Master of Science in Data Science

Program Description

The MS (DS) program has been designed to give students the option to be part of a data science endeavour that begins with the identification of business processes, determination of data provenance and data ownership, understanding the ecosystem of the business decisions, skill sets and tools that shape the data, making data amenable to analytics, identifying sub-problems, recognizing the technology matrix required for problem resolution, creating incrementally-complex data-driven models and then maintaining them to ultimately leverage them for business growth.

The amount of data is growing so rapidly and their significance in the emerging societal set ups such as the pervasive Internet of Things. The way one imagines data is going to change in the coming years. Both Big Data Analytics and pervasive computing hinge on the principle axis of data analytics. MS (DS) program is going to be relevant in terms of job creation and artisanal smart business generation. Graduates from this program would definitely avail the early-bird advantage.

Why Study at PAF IAST?

Location and Ambience

Natural mountains nestle PAF IAST that flank its campus from all sides. The institute offers one  ravishing view of snow-capped peaks of Nathiagali and natural winding trails. Furthermore, to its north-west is Tarbela Lake, a journey of only a few kilometers from the campus. Moreover, set in the middle of the campus is a natural lake, fed by the springs of surrounding mountains. The campus is just a 3-kilometer drive from the Hazara Motorway. This results in an ideal setting equally conducive to academic activity. Most importantly, major cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila, and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour.

Technology Advancement and Foreign Partnership

This institute is an emerging center of excellences, with its own technology park. Therefore, all faculty members hold PhD degrees in appropriate disciplines. By virtue of its wide array of facilities and the facilitation for its students to learn. Furthermore, they benefit both from classroom teaching and faculty trained at premier Austrian universities/institutions. The institution is ideally cut out for imparting state-of–the-art engineering and allied education in Pakistan. Moreover, the institute enjoys close linkages with top ranking universities in Austria and China. As a result, we have already concluded with them formal agreements regarding student and faculty exchange programs, provision of dual degrees in certain areas, and the training support from foreign faculty. 

Academia-Industry Relationship

There is a strong relationship between academia and industry. As a result, this paves the way for job opportunities for students even in the midst of their studies. PAF IAST will serve as a welcome platform for the industry to share their requirements for a skilled workforce. Therefore, this will enable the institute to incorporate their valuable inputs in practical vocational training and expose the students to industrial perspectives.

On-Spot Industry Internship

Firstly, it will be a mandatory requirement for every student to do an internship every semester in an appropriate industry. Secondly, this will garner them practical experience related to their respective degree programs. To crown it all, Technology Park will afford them rare opportunities to apply themselves innovatively and become promising entrepreneurs.

Need and Merit-based Scholarships

Different types of local and foreign scholarship opportunities are available on need and merit base.

Associated Careers

Data science experts are needed in virtually every job sector—not just in technology. In fact, the five biggest tech companies—Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook. However—in order to break into these high-paying, in-demand roles—an advanced education is generally required. Here are some of the leading data science careers you can break into with anf advanced degree. Data Scientist, Machine Learning Scientist, Application Architect, Enterprise Architect, Data Architect, Business Intelligence, Statistician, Free lancing Data scientist, Marketing Analyst, health data Analyst, and of course the path to Ph.D. degree

MS Data Science Course Outline

Semester 1

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

COMP-###

Applied Programming

NC

 

 

COMP-###

Tools and Techniques for Data Science

2

1

3

COMP-###

Statistical and Mathematical Methods for Data Analysis

3

 

3

COMP-###

Elective-1

3

 

3

Semester 2

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

COMP-###

Machine Learning for Data Science

3

 

3

COMP-###

Specialized Core I

3

 

3

COMP-###

Specialized Core II

3

 

3

SS-821

Research Methodology

NC

 

0

Semester 3

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

COMP-899

MS Thesis

6

 

6

COMP-###

Elective-II

3

 

3

Semester 4

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

 

COMP-###

Elective-III

3

 

3

Specialized Core Courses:

Code

Course Title

COMP-830

Advanced Big Data Analytics

COMP-828

Deep Learning

COMP-831

Natural Language Processing