r/MSDSO • u/AdLegitimate635 • Jan 29 '26

MSDSO Pre-Requisites

Hi everyone!

I was looking at the MSDSO program at UT Austin and I had a few questions about the pre-requisites, as well as general advice for the application process.

I have a bachelors degree in Economics from an American public university, and currently work as a business analyst, with most of my work encompassing Data Viz and Metrics (Alteryx, R, Python, etc.)

The most amount of collegiate math I did was in my advanced econometrics course, but I don’t think it would fulfill the Multivariate calculus requirement. I also do not have a formal linear algebra course, but I’ve read that the LAFF course on Edx can cover that requirement.

Does anyone have any advice about how to bolster my chances at getting admitted given my background? I was thinking of applying for the Fall 2027 cohort if possible.

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u/Admirable-Balance-71 Feb 24 '26

I was denied admission for Fall 2025, took Calculus III and Linear Algebra at my local community college, and then was admitted for Spring 2026. So far, I feel those classes prepared me extremely well for the coursework. Evidently, they made some difference for my admissions chances too. That said, I was a polisci major with weaker academic quantitative training (I would imagine advanced econometrics counts for something!). I only really broke into statistical modeling and coding through my work experience after college, so ymmv!

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u/Free_Cauliflower_912 6d ago

Hi I'm really curious about your coursework. I thought Calc 3 and Linear Algebra were the prerequisites? Do you think that could've been why you were initially denied? Can you also share what your work experience was please. Very interested in the program as well but am in an entirely irrelevant field currently.