How the MLDS Program Differentiates Itself

Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS) program welcomed its most diverse class of students to campus this fall. Students in the cohort hail from seven different countries and possess a wide range of professional experience.

MLDS associate director Stephen Dowling recently sat down to talk about what they think differentiates the program, how the program stays knowledgeable of industry needs, and what advice they would give prospective students considering the program.

Why does data science matter to businesses? 

Data science is foundational to successful businesses and organizations. Data science is a discipline that uses science — statistics, machine learning, computer science, and mathematics — to extract insights and values from data. It combines models and algorithms to achieve the ultimate outcomes that drive decision making and automation. Understanding how to apply it to your business needs is simply a must in the 21st century.  

How does the MLDS program keep current with industry trends?  

Our faculty are engaged in off-campus research and collaboration with a wide variety of companies, and through that work they remain up-to-date on current needs and trends off-campus. Additionally, our Industry Advisory Board plays a critical role in providing us a sneak peek into what’s coming down the pike so we can get a head start on producing graduates capable of tackling those challenges right out of the gate. 

What do you think makes the MLDS program unique?  

The MLDS curriculum is made up of proprietary coursework designed to work as a whole, as opposed to a patchwork of courses from other departments or programs. An important consequence of this is our ability to quickly adjust the curriculum based on the trends and needs of the machine learning, data science, and AI industries. Curricular flexibility has been an important aspect of MLDS since its inception. The program offers a variety of elective courses focused on a particular area, such as reinforcement learning, Bayesian statistics, or a specific industry, such as healthcare, finance, or supply chain management. Providing such a variety of elective courses benefits the students and their personalized preferences. The ultimate goal is to offer a personalized learning experience throughout the program. 

What are some common questions you're hearing from MLDS applicants? 

The state of the job market is understandably on applicants’ minds. It’s not a secret that the tech sector, broadly speaking, has gone through some ups and downs in recent months. MLDS applicants should know they benefit from the program’s alumni network and University services like Engineering Career Development and Northwestern Career Advancement — both of which remain available to alumni after graduation. Put another way, career support from Northwestern will be as much of a constant for future job searches as our present and future alumni would like it to be.  

How do you think MLDS graduates differentiate themselves when searching for jobs? 

MLDS focuses on the “how” and the “what” — our graduates enter the job market with practical skills and knowledge in both the foundations of data science and cutting-edge technologies that are applicable to any field. This broad perspective serves them well while job hunting, and companies across a wide spectrum of industries have benefited from the talent and insight our graduates bring to the table. 

What advice would you give an applicant who is starting their MLDS application? 

The applications that stand out are those that go beyond "here is why I am interested in graduate school” and into “here is why I want to study with MLDS, specifically.” Graduate programs aren’t one size fits all, and applicants who demonstrate they have thought deeply about why MLDS and Northwestern are the best fit for them and their careers go a long way toward making a compelling argument for admission.