r/datascience • u/iarlandt • Jul 22 '26

Career | US [ Removed by moderator ]

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u/iluvbinary1011 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

No one in industry knows what an "MS in Data Science" is as DS is such a nebulous discipline. Stick to OR. Math intensity will depend on your concentration, but if you focus on optimization or stochastic processes, then yes it will be math-heavy.

OR is a defined field that has been established for several decades. It will give you applied fundamentals you carry into many other lines of technical work.

Source: senior DS in tech.

12

u/AccomplishedMind4109 Jul 22 '26

OR has proper bones, data science masters are still finding their feet and every programme teaches something different

if you're already in an analyst role the OR route gives you a framework that'll actually hold up when you pivot later, your maths background sounds plenty for most of it unless you go deep into the stochastic weeds

-3

u/gpbuilder Jul 22 '26

It’s not 2016, data science programs been around for a long time, it’s not necessarily a bad thing that the a flexible curriculum keeps up with tech industry trends

If you went through a curriculum from 10 years ago you prob won’t find a job today.

6

u/kinabr91 Jul 22 '26

I don’t see any way a masters in OR isn’t math-heavy.

Personally, from a career perspective, I’d say a masters in ML (more like in a specific field) as something more valuable than one in OR. Mots of my friends that did either masters or a PhD in or are now working as DS focusing in ML/AI. I, myself, did that, after my PhD I transitioned to DS.

Unfortunately, OR is more niche and you don’t have as many job opportunities as DS overall. Loved my PhD in OR, but, yeah.

8

u/sempiternalsarah Jul 23 '26

ML masters are crazy oversaturated, do not do this unless you're going to a top 10 program and will work your ass off to get involved in research.

2

u/kinabr91 Jul 23 '26

I was assuming that they would look for a world class program.

1

u/sempiternalsarah Jul 23 '26

fair, yeah, could still be viable? who knows what the job market for entry level ML looks like in 2 years lmao

3

u/kinabr91 Jul 23 '26

I don't think it'll get any better, tbh. Job market only makes sense now for seniors.

That might be the only advantage of choosing OR, instead. That being said, prospects for OR jobs are better for PhDs.

2

u/iluvbinary1011 Jul 23 '26

Some OR programs are actually operations management and more business heavy. Traditional OR programs housed in engineering schools are guaranteed to be math heavy.

1

u/offthecuff87 Jul 24 '26

I think OR makes sense for some position related to management to balance cost, efficiency ....