Online Education

Graduate Certificate in Big Data Management and Analytics Computer Science

About the Certificate

As the size and availability of datasets increase, so do the challenges in efficiently and effectively sharing, analyzing, and visualizing information. Proficiency in big data analytics requires knowledge in interdisciplinary areas including computer science, business information technology, mathematics and statistics, and electrical and computer engineering. This is a specialized graduate certificate program to teach practicing computing professionals and graduate students the skills necessary for the use and development of big data management, big data analytics, data mining, cloud computing, and business intelligence.

The graduate certificate program is open to all individuals holding a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a scientific discipline, and who have a minimum of two years of professional experience, or are currently accepted into a graduate degree program at Missouri S&T. The only additional requirement for students entering a graduate certificate program is that they satisfy the prerequisites for any course they take in the program.

The certificate program consists of four courses (two core and two elective). In order to receive a graduate certificate, you must earn a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0 in the four certificate courses taken. 

 Students admitted to the certificate program will have non-degree graduate status, but will earn graduate credit for the courses they complete. If the four course sequence approved by the graduate advisor is completed with a grade of B or better in each of the courses taken, the student will upon application be admitted to the master's degree program in computer science, as long as they meet the requirements for the computer science master's degree program.  All computer science certificate courses and up to one non-computer science certificate course taken will count toward the computer science master's degree.

Once admitted to the certificate program, you will have three years to complete the certificate, as long as you maintain a B average in the courses taken.

Students applying for a graduate certificate must submit the following:

  • Completed Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Transcripts

Online Application

  • When you start a new application, select "Graduate Online/Distance" and then select the certificate program.
  • Don't forget to list your current employer and company location on the application.
  • Statement of purpose should be 2-3 paragraphs explaining why you are applying for this program. 
  • Statement is to be submitted electronically on the online application; you'll copy and paste it into the provided text box.

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for an admit decision. 

  • Upload your transcripts on the online application under your "Institutional Data." If you previously attended S&T, you must upload your transcript. An unofficial transcript can be requested through Joe’SS. How to Request Unofficial Transcripts (pdf)  
  • PDF scans are preferred.
  • The university requires official transcripts from all schools attended before a student may register for a second semester.
  • In order for a transcript to be counted as official it must be sent directly from the school to S&T, it cannot come from a student. 

Official transcripts should be mailed to Global Learning:

Missouri University of Science and Technology
Office of Global Learning
G8 Norwood Hall, 320 West 12th Street
Rolla, MO 65409

 

Pathway to a Master's Degree

Are you a working professional who wants to earn your master's degree, but you don’t have time to take the GRE/GMAT? Then start in a graduate certificate program. Graduate certificates were designed as a pathway to a master's degree.* The admission requirements are more relaxed and credit earned will count toward your degree. Once you successfully earn your graduate certificate, you can continue with the corresponding master's degree without having to take the GRE/GMAT.


Related Degrees

This graduate certificate may act as a pathway to the following master’s programs:

*Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply.

Questions?

Contact Us

Missouri S&T Online Education

Sylvia Skouby, Associate Director for Online Admissions

Phone: 573-341-6903
Email: stgrad@mst.edu

Computer Science

Dr. Ricardo Morales
Assistant Teaching Professor
Computer Science
340 Computer Science Bldg.
500 W. 15th St.
Rolla, MO 65409-0350
Phone: 573-341-6350
Email: csgradcoord@mst.edu 
Web: cs.mst.edu