Urban Data Science Certificate

The 4-course certificate in urban data science (UDS) will provide students with the skills to apply data science techniques and methodologies to pressing problems in urban policy and administration, planning, and the emerging science of cities. 

The UDS certificate is closely aligned with​​ the M.A. in urban affairs and public policy in the Biden School, which treats the urban environment as the fundamental construct and prepares students to address critical societal issues across multiple spatial scales and disciplines. The UDS certificate enhances that approach as it conceptualizes cities as complex systems with three fundamental components—the human, natural, and built environments—whose interactions can be explored and understood through spatial and temporal quantitative and qualitative data. 

​The technical skills developed in the UDS certificate program include 

• ​statistical methods
• computer coding
• quantitative reasoning
• geospatial statistics and GIS
• social science implementations of the scientific method

These skills have applications in both research and practice including examples in transportation, sustainability, energy, environment, social justice, and technology in public life.​​

​Required Courses (9 credits):

• Data Science Tools for Evidence-based Policy (SPPA721) OR Principles of Urban Science​ (SPPA667) OR Principles of Urban Science (SPPA667)​​
  
• ​Machine Learning for Public Policy​ (SPPA722)
  
• Planning Theory and Urban Policy (UAPP613) OR Urban Society and Public Policy​​​ (UAPP703)​
  

Electives - one of the following (3 credits):

• Plan Sustainable Communities & Regions (UAPP706)
• Ethics in Data Science and AI (UAPP667)
• Public Policy (UAPP701)
  
• Public Policy Analysis (UAPP707)​
  

Current Students

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program who intend to pursue the Certificate Program should complete the Graduate Certificate Approval Form. The form must be signed by program director Greg Dobler ​and then sent to the Graduate College for processing.

Current UD undergraduate students can add the Certificate Program using the Graduate Certificate Enrollment Request Form for Current Undergraduate Students also available on the website of the Office of Graduate Studies. All courses must be taken at the 600-level rather than at the 400-level to count towards the Graduate Certificate.​

Certificate-Only Students

Applicants who are not currently enrolled at UD are welcome to apply to the UDS certificate program. Required application materials: 

• ​Transcripts from prior collegiate work
• A Personal statement of interest that addresses background and preparation
• Evidence via transcript or supplemental documentation of experience with basic statistics and familiarity with the concepts of using software to analyze data​