New cutting edge data science and autonomous technology graduate programs underway
Two new master’s degree programs are in development in CSUN’s Department of Computer Science, to offer students extensive exploration in the cutting-edge fields of data science and autonomous technology.
From predicting election results to forecasting product purchases and trends, data science plays a part in nearly every field these days. The Master of Science in Data Science program will build on the department’s existing undergraduate minor in data science.
“Data science is all about the realization that with the use of the computer these days, the massive amounts of information collected is so overwhelming that a human needs tools and techniques to comb through all the data to analyze what’s going on,” said Steven Stepanek, professor of computer science. According to Stepanek, the purpose of the master’s degree program is two-fold: to offer students currently graduating with a minor in data science a next step, and to offer students who graduated from CSUN years ago an opportunity to close their knowledge gaps, as the importance of data science only grows. Also in development is a Master of Science in Autonomous Technology, with strong ties to the college’s future Center for Integrated Design and Advanced Manufacturing.
Whether it’s a smart car that can drive itself or a smart thermometer that can sense when you’re a block away, tech that functions without being told what to do by a person involves autonomous technology. The proposed new multidisciplinary program involves looking at these products as a whole and building them from beginning to end.
“All of aerospace is seeing that this field of autonomous technology is going to be their future,” Stepanek said, citing that one day, our fighter aircrafts may be totally unmanned, and computers will be fully in charge of all aspects of commercial aviation flights. “The idea of being multidisciplinary is that we’re working toward building a product almost from scratch, with all the different disciplines involved — someone needs to create the design, do the electrical, do the programming, all the way to manufacturing the product. Establishing a multidisciplinary program tied to the Center for Integrated Design and Advanced Manufacturing is cutting-edge for a university.”·
Both programs are still in the early planning, review and approval stages, with a tentative plan to launch in fall 2023 through the Tseng College, Stepanek said.
“Data science and autonomous technology are burgeoning fields with exciting developments,” he said. “Both of these programs will offer students intensive learning and hands-on experiences, to impact society with their skills and knowledge.”
