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Ph.D.–Advanced Data Science Option

Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering: ADV DATA SCI) provides students an introduction to the world of data science, giving them the skills to understand a variety of techniques and tools. This option will help to educate and recognize PhD students whose thesis work focuses specifically on building and using advanced data science tools.

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering: ADV DATA SCI) are as follows:

I. Three out of the following four courses

Course #Course NameCredits
CSE 544Principles of data management4
CSE 546 or STAT 535Machine Learning or Statistical Learning: Modeling, Prediction, and Computing4/3
CSE 512Data Visualization4
STAT 509 or STAT 512-513Introduction to Mathematical Statistics or Statistical Inference4

II. eScience Community Seminar

  • 4 quarters of the eScience Community Seminar, ENGR 591-Data Science Seminar, or ME 520- Data Drive seminar with Professor Steve Brunton. Seminar credits do not count towards graduation requirements. 

III. Fulfillment of the Mechanical Engineering requirements

In addition, all students are required to take at least one additional course in quantitative methods (statistics, applied mathematics, mathematics, or computational science) OR in a methodology directly relevant to their area of focus. Such courses are to be specified in each student’s Individualized Training Plan.

Course #Course NameCredits
CSE416/STAT416Introduction to Machine Learning4
STAT 527Nonparametric Regression and Classification3
STAT 535Statistical Learning: Modeling, Prediction, and Computing3
STAT 509Econometrics I: Introduction to Mathematical Statistics4
STAT 512/513Statistical Inference4
ME/EE 578Convex Optimization4
ME 599Machine Learning Control3
ME 571Data-Driven Modeling of Dynamical Systems 4
ME 599Introduction of AI For Clean Energy3
Amath 515Optimization: Fundamentals and Applications5
Amath 563Inferring Structure of Complex Systems5
Amath 582Computational Methods for Data Analysis5
Amath 583High-Performance Scientific Computing5

Students may not count any course toward both the ME coursework requirements and the Data Science requirements. For example, if students take ME 574 and count it toward the computational or numerical analysis requirement, they cannot use this course to fulfill the Data Science requirement. Students must ensure that there’s a minimum of 9 distinct credits taken for the Data science option.