Harris School of Public Policy Announces New Master of Science in Data Analytics & Policy Degree

The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has announced the launch of the Master of Science in Data Analytics & Policy (MSDAP), an accelerated 11-month graduate degree designed for students and professionals who want to apply data, analytics, and machine learning to real-world policy challenges.

The program combines rigorous training in programming, statistics, machine learning, economics, political economy, and program evaluation with applied coursework that connects these tools to real-world policy decisions. Students move through a structured summer-to-spring curriculum, building technical skills before applying them to increasingly complex policy problems in fields such as climate and energy, education, finance, health, international development, urban policy, and crime.

Drawing on Harris Public Policy’s strengths in quantitative policy education, the program prepares students to use data and analytical tools to understand problems, evaluate what works, and improve policy decisions across sectors. Graduates will be prepared for careers in government, consulting, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, international organizations, and private-sector firms working on public policy.

“Data never speaks for itself. The rise of data analytics degrees reflects the growing power of statistical and computational tools to shed light on virtually every aspect of life and society. But extracting patterns from data is not the same as understanding the world or knowing how to change it,” said Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, dean and Sydney Stein Professor at Harris. “The Master of Science in Data Analytics & Policy bridges that gap. Students learn cutting-edge data analytics, machine learning, and AI tools, coupled with training in economics, policy analysis, and political economy, enabling them to turn data into understanding and understanding into outcomes.”

Required coursework includes data and programming for public policy, AI for public policy, microeconomics, advanced statistics, machine learning for public policy, and advanced program evaluation. Students can tailor their experience through electives, policy labs, and simulation labs focused on analytical methods or specific policy areas of interest.

“The degree is designed for students who want to use data not just to describe problems, but to evaluate what works and improve decisions,” said Ryan Kellogg, the Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor and deputy dean for academic programs at Harris. “It is especially well-suited for students with strong quantitative foundations who want to build advanced analytical skills and address policy problems across sectors and in a full range of careers.”

Students will also have access to career-connected courses, applied policy challenges, centers and institutes across the University of Chicago, and professional development through Harris’s Career Development Office, including coaching, recruiting and interview preparation, and other career resources.

The new degree builds on the launch of Harris’s Master of Science in Climate and Energy Policy (MSCEP) this year, expanding the school’s portfolio of specialized master’s programs. Together with Harris’ existing degrees, the programs give students a range of pathways to develop the policy expertise and analytical skills needed to address society’s pressing challenges.

For the application to the MS in Data Analytics and Policy—including requirements, deadlines, and fees—visit the central UChicago Master's Application website.