Georgia State University offers a Master of Science in Analytics in Data Science and Analytics with a concentration in Big Data and Machine Learning through the Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The campus-based program requires 34 to 36 credits and is designed to be completed in three semesters. Machine Learning and Data Mining are required courses, and students finish with a capstone project.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MSA in Data Science and Analytics |
| Concentration | Big Data and Machine Learning |
| School | Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Format | Campus-based |
| Credits | 34–36 |
| Culminating Experience | Capstone project |
| Minimum GPA | None published |
| GRE | Not listed as a requirement |
| Fall Deadline | July 15 |
| Spring Deadline | November 1 |
| Program Length | Three semesters |
Official Big Data and Machine Learning program page
Curriculum
This concentration is Georgia State’s only master’s pathway with a formal, catalog-defined machine learning curriculum. Most of the program is prescribed, including the first-term schedule.
Students complete 34 to 36 graduate credits consisting of:
- 12 credits of required first-term courses
- 15 credits of additional required courses
- 6–8 credits of electives (two courses)
- 1-credit capstone project
First-Term Required Courses
- CSC 6780 – Fundamentals of Data Science
- CSC 6710 – Database Systems
- MATH 6751 – Mathematical Statistics I
- CSC 8902 – Ethics for Data Science
Additional Required Courses
- CSC 6850 – Machine Learning
- CSC 6740 – Data Mining
- CSC 6760 – Big Data Programming
- MATH 6752 – Mathematical Statistics II
Electives
Students select two electives. Machine learning options include:
- CSC 8850 – Advanced Machine Learning
- CSC 8851 – Deep Learning
- CSC 8852 – Advanced Topics of Deep Learning
- CSC 8741 – Graph Machine Learning
- CSC 8740 – Advanced Data Mining
- CSC 8810 – Computational Intelligence
- CSC 8230 – Secure and Private Artificial Intelligence
The list also includes advanced database courses and statistics courses such as STAT 8610 – Time Series Analysis and STAT 8674 – Monte Carlo Methods.
Capstone Project
Students finish with DSCI 8930 – MS Project, a 1-credit capstone. There is no thesis option.
Georgia State notes that students spend the summer in data science internships, faculty-supervised machine learning projects, or data science sprints.
Cost and Tuition
Georgia State does not publish a separate tuition chart for this concentration, so the standard graduate rate is shown here.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Student Financial Services lists:
| Residency | Tuition per Credit Hour | Per Semester (12+ hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia resident | $412 | $4,944 |
| Nonresident | $1,388 | $16,665 |
Mandatory student fees add $660 per semester in fall and spring for students taking six or more credit hours.
Tuition is capped at the 12-hour amount each semester, so the total depends on how many credits a student takes per term. Students should confirm the rate for this program with Georgia State before enrolling.
View Georgia State tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Georgia State does not publish a minimum GPA or specific degree prerequisites for this concentration. The statement of purpose asks applicants to describe their preparation for a graduate program in computer science, so a computing or quantitative background is the expected starting point.
The curriculum moves quickly into database systems, big data programming, and two semesters of mathematical statistics. Applicants should be comfortable with programming and college-level mathematics.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online application and $50 application fee
- statement of purpose
- two letters of recommendation
- transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended
- TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants
The GRE is not listed among the required materials for this program. Applicants should confirm the current testing policy with the department.
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | July 15 |
| Spring | November 1 |
The program does not admit students for summer.
Program Format
Georgia State lists the Big Data and Machine Learning concentration at its Atlanta campus, in the Department of Computer Science downtown. The university does not describe an online option.
The program is designed as a three-semester sequence.
Georgia State also offers a Data Science in Business concentration of the same degree through the Robinson College of Business. That version is business-oriented and uses a different set of courses.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Georgia State’s Big Data and Machine Learning concentration is a strong option for students who want a structured, fast route into data science and machine learning work in downtown Atlanta.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and data mining
- big data programming
- deep learning and graph machine learning
- mathematical statistics
- a three-semester program
- summer internships and applied projects
The curriculum is largely fixed, with deeper machine learning available through only two elective slots, and it ends in a short capstone. Students who want a thesis, an online format, or a broader computer science degree may want to compare other Georgia schools.
Official Georgia State University Program Links
- Big Data and Machine Learning program page
- Graduate catalog entry
- Department of Computer Science graduate programs
- Tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Georgia
Students can also compare Georgia State University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Georgia.
- Emory University – Atlanta
- Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta
- Georgia Southern University – Statesboro
- Kennesaw State University – Kennesaw
- Mercer University – Online
- University of Georgia – Athens