NJIT@JerseyCity Celebrates First Graduates of M.S. in Data Science Program

NJIT @JerseyCity celebrated the graduation of its first group of master’s students, with four students earning their Master of Science in Data Science at the end of the fall semester this week. While a typical part-time M.S. program takes five semesters to complete, including a full summer semester, these students raced ahead to complete the program in just four semesters.

NJIT @JerseyCity is a state-of-the-art learning space on the Jersey City waterfront. It was launched last fall by NJIT’s Ying Wu College of Computing (YWCC). The location, featuring sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and large, open classrooms, was chosen for its accessibility and close proximity to the region’s rapidly expanding tech sector, including that in New York City.

Launching the NJIT @JerseyCity location with a master’s program and three graduate certificates in data science was based on the growing demand for experts in the field. According to a recent report from the National Science Foundation, “The ability to manipulate data and understand data science is becoming increasingly critical to current and future discovery and innovation.” 

Strategic investment in data science education presents significant financial benefit for the tri-state region. Establishing a data science ecosystem has been a focus of Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Professionals skilled in data science are needed in industry, research laboratories, and government. Glassdoor ranked data scientist as the best job in America for the past five years and LinkedIn listed data scientists as one of fastest-growing jobs for the past six years.

The graduate-level programs offered at NJIT @JerseyCity cater not only to those with an undergraduate degree in computing, but also to those looking to transition from another field into data science. Through the array of certificate programs and introductory-level courses offered, students from different backgrounds are offered a smooth transition and easy landing in the exciting field of data science.

“The field of data science is growing quickly, with the New York City metropolitan area having the greatest demand for data science professionals among the top 20 metro areas in the country,” said YWCC Dean Craig Gotsman. “As the largest computing program in the region, and with a large number of our faculty actively engaged in data science teaching and research, it made perfect sense for us to launch NJIT @JerseyCity with a focus on data science to transform computing professionals into data scientists to meet this demand. I am extremely proud of our first graduates and look forward to hearing how they apply the knowledge they have acquired in our program in their careers and jobs.”

Shawn Cicoria, a principal software engineering manager at Microsoft in midtown Manhattan, is one of the first graduates. “At Microsoft, data science has become a very core part of just about everything,” said Cicoria. “Daily interactions with most of our customers today involve some form of data science, so it’s very critical.”

Cicoria considered several different graduate programs before ultimately choosing NJIT @JerseyCity. “Given the quality of the instructors and the credibility of NJIT, it’s obviously going to lend credibility to me as a data science professional,” says Cicoria. “But that also adds credibility for Microsoft when I meet with customers. [It] makes it well worth the investment.”

Kowsick Venkatachalapathi, a vice president at Bank of New York Mellon, is also pleased he selected NJIT @JerseyCity. “Learning from faculty who brought actual real industry experience into the classroom was something that made a big difference in my experience at NJIT @JerseyCity,” said Venkatachalapathi, “The program also offers great flexibility, which makes it an ideal choice for working professionals looking for a balance between work and study.” 

Following the popularity of its data science programs, NJIT @JerseyCity added Master of Science and graduate certificates in computer science and cybersecurity and privacy in summer 2020. All three programs have seen significant interest from tech professionals interested in these high-demand fields. NJIT @JerseyCity begins its spring semester on Jan. 19. Information on programs, faculty and how to contact an admissions representative can be found at jerseycity.njit.edu.