You are the master of your professional destiny.
Learn More
Our renowned research makes a world of difference
Learn MoreThe world is waiting for people like you. Take the next step ahead.
Learn More
The Ph.D. in Data Science is jointly administered by the Department of Data Science in the Ying Wu College of Computing and the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the College of Science and Liberal Arts. To accommodate different interest profiles of students, the program offers two options. There is significant overlap between the two options. (Qualifying students may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Contact alberto.d.guichardo@njit.edu)
Explore the path to innovation
Learn MoreFormulate the solution for transformation
Learn MoreStudents graduating with a PhD degree in Data Science should anticipate the acquisition of skills, knowledge, and professional training that will enable them to pursue data science careers such as data scientist, data analyst, data engineer, data miner, and academic data science researcher in a broad range of industrial sectors, startups, academia, and government institutions. The primary goal of the PhD degree in Data Science is to educate students who have the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue competitive professional and academic careers, swiftly advancing to leadership positions and to contribute to the creation of novel insights and knowledge in the field.
Prospective applicants are expected to have software development experience, computational skills, and an understanding of statistical methods. The minimum requirements for admission to the PhD program are within the guidelines and policies approved by the University and include:
To continue in the Ph.D. program, a student must fulfill the following requirements/milestones:
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Students will need a cumulative GPA of 3.5 if they wish to be considered for financial support of any kind.
End of year one: Students must take the written part of the Ph.D. qualifying exam.
Every student (in both options) will have to pass qualifying exams in these two courses:
CS 675 Machine Learning
MATH 644 Regression
Upon the approval of the PhD program director, students must file a program of study that lists the courses to be taken and the timeline of study.
Students are recommended to choose a dissertation advisor as soon as possible, but no later than 3 months after passing the qualifying exam. A student needs to inquire who among the tenured/tenure track faculty is closest to their area of research interest. The Ph.D. program director should be consulted for this purpose, unless the student has already determined who they wish to work with, e.g., based on class offerings or publication records.
Students will have to pass the oral part of the qualifying exam, followed by registering for research credits. They have to present, orally and in writing, a Dissertation Proposal and, before graduating, have to write and orally defend a state-of-the-art research dissertation in front of a committee of faculty members. Individual professors will impose publication requirements in conferences and/or academic journals as a condition for graduating.
