The MIDS Student Experience
Online Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) students become full members of the UC Berkeley I School community through our expertly designed student experience. Students participate in a combination of interactive online learning, face-to-face discussions, and in-person experiences.
Online Learning Environment
The MIDS program features lectures and course work designed by I School faculty and expertly converted into an online format.
Live Classes
Students form close relationships with their classmates and instructors in small, face-to-face, weekly video lectures capped at 18 students. During class, students discuss the weekly course work and participate in group problem-solving.
Course Work
Students complete self-paced course work that prepares them for the weekly lecture. Course content includes dynamic videos, interactive case studies, self-paced lectures, and collaborative activities that foster teamwork.
Mobile App
Students can access all course work and live lectures online or on the mobile app. Through the mobile app, they will also have access to recorded lectures, networking tools, and student support resources.
In-Person Connections
Immersion Experience
The immersion experience is an opportunity for MIDS students to meet faculty and peers in person on the UC Berkeley campus or in other locations relevant to data science. Currently offered three times a year, each three- to four-day immersion is crafted to deliver additional learning, networking, and community-building opportunities to MIDS students.
During the immersion, students further their data science expertise and exposure to the industry culture through a full itinerary, including:
- Presentations about current data science trends by I School faculty and industry experts
- Socializing with MIDS classmates from all over the world
- Career advancement workshops
- Networking with local professionals and alumni
- Company visits to leading data-driven organizations
- Possibly attending an I School conference
In the past, spring immersions coincided with the I School’s annual DataEDGE conference. The conference explores the increasing demand for data tools, concepts, and highly skilled professionals in today’s leading businesses and organizations.
At the DataEDGE conference and throughout the immersion, students engage with topics presented by guest speakers from companies at the forefront of the data revolution through hands-on workshops and discussions. Past immersions have welcomed industry professionals from:
- Airbnb
- Boston Consulting Group
- Capital One
- Cloudera
- DataKind
- Dropbox
- Enlitic
- Kaiser Permanente
- Netflix
- Pandora
- Salesforce
- Splunk
- Square
- Udemy
- Wells Fargo
Relationships with Industry Leaders
Students join a community of diverse classmates who work in a wide range of industries across the globe. They form strong connections with UC Berkeley faculty, including tenured professors, postdoctoral scholars, and leading industry practitioners who teach on campus and who are dedicated to remaining accessible to students throughout their careers.
"I was most looking forward to seeing how companies like Netflix used analytics to drive value and enhance their business proposition. My biggest takeaway was that analytics is very powerful but can be challenging to implement! By far, spending time with my classmates was the most memorable experience. After taking over a year of classes with many of them, seeing them in person was a wonderful experience. We went out, explored Berkeley, and had a great time!"
— Filip Krunic, MIDS student
Form Lasting Connections in the Field of Data Science
Develop relationships while learning through the flexible MIDS online format.
Student Support
Support for MIDS students begins during the application process and continues beyond graduation throughout each student’s career.
Prospective
All prospective students have a dedicated Admissions Counselor to help guide them throughout the application process. Admissions Counselors are a go-to resource for questions about the program, admissions requirements, and application tips.
Enrolled
Upon enrollment to the program, students are assigned a Student Success Adviser to provide support throughout the program. Enrolled MIDS students become full members of the I School community and gain access to all on-campus resources in addition to online resources.
Alumni
MIDS students are invited to participate in the I School graduation ceremony and join the global network of I School alumni, accessible on our I School Connect platform. Students can receive career help from our career services team before and after graduation.
Additional Resources
Global WeWork Access
All MIDS students receive a free membership to the hundreds of WeWork workspaces located across the globe. Students can use WeWork as a go-to study space, a place to connect with local classmates, and a resource while traveling. This membership includes access to all WeWork amenities, such as:
- Reliable Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying
- Private rooms
- Snacks and refreshments
- On-site support
MIDS for Life
In a dynamic industry such as data science, it is crucial for professionals to continue developing their skills throughout their careers. MIDS for Life keeps alumni connected to leading data science practices via world-class MIDS course content.
The MIDS for Life program offers alumni lifelong access to the I School Virtual Campus, where students can retrieve all previously completed MIDS course work and recorded class sessions. Alumni may also view the most up-to-date asynchronous course content, including content for newly released courses, at no charge.
Career Services
Through the services provided by the I School and the connections formed with industry leaders,
students graduate ready to succeed in the data science field.
Career Planning
Our career services team helps students form career plans to reach their goals. This includes finding organizations and roles that fit with students’ interests, developing plans for career advancement, preparing effective resumes and interview skills, and setting up networking opportunities.
Leadership Sessions
Students receive help assessing and developing their leadership skills and potential. The I School offers interactive leadership sessions during the on-campus immersion and webinars to help students refine their career development strategy.
Career Connections
Students have in-person and online opportunities to explore possible career paths within this diverse industry and connect with data science leaders and employers. The I School job portal and customized resume books are just a few of the tools used to directly connect students with engaging career opportunities.
"I came to MIDS with a background in systems engineering and a goal of changing to a career in data science. Through many personalized meetings, Career Services helped me through every step of achieving this goal. … Before I had even finished the degree program, I had landed a job as an AI engineer and now will get to pursue my dream of working in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. I couldn't be more thankful; I would never have had the confidence or interview skills to go in and land that job without the guidance and support from MIDS Career Services."
— Alex Dauenhauer, MIDS alumni