FAQ
What are the competitive differences between ISTD and ESD?
ESD and ISTD are highly complementary. You are better to think in terms of combining the disciplines rather than excluding one or the other. By using University Minors, or the combined Business Analytics specialisation track, or simply taking a course in the other discipline, you can get depth in one field and exposure in the other.
If I go ESD pillar, can I still take ISTD courses or vice versa?
Yes, both pillars offer minors that permit students to devise a blended curriculum. However, not all classes are fully open. For example, ESD students are given priority access to our Data and Business Analytics core class. ISTD students are given priority access to Machine Learning in Term 6. However, ESD offers Statistical and Machine Learning in Term 7, so that should not be an issue. Both pillars have trouble accommodating last minute enrolments in certain courses so, no matter which pillar you belong to, you should take advantage of course enrolment surveys and pre-registration opportunities to ensure you have a seat.
How important are Introduction to Design, chemistry, physics and humanities subjects in ESD?
Introduction to Design is foundational for the Engineering Systems Architecture course, a core requirement in ESD. All HASS subjects serve to give the social and historical context for work in ESD. Economics courses in HASS are particularly valuable in ESD (Micro-economics is required). Chemistry and Physics have much less direct application in ESD courses than in EPD courses, but are useful preparation for courses and careers at the intersection of ESD and EPD.
What are the differences between the Business Analytics specialisation tracks in ESD and ISTD?
We attempt to keep the electives the same for both ESD and ISTD students.
What kind of person would do well in ESD, during his/her study and after graduation?
Someone who would enjoy listening to and understanding a decision-maker’s problem, identifying quantifiable relationships, using data to estimate these relationships, developing models of dynamic behaviour and decision-making, using mathematical tools to assist in optimizing trade-off decisions, and presenting recommendations to an audience of decision-makers with diverse backgrounds.
What are essential skills for an ESD sophomore, technical and otherwise?
Teamwork skills are important because projects are featured in many of our sophomore classes: willingness to carry a fair share of the workload, ability to express opinions without alienating others, willingness to accept consensus decisions, willingness to take responsibility for tasks, timely attendance at team meetings, willingness to lead or contribute to discussions, ability to deliver work against a deadline.
Calculus and linear algebra are foundational courses for ESD.
Facility with Microsoft Excel and a scripting language like Python is also assumed.
What are the UTOP opportunities in ESD?
We are able to engage ESD seniors in our Term 4-5 courses, provided they scored well in those classes and have good mentorship skills. Our faculty welcomes the opportunity to have UTOPs participate.
What are the UROP opportunities in ESD?
Several faculty members engage students in UROP. Prof. Jackson has a large group of students engaged in developing educational course materials to enhance the ESD curriculum. Check the UROP listings each semester to see what is available or contact a professor directly.
If I join a bank and work in data mining, analytics, etc. Will I still be able to sleep at night with a clear conscience? What are the ethics for data mining in the financial industry?
It is not just banking where this question is relevant. Personalized data is available in large quantities in every area of business, government, and social enterprise. This creates the opportunity to engineer mass customization solutions and great user experiences but it also opens the door to insidious manipulation. These are hot topics within the SUTD community and you can expect ethics modules in your engineering courses and full HASS courses where you can clarify your boundaries and strengthen your personal resolve.
Are there many opportunities for career progression for ESD graduates?
Yes, but your career progression depends on the industry, company, and activity. For example, in a consulting company, you might expect to follow the path of “analyst-consultant-partner,” in a business you might follow “analyst-manager-director,” in an engineering firm you might follow “engineer-leader-manager-director,” and so on.