ISU Machine Learning

At its September meeting, the Board of Regents will consider approval of a new Master of Science program in Machine Learning and Data Engineering (MLDE) at Iowa State University. If approved, the new program would train students to apply machine learning and data analytics to engineering problems.

The program is designed to establish a common foundation in data-engineering that complements ISU's existing mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering graduate curricula. With this foundation, departments won’t have to teach basic data science principles from scratch. The program, in conjunction with existing engineering programs, will focus on distinct engineering-specific data challenges, including high-speed streaming data and heterogeneous sensor networks.

Training engineers who can work with, create and extract value out of large data sets will only become more useful in the coming years, and strong demand exists for engineers who understand the concepts and processes of data analytics and can apply them to solve engineering problems. The proposed MLDE program would help meet this workforce need by preparing graduates with both advanced engineering knowledge and specialized expertise in data engineering and machine learning.

The program also would fill a gap in Iowa’s higher education offerings, as no comparable in-state program currently provides the same engineering-focused approach to data engineering. As data engineering becomes increasingly critical to the development and application of artificial intelligence, graduates with expertise in both engineering and data-driven technologies will be well positioned to meet emerging workforce needs.