General Admission Information

The delivery modality chosen for the PhD program reflects the professional needs of students. Admitted students will have earned a master's degree in data science, computer science, or similar field from a college or university that is institutionally accredited and will have graduated with a 3.5 preferred GPS (3.3 considered) on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent. International students from foreign institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, contingent upon specialized, national, or other accreditations of their institutions.

Students whose first language is not English will be required to complete the TOEFL exam. The PhD program's minimum TOEFL requirement is 550 (paper version) and 79 (internet version).  Detailed information for international applicants.

Since the program is designed for reflective leaders, students will be expected to demonstrate, via resume or curriculum vitae and supporting documents, at least five years of professional work in data-related fields. This will provide both a context for the learning that takes place in the program and a means of contributing to the learning of others in the program. Professional practice could include teaching experience, mid-level to executive-level experience within a for-profit or not-for-profit organization, company proprietorship, and educational administration.

There are no specific course prerequisites to be admitted into the program but students would be advised to have graduate level courses in statistics and programming experience prior to the beginning of their program. Applicants who do not have this background may be asked to strengthen their background through self-directed learning prior to the beginning of the program.

Once accepted into the program, students must submit a $150 deposit (if international student, please refer to international requirements for deposit) and register for classes. Once students are registered, they receive usernames and passwords for email and access to Eastern's online learning platform, intranet, and library resources.

Both acceptances and deferrals are only valid for one year. Students who choose to attend the year that they're accepted or defer to the following year must submit a $150 deposit to reserve a seat in the PhD Program. A new application must be submitted if students choose to defer beyond the one year limit.

 

More Admissions Details

Application Procedures

All students are selected for admission to the PhD program based on academic preparation, leadership experience, and alignment with Eastern’s mission. 

Official admissions decisions are mailed to the address stated on the application.

Application Requirements

To apply for acceptance, a student must submit all of the following:

  • Application: The application form may be submitted online.
  • Degree: Masters degree in data science, computer science, informatics, statistics, mathematics, or another closely related discipline
  • GPA: Students should have a masters GPA of 3.5 or higher; those with a 3.3 GPA can be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Undergraduate GPA is not considered.
  • Official Transcript: An official transcript from an institutionally accredited college or university must be submitted by the institution that conferred the master's degree
  • How to Request a Transcript: View FAQs about requesting a transcript from your previous school(s).
  • Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
  • 2 Recommendation Forms: Submit 2 references using this form:
    - Academic: attesting to ability to compete at the graduate level from an academic reference (former professor).
    - Professional: from a supervisor attesting to the student’s competence and work habits (in an employment setting).  
  • Essay: Potential students will complete and submit one essay with two parts for review by the SMCS Graduate faculty. See below for essay prompt and instructions.
  • Interview with Program Director: Selected applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview after all other application materials have been submitted.

 

Ph.D. in Applied Data Science – Essay Information

Guidance for Essay Submission

Your essay will be reviewed by SMCS Graduate Faculty. Submit one document containing both Part 1 and Part 2, each titled accordingly. (Word count: 1000–1500 for entire essay).

Part 1: Personal Statement (Word count: 500–750)
Why are you pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Data Science?
In this section, please address:

  • What motivates you to pursue this Ph.D. program?
  • What do you hope to gain from the Ph.D. experience?

How do you anticipate the program will impact your professional and personal development and long-term goals?

Eastern University is committed to faith, reason, and justice. Reflect on:

  • How your values, background, and life experiences align with Eastern’s mission
  • How these elements influenced your decision to pursue this program
  • How your personal/professional path aligns with the program’s emphasis on ethical and socially responsible data science

Part 2: A Topic of Personal Passion Related to Data Science (Word count: 500–750)
Your passion and vision for data-driven research
In this section, please address:

  • 2–3 specific research areas or problems of interest
  • Why these areas are appropriate for a dissertation in applied data science
  • How this research supports your professional goals and contributes to the field