PhD Data Science and Engineering at University of South Dakota

Programme overview

A doctoral programme, collaborative with South Dakota Mines, focused on engineering, developing, constructing, testing and maintaining architectures for data, databases and large-scale processing systems.

Faculty: College of Arts & Sciences | Department: Department of Computer Science and Department of Mathematical Sciences | Duration: 72 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Vermillion, SD, United States

What you will study

Core, elective and research requirements covering machine learning, data visualization, statistical modeling and big data analytics; up to 24 credits and six research credits from a prior MS may be applied with committee approval.

Career pathways

Academia, industry, government and health care.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-wide graduate (international applicants): English proficiency minimum of TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo English Test 110 or PTE 53 (applicants with a conferred degree from certain English-speaking countries are exempt); official transcripts, statement of purpose, resume and letters of recommendation (number varies by programme); $38 non-refundable application fee. Programme-specific requirements and deadlines vary by department.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for international applicants: Spring 2027 classes start January 11, 2027 (new student arrival deadline January 10); Fall 2027 classes start August 23 (new student arrival deadline August 20).

Graduate applications go through the USD Graduate Application or GradCAS; Audiology, Speech Language Pathology, Law, Medical, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Social Work use specialty CAS applications. Application deadlines are set per programme in the Graduate Catalog and are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The graduate application fee cannot be waived or deferred and is non-refundable.

Law (JD): applications open September 1 for the next year's admission; applicants apply through LSAC CAS and must submit the LSAT, GRE or JD Next. June LSAT scores are accepted for the same year if the application is submitted by July 1. Out-of-state applicants scoring 150+ on the LSAT receive in-state tuition.

Apply through the official page: https://www.usd.edu/Admissions-and-Aid/Apply

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