POTSDAM -- Clarkson University will offer a new master of science degree in data analytics beginning this fall. The new graduate degree received New York State Education Department approval earlier this month.

Organizations across industries collect large amounts of data for a variety of reasons: to gain a competitive advantage, to improve the efficiency of operations, to reduce fraud/waste/abuse, or to better understand customers, among others, according to Clarkson.

"Everyone from corporations and governments to startups and small businesses are looking for the insights in today's mountains of big data," says business professor Boris Jukic, director of business analytics. "But they are realizing they need specially trained and highly skilled people who can turn these endless streams of data into useful insight and actionable intelligence."

The program is interdisciplinary, meaning that students will take classes from faculty in all of Clarkson's schools.

The 33-credit program is structured to fit into one academic year, including a sponsored, paid internship during the summer.