New College of Florida, the small liberal arts college in Sarasota, has been in the news a few times over the past few months, mostly in announcements by college rating organizations that boast the school’s excellent value, unique academic model, affordability, and high percent of students awarded with Fulbright’s and other similar honors.
And now, add to the list of recent accolades a big win in the 2014 Session: the addition of the school’s first-ever master’s degree program. This two-year M.Sc. program in Data Science and Analytics will produce 15 graduates per year, and will fill a growing need for graduates in this field in Florida’s workforce.
Despite the unmet need there are no master’s program in Florida that specialize in the use and analysis of big data. Consulting firms such as McKinsey and Gartner have projected the current shortfalls to grow to well over 140,000 nationwide in the next few years despite starting salaries above $80,000.
This big win came through the efforts of the tireless Capital City Consulting team — namely Nick Iarossi, Chris Schoonover, and Ron LaFace Jr. — and reflects the college’s academic fortitude and growing fan base.
