CPaCE News

When Shreedhar Bhatt walked across the stage in May 2025 as a proud graduate of Cal State Long Beach’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program, he didn’t just leave with a diploma—he left with a clear path towards one of the world’s biggest tech companies.

By late June, Shreedhar had already begun his new role as Data Scientist in Product Analytics at Meta. He credits this early career milestone to the knowledge, tools, and opportunities he gained during his time at The Beach.

“The skills I developed are invaluable and give me a real competitive edge,” Shreedhar explained. “The program’s diverse curriculum covered everything needed to excel as a data management professional.”

For Shreedhar, the decision to join this STEM-focused program at CSULB was driven by academics, economics, and a sense of community.

“The tuition is affordable for international students, and being in Southern California means amazing weather, infrastructure, and campus life,” he said. “Before applying, I spoke to alumni who praised the supportive professors, which sealed my decision.”

In just two years, Shreedhar built a foundation that propelled him to the center of the tech industry, sharpening his technical skills while expanding his management abilities. He gained experience with advanced data analytics, cloud computing, and information systems management, as well as hands-on practice with industry-standard tools such as Python, SQL, Tableau, AWS, and IBM SPSS. 

He regularly took advantage of the computer labs on campus, which he described as “well-maintained, up-to-date, and perfect for programming.” One of his most meaningful experiences came while tutoring other students in statistics at the College of Business.

“That job strengthened my fundamentals and prepared me well for interviews,” he explained. “Having just three evening classes per week gave me the flexibility to learn new skills and work on campus, which was a big plus for international students.”

As he steps into his career at Meta, Shreedhar is keeping up with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and all the ways that it’s reshaping the industry—as well as society in general.

“AI is transforming information science and beyond,” he noted. “In education, it makes learning faster and more accessible, though I still prefer building fundamentals on paper before using AI for deeper understanding.”

While he admits that the pace of AI’s evolution can feel “a little intimidating,” Shreedhar believes it also opens doors to new opportunities.

“It will reshape jobs by creating some and replacing others,” he said. “I think everyone should start getting familiar with AI and its applications.”

“Two years went by so quickly,” he reflected on his time at CSULB. “But everything I learned here set me up for success.”

Interested in following in Shreedhar’s footsteps? Learn more about the MSIS program at CSULB and how it can prepare you for the future of data and information systems.