Fordham University MS in Data Science

Fordham University offers a Master of Science in Data Science with an optional Artificial Intelligence track through the Department of Computer and Information Science in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The 30-credit degree is taught in evening classes at the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan. Machine Learning and Data Mining are both on the core course list, and Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Generative AI, and Artificial Intelligence are available as electives. Fordham does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning through this school.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Quick Facts

DegreeMS in Data Science
TrackArtificial Intelligence (optional)
SchoolGraduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Computer and Information Science
LocationNew York, New York (Lincoln Center campus)
FormatCampus, evening classes, full time or part time
Credits30
Culminating ExperienceCapstone project, thesis, or internship practicum
GREOptional
Tuition$1,789 per credit (2026–27)
DeadlinesNovember 2, 2026 (spring 2027); January 8, 2027 priority and July 30, 2027 final (fall 2027)
Typical LengthOne to two years
STEM DesignatedYes

Official MS in Data Science page

Curriculum

The degree is a data science master’s with machine learning inside it. Students who want more artificial intelligence can declare the optional AI track, which uses four of the ten courses and adds no credits.

Students complete 30 graduate credits, or ten courses, consisting of:

  • 15 credits of core courses, five courses from the core list
  • 12 credits of electives, four courses from one or more of eight thematic clusters
  • 3 credits of a culminating option, a capstone project, thesis, or internship practicum

Core Courses

Students take five courses from this list:

  • CISC 5450 – Mathematics for Data Science
  • CISC 5500 – Data Analytics Tools and Scripting (also listed as BIOT 5400)
  • CISC 5790 – Data Mining
  • CISC 5800 – Machine Learning
  • CISC 5835 – Algorithms for Data Science
  • CISC 5950 – Big Data Computing

Machine Learning and Data Mining are both core options. The bulletin asks for five courses from the list and does not name any one of them as individually mandatory, so students who want machine learning should plan to include CISC 5800.

AI and Data Science Electives

The largest elective cluster covers artificial intelligence and data systems:

  • CISC 5325 – Database
  • CISC 5550 – Cloud Computing
  • CISC 5640 – Nosql Database Systems
  • CISC 5680 – Generative AI and Foundation Models
  • CISC 5900 – Information Fusion
  • CISC 5960 – Introduction to Quantum Computing and Programming
  • CISC 6000 – Deep Learning
  • CISC 6210 – Natural Language Processing
  • CISC 6525 – Artificial Intelligence
  • CISC 6745 – Data Visualization

Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Generative AI, and Artificial Intelligence are electives rather than core courses. The published lists do not include a computer vision course.

Other Elective Clusters

Electives can also come from seven applied clusters:

  • Cybersecurity, including CISC 5650 – Cybersecurity Essentials and CISC 6640 – Privacy and Security in Big Data
  • Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, including CISC 6500 – Bioinformatics
  • Financial Informatics, including CISC 5352 – Machine Learning in Finance and CISC 6352 – Advanced Computational Finance
  • Urban and City Informatics
  • Behavior Informatics
  • Election and Government Informatics
  • Media Informatics

Artificial Intelligence Track

The AI track requires four courses, at least two of them from Group A. Students can declare or remove the track during their studies, and a completed track is recorded on the transcript.

Group A, Core AI Foundations and Methods:

  • CISC 5660 – Data Science for Cybersecurity
  • CISC 5680 – Generative AI and Foundation Models
  • CISC 5790 – Data Mining
  • CISC 5800 – Machine Learning
  • CISC 6000 – Deep Learning
  • CISC 6210 – Natural Language Processing
  • CISC 6525 – Artificial Intelligence
  • CISC 6670 – Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity

Group B, Applied AI and Cross-Domain Integration:

  • CISC 5352 – Machine Learning in Finance
  • CISC 6352 – Advanced Computational Finance
  • CISC 6500 – Bioinformatics
  • CISC 6675 – Secure AI
  • CISC 6745 – Data Visualization

Capstone, Thesis, or Internship

Students finish with one of three options:

  • CISC 6080 – Capstone Project in Data Science
  • CISC 6085 and CISC 6086 – Master’s Thesis in Data Science I and II
  • CISC 6081 – Data Science Practicum (internship)

The thesis runs over two courses and replaces the capstone and one elective. The internship practicum replaces the capstone.

Cost and Tuition

Fordham is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the credit, with the same rate for New York residents and nonresidents. Computer and Information Science programs have their own rate, which is lower than the general Graduate School of Arts and Sciences rate of $1,882 per credit.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the school lists:

CategoryAmount
Tuition per credit, MS in Data Science$1,789
General Fee, per term$242
Technology Fee, per term$372
International Service Fee, per term$76
Application fee$89

At 30 credits, tuition comes to about $53,670 before fees and scholarships. The General and Technology fees add $614 for each term of enrollment.

Health insurance is mandatory for students taking 6 or more credits and is listed at $1,890 for the fall term and $3,342 for the spring term, which includes summer. Students who need the Python bridge course should expect to pay for those credits as well.

Applying by the priority deadline gives full consideration for available merit scholarships. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the school.

View Fordham Graduate School of Arts and Sciences tuition and fees

Admission Requirements

Applicants need a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, or the equivalent from a recognized institution abroad.

Fordham expects an undergraduate degree in a field that emphasizes quantitative skills, such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, physical science, economics, business, or psychology. Applicants from outside computer science are welcome. The school does not publish a minimum GPA for this program.

Applicants are expected to have:

  • knowledge of discrete math, probability, and statistics
  • basic programming knowledge and familiarity with Python

Admitted students can show their Python skills on a placement exam given before each entry term. Students who do not take the exam or who score below a B take CISC 5380 – Programming with Python in their first semester, alongside degree courses.

Application Materials

Applicants submit:

  • online graduate application and $89 application fee
  • unofficial transcripts from degree-granting institutions
  • resume or CV
  • statement of intent of up to 500 words
  • three letters of recommendation
  • proof of English proficiency when required

GRE scores are optional. A supplemental essay is also optional. Official final transcripts are required after an offer of admission is accepted.

For English proficiency, the Computer and Information Science programs consider applicants with an IELTS band score of 6.5, a Duolingo English Test score of 115, a PTE Academic score of 59, or a TOEFL score of 4.5 on tests taken on or after January 21, 2026.

Application Deadlines

Entry TermDeadline
Spring 2027November 2, 2026
Fall 2027, priorityJanuary 8, 2027
Fall 2027, general considerationMarch 31, 2027
Fall 2027, finalJuly 30, 2027

Rolling admissions for fall begin April 1, 2027 and continue until the final deadline or until the cohort is full. International applicants are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline to allow time for visa processing.

Program Format

The MS in Data Science is taught in person at the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan. Classes meet in the evenings to accommodate working professionals, and the bulletin also mentions weekend classes.

Students can enroll full time or part time, with entry in January or August. Fordham describes the degree as a one-to-two-year program. The school does not list an online version of this degree.

The degree is STEM designated, which allows eligible international students to apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.

Fordham undergraduates can also reach the degree through an accelerated master’s option.

Who Is This Program Best For?

Fordham’s MS in Data Science is a strong option for students who want machine learning within a data science degree, with evening classes in Manhattan.

It may be especially appealing to students interested in:

  • machine learning and data mining
  • deep learning, natural language processing, and generative AI as electives
  • applying data science to finance, cybersecurity, or bioinformatics
  • an AI track that appears on the transcript
  • a choice of capstone, thesis, or internship
  • entering from a quantitative major outside computer science, with one Python bridge course

The degree is a data science master’s first. Most of the artificial intelligence coursework is elective, the lists do not include computer vision, and there is no online option. Tuition is at private university rates. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI, an online format, or public university pricing may want to compare other New York schools.

Students can also compare Fordham University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in New York.

View All Machine Learning Programs in New York