STEM Quantitative Master’s Programs for Liberal Arts Applicants: Columbia QMSS, UPenn SMART, CMU MSPPM & More

发布时间：Date: 2022-02-28 返回新鲜资讯Back to News

Addressing the employment challenges and lack of OPT extension for liberal arts students applying to U.S. graduate programs, this article breaks the myth that data-related programs require a STEM background. It recommends highly advantageous quantitative programs in humanities and social sciences that are not only welcoming to liberal arts backgrounds but also mostly STEM-designated, effectively solving the issues of working in the U.S. and visa extensions—making them an ideal choice for liberal arts students transitioning into quantitative fields. The article details quantitative program offerings at top universities including Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, and New York University. It also reminds prospective applicants that these programs heavily evaluate quantitative coursework and GRE Quantitative scores, advising early planning. For more cross-disciplinary application details and planning guidance, feel free to contact CheersYou（清柚教育） for personalized consultation.

When applying to U.S. graduate programs, many liberal arts students want to avoid purely humanities programs—firstly because of poor job prospects, and secondly due to the lack of OPT extension.

In cross-disciplinary applications, transitioning to coding and data-related programs is a popular direction, but most require a STEM background. Additionally, STEM programs in media are also in high demand and relatively friendly to liberal arts students, but they are still difficult to apply to without relevant background or internship experience.

But there is another category that is often overlooked—liberal arts students can apply and also choose STEM tracks/concentrations: [Quantitative Programs in Humanities and Social Sciences]⬇️

✅Columbia University
Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Public Administration - DAQA
Learning Analytics
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These three are all STEM programs; the first two lean toward socio-economic policy, and MSLA leans toward education.

✅University of Pennsylvania
SMART
Social Policy+Data Analytics
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These two are also STEM programs, but for MSSP, only the +DA track qualifies as STEM.

✅University of Chicago
Public Policy
Social Science - Quantitative methods and Social Analysis
Computational Analytics for Public Policy
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MPP requires completing an additional DA certificate to be considered STEM; the other two are. Compared to the former two, MSCAPP is jointly offered by Harris and the CS department, so the curriculum is more quantitative and coding-oriented.

✅Carnegie Mellon University: Public Policy and Management - Data Analytics
✅New York University: Applied Statistics for Social Science Research
✅Vanderbilt University: Quantitative Methods
✅UCLA: Social Research Methodology
✅Brown University: Social Analysis and Research

Most of the above programs should be STEM, so when applying to these programs, they will heavily focus on quantitative coursework and GRE Quant scores. Therefore, students interested should aim to score high in both areas.