Mining and Predictive Analytics | 3 |
| AS.470.758 | Data-Driven Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| AS.470.763 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
| AS.470.764 | Survey Methodology | 3 |
| AS.470.769 | Data Science for Public Policy | 3 |
| AS.470.779 | Computational Modeling for Policy and Security Analysis | 3 |
| AS.420.677 | Spatial Statistics (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 3 |
Concentration in Public Management
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AS.470.605 | Global Political Economy | 3 |
| AS.470.608 | Public Policy Evaluation & the Policy Process | 3 |
| AS.470.627 | Financial Management & Analysis in the Public Sector | 3 |
| AS.470.631 | Economics for Public Decision-Making | 3 |
| AS.470.645 | The Budgetary Process | 3 |
| AS.470.662 | Expertise and Evidence in Policymaking | 3 |
| AS.470.671 | Risk Management Analytics | 3 |
| AS.470.694 | Big Data Management Systems | 3 |
| AS.470.731 | Privacy in a Data-driven Society | 3 |
| AS.470.763 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
| AS.470.798 | Financial Management and Analysis in Nonprofits | 3 |
Concentration in Political Behavior and Policy Analysis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AS.470.608 | Public Policy Evaluation & the Policy Process | 3 |
| AS.470.620 | Race, Politics, and Policy | 3 |
| AS.470.624 | Healthcare Analytics and Policy | 3 |
| AS.470.636 | 3 | |
| AS.470.641 | Introduction to Advocacy and Lobbying | 3 |
| AS.470.662 | Expertise and Evidence in Policymaking | 3 |
| AS.470.688 | Political Institutions and the Policy Process | 3 |
| AS.470.699 | Applied Performance Analytics | 3 |
| AS.470.703 | Urban Data Analytics | 3 |
| AS.470.738 | Policy, Technology and Innovation | 3 |
| AS.470.745 | Terrorist Financing Analysis and Counterterrorist Finance Techniques | 3 |
| AS.470.758 | Data-Driven Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| AS.470.769 | Data Science for Public Policy | 3 |
| AS.470.779 | Computational Modeling for Policy and Security Analysis | 3 |
| AS.470.835 | DC Lab: Politics, Policy, and Analytics | 3 |
| AS.473.602 | Intelligence Analysis | 3 |
| AS.473.663 | The Intelligence-Policy Nexus | 3 |
Concentration in Geospatial Analysis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AS.472.611 | Analyzing Social Media and Geospatial Information | 3 |
| AS.472.612 | Geospatial Analysis: Communicating with Multiple Audiences | 3 |
| AS.430.600 | Web GIS | 4 |
| AS.430.601 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 4 |
| AS.430.604 | Spatial Analytics | 4 |
| AS.430.606 | Programming in GIS | 4 |
| AS.430.602 | Remote Sensing: Systems and Applications (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.607 | Spatial Databases and Data Interoperability (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.609 | Spatial Data Management: Quality and Control (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.610 | GIS for Infrastructure Management (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.611 | (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.612 | Cartographic Design and Visualization (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.613 | Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.615 | Big Data Analytics: Tools and Techniques (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.617 | Census Data Mining: Visualization and Analytics (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.618 | Advanced Python Scripting for GIS (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.619 | Web Application Development (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.621 | GIS for Emergency Management (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.623 | (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.625 | System Architecture for Enterprise GIS (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.627 | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Geospatial Technology (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.629 | Drones in Geospatial Decision Making (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.631 | Spatial Algorithms and Data Structures (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.633 | Advanced Spatio-Temporal Statistics (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |
| AS.430.635 | Urban Analytics (Not available as a general elective outside of the concentration) | 4 |