Brown University's one-year, on-campus master's in social data analytics gives students practical training to study social questions through quantitative and qualitative analysis, with distinctive strengths in spatial and demographic methods.
Brown’s social data analytics master’s degree program provides advanced training in computational social science, multivariate statistics, and mixed-methods research. Students specialize in spatial analysis, qualitative methods or demographic analysis to analyze complex human behavior and drive evidence-based policy and market insights. By combining technical training with the substantive depth of the social sciences, the graduate program prepares graduates for careers in policy, research, health and market analysis.
This program offers the following degree:
- Master of science (Sc.M.): Coursework and an optional intensive research internship
The program offers three track options:
- Qualitative Analysis track: focuses on collecting and analyzing textual data from a range of sources, including in-depth interviews, focus groups, observations of individual and group interactions and social media.
- Spatial Analysis track: includes geographic information systems (GIS) and advanced statistical modeling for identifying patterns and relationships in spatial data.
- Demographic Analysis track: focuses on demography, sample survey data, population studies and methods for analyzing population and large databases to assess and project consumer behavior and demand.
The program also offers opportunities for hands-on research through a faculty-directed research practicum. Students can apply data collection, data management and analytical methods to social research, gaining practical experience working with real-world data.
Career Outcomes
With its combination of methodological depth, applied experience and Brown’s collaborative research environment, the Social Data Analytics program prepares students to translate data into meaningful, evidence-based impact. Graduates emerge prepared for roles such as:
- Market and consumer insight analyst
- Policy or program evaluation specialist
- Data scientist in government or social research
- Financial or economic analyst
- Research associate in consulting or nonprofit organizations
Application Information
Application Deadlines
| Final Deadline | Fifth-Year Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Start | January 15 | May 1 |
If you have any questions regarding the application process for this program, please email masters_admissions@brown.edu.
Prerequisite Courses:
- Introductory Statistics Course
(SOC 1100 Introductory Statistics for Social Research or an equivalent)
- Advanced Statistics Course or course in College Calculus
(MATH 0050 and 0060, or MATH 0090 an equivalent)
- Research Methods Course
Application Requirements
GRE General:
Required; the GRE General Test at home version is accepted
Waived for fifth-year applicants.
TOEFL/IELTS:
Required for any non-native English speaker who does not have a degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction or from a University in the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), West Indies, Zambia).
The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator exam are accepted. Students from mainland China may submit the TOEFL ITP Plus exam.
Minimum scores: 105 TOEFL / 8 IELTS
Official Transcripts:
Required. All applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for application submission. Official transcripts are ONLY required for enrolling students before class start. An international transcript evaluation (WES, ECE, or The Evaluation Company) is required for degrees from non-U.S. institutions before enrollment.
For applicants with an undergraduate degree from India, WES and ECE are the preferred evaluation services.
Letters of Recommendations:
Three (3) recommendations required
Two (2) recommendations for current Brown undergraduates (5th-year applicants).
Personal Statement:
600-1000 word personal statement that gives your reasons to pursue graduate work in the field of your study. The statement should include examples of your past work in your chosen field, your plans for study at Brown, issues and problems you would like to address in your field and your professional goals.
Resume/CV:
Required
Dates/Deadlines
Application Deadline
5th Year Deadline
Tuition and Funding
Graduate Tuition & Fees: Please visit the Student Financial Services for up-to-date tuition rates.
Fifth-Year Fellowship: All Brown undergraduates who enter the program as a fifth-year student are awarded a tuition-aid fellowship. The fellowship covers the cost of two tuition units.
Merit Fellowship: All domestic students who are admitted into the program are considered for a merit fellowship to cover the cost of two tuition units. A limited number of merit fellowships are awarded each year.
Completion Requirements
The master's program in social data analytics is a terminal degree program designed to be completed in two semesters. The program requires eight courses including an optional intensive Research Internship that is attached to a faculty Directed Research Practicum. Brown undergraduates who enter the program as fifth–year master's students are allowed to use up to two undergraduate courses to count towards the eight credit requirements if the courses are among the required or elective courses for the program. All entering students are required to have (1) a one–semester introductory statistics course (SOC 1100 Introductory Statistics for Social Research or an equivalent), (2) a more advanced course in statistics or a course in college calculus (MATH 0050 and 0060, or MATH 0090 or an equivalent), and (3) a one–semester course in research methods (SOC 1020 Methods of Social Research or an equivalent).
Alumni Outcomes
Students graduating from Brown and completing the PSTC training program are hired into both academic and private sector positions
Learn More
Leadership
Contact and Location
Population Studies and Training Center
Mailing Address
Box 1836