BROWN UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES ONLINE MASTER'S PROGRAM IN DATA SCIENCE FOCUSED ON POLICY AND GOVERNANCE

Providence, RI - Brown University is set to launch an online Master's degree program in Data Science, designed to explore the role of data in policy and governance. The 16-month program will be the first of its kind at the prestigious institution.

The new program was developed as a collaboration between the university's Data Science Institute (DSI) and the School of Professional Studies. It is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2025.

According to the DSI, the online program aims to provide a more accessible route for individuals interested in data science who may not have been able to join the existing in-person master's degree program.

"The university recognizes that with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, there is an intense need for education and training programs that can equip professionals with the necessary skills to deploy AI systems responsibly," said Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Professor of Data Science at Brown University.

Venkatasubramanian highlighted the importance of "AI governance" - the set of practices, tools, and policies that ensure AI deployments align with societal values and goals. He stated that such a program is crucial for organizations looking to scale up their AI initiatives.

The 16-month online program consists of eight courses and a capstone project. It emphasizes the balance between technological aspects of data science and its potential social impacts.

Course materials cover essential topics including data privacy, biases, and ethics in data analysis. To accommodate students' varying schedules, the program incorporates real-time discussions, student-led components, and flexible learning arrangements.

While Brown University already offers an undergraduate certificate in data fluency and a fifth-year master's degree program, the new online program represents a significant expansion of the institution's educational capabilities in this area.

The DSI plans to recruit students for the first cohort, which will embark on their journey towards becoming experts in data science while exploring its policy and governance implications.