Emory Quantitative Theory & Methods

Emory Quantitative Theory

& Methods

Competition Report

Data is everywhere and so too are data science programs. In order for QTM to shine in a competitive landscape, it is necessary to understand how we can distinguish ourselves. This snapshot of the programs identified by the University of Virginia (UVA)’s School of Data Science proposal as major competitors introduces the wide variation in Data Science schools, programs, and initiatives across higher education. The different levels at which Data Science programming is administered are noteworthy: some universities have Schools of Data Science or even higher divisions (e.g., UC Berkeley) while others have funded initiatives or research centers that do not house any degree-granting programs. The full summary of the competitive program information is in the appended table of University comparisons. Here, we discuss QTM’s competitive advantage in undergraduate programming and the alternative focus of other data science schools and initiatives.

Emory’s Undergraduate Edge

simply a BS in Data Science, Data Analytics, or Applied Math and Statistics or integrate data science components into statistics or computer science curricula. This leads to Emory’s third and primary competitive advantage: our emphasis on teaching students more than how to execute operations on data. Not only does Emory offer different degrees in Applied Math and Statistics, Public Policy and Analysis, and Business Administration, the Quantitative Sciences Major has 18 different disciplinary tracks, allowing students to combine substantive knowledge with the tools of data science. The only other programs identified by UVA as major competitors that offer substantive tracks for their undergraduate majors, Rochester and Ohio State, are discussed in greater detail below.

Emphasis on Research and Graduate Programming

The programs that UVA identified as major competitors focus most of their resources on research and graduate programming. Almost all of the programs offer a Master’s degree in Data Science, Applied Data Analytics, Data and Business Analytics, Health Informatics and Analytics, and Technology and Policy. Further, these programs frequently house or support research labs and centers that employ graduate fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and other dedicated research staff. Large portions of their webpages are dedicated to the recent research conducted by their researchers and affiliated faculty on current salient issues like cybersecurity and COVID-19. While funding information is not readily available for all of these programs, many indicate that they utilize grants and corporate partnerships to fund their research centers and programming. If we are going to compete in this landscape, we will need to build out the ability to host students at the graduate and post-doctoral levels as well.

Undergraduate Programming Competition

Both the Rochester and OSU major programs incorporate a capstone project for upper-level students that have some research or partnership with industry components as a requirement for the degree.

University Program Substantive Major Tracks

Emory QTM QSS Major • Anthropology

• Architectural Studies • Art History

• Biological Anthropology • Biology

• East Asian Studies • Economics

• History • Informatics

• International Studies

• Latin American and Caribbean Studies • Linguistics

• Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology • Political Science

• Psychology • Sociology

• Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Ohio State University BS Data Analytics (Co-directed by

Statistics and Computer Science) • Biomedical and Public Health Analytics • Business Analytics • Computational Analysis

• Data Visualization • Social Science Analytics University of Rochester BA/BS Data Science • Biology

• Biomedical signals and imaging • Brain and cognitive sciences

• Computer Science, Statistics, and Mathematics • Earth and Environmental Science

• Linguistics • Physics

Summary of Competitive Programs

University Level Interdisciplinary

Major Substantive Major Tracks

Minor Interdisciplinary

Master’s Interdisciplinary PhD Affiliated Research Center, PostDocs Major External Funding UC Berkeley Division (school, departments, and research institute) X X X X Grants, Corporate Partnerships

UVA School X X Private gift

UNCC School X X X Corporate

Washingt on

Institute X X Grants,

Corporate Partnerships

Rochester Institute X X X X State,

private gifts

Columbia Institute X X

Michigan Institute X X X Industry

Partnerships Johns

Hopkins Institute X X Grants, Corporate

Partnerships

MIT Institute X X X Corporate

Partnerships

Ohio State Institute X X X X

Stanford Institute X Corporate

Membership Michigan

State

Department X X X X

NYU Center X X X X X Corporate Partnerships

UChicago Center X UChicago

Campaign

UMass Center X X Industry

Affiliates

Duke Initiative X X X Grants

University Level Number of Faculty Number of Graduate Students

Number of Postdoctoral Researchers

UC Berkeley Division (school, departments, and research institute) EECS: 148 Faculty ISchool: 144 Faculty Statistics: 61 Faculty ISchool: 844

Statistics: 52 BIDS: 17 Fellows, 45 Faculty/Research Affiliates

UVA School 19 Faculty 50-60 per cohort 13 Presidential Fellows

UNCC School 18 Core, 61 Affiliated

Washington Institute 22 25 Postdocs, 68 Data Science Fellows

Rochester Institute 75 Affiliated

Columbia Institute 350+ Affiliated 18 Postdocs

Michigan Institute 340+ Affiliated 7 Fellows

Johns Hopkins Institute 27 Staff Researchers

MIT Institute 42 Core, 49 Affiliate 83 21 Postdocs, 7 Senior Researchers

Ohio State Institute 47 Core, 217 Affiliated 5+ Graduate Lab Personnel

Stanford Institute 18 Faculty 26 Postdocs/Graduate Fellows

Michigan State Department 40 Faculty 17 Postdocs

CalTech Center 29 Core, 10 Affiliated 73 21 Postdocs

NYU Center 17 Joint Appointments, 60

Affiliated 7 Postdocs, 2 Research Engineers, 11 Faculty Fellows UChicago Center 35 Computer Science Faculty,

21 Statistics Faculty

4 Postdocs, 6 Graduate Fellows

UMass Center 30 Core (CS), 150 Affiliated 4 Postdocs

Duke Initiative 50+ Affiliated 53 8 Postdocs

Harvard Initiative 25 Affiliates 11 Postdocs

Northwestern Initiative 5 Scholars 37 Fellows

BostonU Interdisciplinary Faculty Group

30 Founding

Note: Many listed programs do not have their own faculty lines, instead utilizing “affiliated” faculty from other schools and departments. The number of graduate students listed combines current doctoral and master’s students, if applicable. None of the listed programs publish the number of undergraduates currently enrolled in their degree-granting programs on their program webpages.