About the programme

The Interdepartmental Master’s Degree Course in Data Science trains students to become data analysis professionals with strong transversal skills and the ability to work in dynamic and multidisciplinary environments with theoretical, methodological, and practical knowledge in computer science, mathematics, and statistics and in one or more of the domains of competence that are at the base of Data Science, such as Social, Cognitive, Economic, Industrial Sciences and Law.

During training, special attention will be paid to the acquisition of know-how and the development of soft skills. As early as the first year the student will be asked to follow a large group of classes that involve laboratory activities, interdisciplinary working groups, and case studies with the direct involvement of experts in the field. These skills are then further developed through internships and traineeships in public institutions, research institutes, laboratories, public and private companies.

The aim is to create a new professional figure capable of combining interdisciplinary knowledge and interpersonal, communicative, and organizational skills, who will be able to hold high-profile technical and/or managerial roles in highly interdisciplinary contexts in the following fields:

Technology, being able to manage projects and apply innovative solutions in the field of information and IT systems and network technologies, taking into account commercial, socio-organizational and regulatory issues;

Corporate-organisational, being able to govern complex organizations using modern technologies, such as in the field of e-commerce and web-based services;

Socio-psycho-economic, being in possession of the basic skills required to design technologically innovative solutions in public and private institutions, such as in the field of eGovernment and market research.

Career opportunities

The person with a master’s degree in Data Science is able to take part in or hold technical and/or managerial roles in contexts that require a good knowledge of the disciplines of Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, and Social Sciences and a thorough knowledge of data processing for problem-solving purposes.

The Data Scientist is a professional figure responsible for the collection, analysis, elaboration, interpretation, dissemination, and visualization of quantitative or quantifiable data of the organization for analytical, predictive, or strategic purposes. In her/his work she/he identifies, collects, compiles, prepares, validates, analyses, and interprets data concerning different activities of the organization in order to extract information (of synthesis or derived from analysis), also through the development of predictive models to generate advanced organized knowledge systems.

The data scientist is, therefore, an analyst of large amounts of highly complex technical data (Big Data and Open Data) which, however, is able to combine methods and techniques of business management and public, private and third sector administration with technologies and methodologies of computer science and social sciences, possessing skills in each of the areas.

Competencies associated with the function

Thanks to the in-depth knowledge of the organization are able to:

• Identify and access data sources;
• Support and develop business processes;
• To choose suitable and effective methods and models to support strategic business decisions;
• Develop lines of evolution and operational plans;
• Abstract the information obtained and, through it, generate indications to support the active development programs;
• Finally, the Data Scientist presents this information in the most suitable form to support management’s tactical and strategic decisions, paying particular attention to the issues related to the synthesis and effective representation and visualization of information.

Employment opportunities

In the world, there is a growing interest in Big Data, Open Data, and the Data Scientist profession due mainly to the growing demand of this professional figure in the Analytics market by the more traditional sectors of the economy, including banking; manufacturing; telecommunications and media; Public Administration and health; other business services; large-scale distribution; utilities; and, insurance.

In this context, the professional figure of the Data Scientist, coherently with the flexibility in the educational path offered by the LM 91 class, will be characterized to a greater extent, according to the individual student’s options, by the capacity of substantive reading of socio-economic-psychological data or by the ability to develop analytical tools useful for their elaboration and presentation.

In concrete terms, the skills acquired by people graduating from this Master’s Degree will give them professional and career opportunities in:

• Public or private market research and analysis institutes;
• Organizations oriented, at the national or international level, to the formulation and implementation of social and economic policies;
• Organizations, public or private, oriented towards innovation and the promotion of services and products for consumers, the design of new services in the public sector, or the definition of new communication strategies;
• Private companies, including small and medium-sized companies, consider it strategic to make effective use of the information available in planning market strategies, process, and product innovation, and company management.

Admission

Application deadlines
(check on line for updates)

• March for NON-EU citizens permanently living abroad
• June for EU students and NON-EU students living in Italy

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
• Courses taken in following areas: Computer Science/Information Engineering- Sociology/Economics/Psychology/Law- Mathematics/Statistics
• English at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

How to apply

Please get in touch to receive instructions about the application process.