Master of Science

Students will take a minimum of 20 courses (51 units over 21 months) in order to complete their Education Data Science program. There are several requirements:

• Minimum of 11 courses from the core curriculum including education data science courses (2 courses), statistics courses (2 courses), EDS seminar (6 courses), and the Education Internship Workshop (1 course).

• Minimum of 3 courses for the Educational Foundation.

• Minimum of 6 courses in at least 3 areas of data science specialization.

• A minimum of 17 units must be completed for a letter grade.

• A 3.0 GPA must be maintained for all courses applied to the master’s degree.

• Students must enroll in a minimum of 8 units during Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters, and cannot exceed 18 units in any quarter.

• Note: if you wish to maintain eligibility to receive financial aid (such as loans), you must enroll in at least 8 units during the academic year and at least 6 units during summer.

• All courses must be at or above the 100 level – courses numbered below 100 do not count toward the MS degree.

• At least 25 units must be at or above the 200 level (EDUC 180 and EDUC 190 count toward this requirement).

• At least 30 units must be from courses offered by the Graduate School of Education (EDUC units).

• English for Speakers of Other Languages (EFSLANG 600 level) and Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (ATHLETIC) courses cannot be applied toward the master’s degree.

• EDS students will design a course of study in consultation with the Program Director to ensure individual training goals are met.

The goal of the EDS MS is to train the next generation of data scientists who have a substantive background and concern with educational topics. The requirements are aimed at accomplishing this goal, but we recognize students may come in with more developed skills and background in certain areas and more room to grow in others. As a result, it may be advisable for students to request changes to course requirements, substituting various courses and building expertise where needed so as to make sure the EDS program trains students to be the best education data scientists possible. To this end, students can propose substituting certain course requirements after discussion, review, and approval by the program director so as to make sure training goals are satisfied. Requests for substitutions should be made through a petition form opens in a new tab.

Students must complete at least 45 units at Stanford to receive the master's degree in LDT. The following constraints are placed on those 45 units:

• All courses must be at or above the 100 level. Courses numbered below 100 do not count toward the master’s degree.

• At least 23 units (half of the total minimum units) must be at or above the 200 level. EDUC 180 and EDUC 190 count toward this requirement.

• At least 30 units must be from courses offered by the Graduate School of Education (EDUC units).

• At least 15 units must be taken for a letter grade (as opposed to Credit or Satisfactory).

• A 3.0 GPA must be maintained for all courses applied to the master’s degree.

• All students must enroll in a minimum of 8 units during Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters and cannot exceed 18 units in any quarter (exception: HCP students take 3-7 units)

• LDT students are required to register for exactly 6 units in Summer quarter. At least 39 units need to be completed in Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters. 

• English for Speakers of Other Languages (EFSLANG 600 level) and Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (ATHLETIC) courses cannot be applied toward the master’s degree.

• See the “Coterminal Degree opens in a new tab” section for unit requirements applying to students admitted through the coterminal degree program.

Recommended electives for LDT include a range of courses related to learners and education. Students may take electives from any department at Stanford, with advisor’s approval. Also, students are encouraged to approach professors for Directed Reading (EDUC 180) on a topic of special interest to them.

The online Learning Portfolio consists of substantial work done during the year, together with a reflection on the learning represented by that work. The Master’s Project consists of a design project conceived and developed by the student. The project proposal and reports will include a description and analysis of the learning problem, the theoretical approach and research used to address it, the design proposal, prototypes, and learning assessments. The Master’s Project must be submitted to the student’s advisor for approval by the end of winter quarter and presented to the public late in the summer. Both the Learning Portfolio and the Master’s Project Report are due in summer quarter.