The Department of Computer Sciences (CS) offers a dynamic environment for study, research, and professional growth.
The MS in Data Engineering program focuses on the principles and practices of managing data at scale. It emphasizes the valid and efficient collection, storage, management, and processing of datasets to support computation and data driven systems important to data science and data analytics functions. Given the increasing amounts of data being generated and processed daily, almost all industries need data engineers to build and maintain robust data-handling systems. There is a strong workforce demand for data engineering expertise.
Visit the department website for faculty interests, research activities, courses, and additional program information. Students may also be interested in other programs offered by the Department of Computer Sciences, including:
- Computer Sciences Master's Program (MS Computer Sciences: Computer Sciences): A research-oriented master’s degree that prepares students for careers in industry research or for PhD level education in Computer Sciences.
- Professional Master's Program (MS Computer Sciences: Professional Program): This degree is designed for students who are primarily interested in a professional career as a computer scientist in a variety of industries.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | February 15 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Requisites for Admission
Applicants to the MS Data Engineering program should have completed a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Information
Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.
The Department of Computer Sciences maintains additional funding information.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | None. |
| Assessments and Examinations | None. |
| Language Requirements | None. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Data Engineering Foundations | ||
| Complete the following courses. | ||
| COMP SCI 739 | Distributed Systems | 3 |
| COMP SCI 744 | Big Data Systems | 3 |
| COMP SCI 764 | Topics in Database Management Systems | 3 |
| COMP SCI 774 | Data Exploration, Cleaning, and Integration for Data Science | 3 |
| Machine Learning Requirement | ||
| Complete a minimum of 2 courses from the list below. | 6 | |
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Advanced Deep Learning | ||
| Introduction to Machine Learning and Statistical Pattern Classification | ||
| Introduction to Deep Learning and Generative Models | ||
| Statistical Learning | ||
| Algorithms Requirement | ||
| Complete a minimum of one course from below. | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Optimization | ||
| Introduction to Algorithms | ||
| Nonlinear Optimization I | ||
| Systems Requirement | ||
| Complete a minimum of one course from below. | 3-4 | |
| Foundations of Mobile Systems and Applications | ||
| Introduction to Operating Systems | ||
| Database Management Systems: Design and Implementation | ||
| Introduction to Computer Networks | ||
| Mobile and Wireless Networking | ||
| Advanced Computer Networks | ||
| Humans and Data Requirement | ||
| Complete a minimum of one course from below. | 3 | |
| Data Visualization | ||
| Human-Computer Interaction | ||
| Electives | ||
| Complete any additional coursework from above or from the list below to meet 30 credits. Courses used as an elective cannot also be used to fulfill data engineering fundamentals requirements or breadth requirements for machine learning, algorithms, systems, and humans and data. | 1-3 | |
| Introduction to Information Security | ||
| Graduate Cooperative Education 1 | ||
| Master's Thesis 1 | ||
| Master's Research 1 | ||
| Advanced Seminar in Computer Science 1 | ||
| Statistical Models for Data Science | ||
| Statistical Inference for Data Science | ||
| Statistical Methods for Data Science | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
COMP SCI 799 Master's Research, COMP SCI 790 Master's Thesis, COMP SCI 702 Graduate Cooperative Education, and COMP SCI 900 Advanced Seminar in Computer Science can be taken for a combined total of at most three elective credits.
Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
This program does not accept graduate transfer credits from other institutions.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
With program approval, up to 7 Statistics (STAT) credits from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to transfer for minimum graduate degree credits. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. This program does not accept undergraduate transfer credits from other institutions.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special student at UW–Madison
With program approval, up to 15 Statistics (STAT) credits completed at UW–Madison while a University Special student numbered 300 or above are allowed to transfer for minimum graduate degree requirements. Of these credits, those numbered 700 or above or are taken to meet the requirements of a capstone certificate and has the “Grad 50%” attribute may also transfer for the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
Students in the program will be assigned a faculty advisor and a staff advisor for purposes of advising.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals
Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.
Academic decisions that may be appealed include:
- Dismissal from the graduate program
- Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
- Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
- Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards
Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:
- A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
- Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
- Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
- Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).
Appeal Process for Graduate Students
A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.
- The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
- If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
- If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
- To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
- The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case.
- The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
- If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).
Other
Not applicable.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Program Resources
The Department of Computer Sciences hosts many professional development opportunities, including job fairs, workshops, seminars, talks, employer information sessions, mentoring, and student socials. The Department of Computer Sciences’ student organizations, Student-ACM (SACM) and Women’s ACM (WACM), are active partners in providing professional development opportunities for computer sciences graduate students.
Learning Outcomes
- Design, implement and evaluate the use of analytic algorithms on sample datasets.
- Explain how a machine-learning model is developed for and evaluated on real world datasets.
- Design and execute experimental data collection and processing, and present resulting analyses using best practices in human-centered data communications.
- Apply and customize analytics, systems and human-centered techniques to application-specific data engineering requirements and objectives.
- Identify tradeoffs among data engineering techniques (analytics, systems and/or human-centered) and contrast design alternatives, within the context of specific data engineering application domains.
- Survey, interpret and comparatively criticize state of the art data engineering research talks and papers,with emphasis on constructive improvements.
- Organize, execute, report on, and present a real world data engineering project in collaboration with other researchers/programmers.