MSAN Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you offer night classes or is there a part-time option to the program?
A: There are no night classes or part-time option at this time.
Q: Do you offer online classes?
A: There is no online option at this time.
Q: I haven’t completed all of the program requirements. Can I complete the requirements I am lacking during the program?
A: You must have completed all requirements before the program begins.
Q: What is the minimum GRE score that you will accept? GMAT?
A: We are looking for applicants who scored in the 69th percentile and above on the GRE and in the 80th percentile and above on the GMAT.
Q: What is the minimum TOEFL score that you will accept?
A: We are looking for applicants with TOEFL scores of 90 or higher.
Q: I have completed an undergraduate degree at a college or university in a country where English is the official language spoken. Do I still need to take the TOEFL?
A: The TOEFL is waived for applicants who have completed a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree or two years or more of studies in a degree program in English at a higher education institution in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
Q: What is the expected class size for 2013/2014?
A: The cohort will be 25-30 students max.
Q: What does the class schedule look like?
A: Class schedule is M-F with 3-4 day classes running simultaneously each semester. One day per week is devoted to practicum work.
Q: Which companies do analytics students do practicum work with?
A: Students have worked with Survey Monkey, PayPal, and Thompson Reuters, among others.
Q: What is the total cost of the program? Is financial aid available?
A: The tuition cost of the entire 35-unit program is $39,550, or $1,130 per unit. Find information on financial aid here: http://www.usfca.edu/financialaid/
Q: Does the program offer any scholarships?
A: The analytics program awards a limited number of partial scholarships to our top applicants. These scholarships are generally between $1,000 to $10,000. You do not need to fill out a separate application to be considered for a scholarship.
Q: When is my tuition payment due?
A: You must either pay in full or sign up for a payment plan by the due date each semester. Due dates are May 1 for Summer 2013, August 1 for Fall 2013, and January 2 for Spring 2014. If you fail to pay by the due date, a hold will be placed on your account and you will not be able to register for classes until payment is received.
Q: What is the job placement rate for graduating students?
A: We are currently in the first year of our program, so unfortunately we do not have job placement data at this time.
Q: What kind of programming experience do I need to satisfy the requirements?
A: Programming experience is necessary either from a course or from practical experience. Note that HTML, web design, PHP and so on might be valuable, but they do not count towards programming experience. We prefer knowledge of programming languages like Python, Java, C#, or C++.
Q: What is the main programming language used in the program?
A: Python is our programming language, other than the statistical domain specific language R which we mainly use.
Q: Does USF offer courses that will satisfy the prerequisites for the program?
A: Yes.
Find information on computer science courses offered here: http://www.usfca.edu/catalog/artsci/cs/courses/
Find information on math courses offered here: http://www.usfca.edu/catalog/artsci/math/courses/
Q: Will I be able to request CPT or OPT? Is the Analytics program a STEM major?
A: International graduates typically apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training). MSAN does qualify as a STEM major. Please direct all further questions regarding CPT, OPT, or STEM to the office of International Student and Scholar Services at isss@usfca.edu.
