Data Science Undergraduate Program
What is Data Science?
The program objective is to prepare students for a 21st century workforce where data analysis is critical to the functioning of society, business, and education. The combination of social science and data science distinguishes the Data Science degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The grounding in social science prepares students with the insights needed to interpret the vast amounts of data being created by social processes, government, political processes, communication, and economic activity. As a result, the Data Science degree will produce well-rounded graduates with technological savvy, preparing them for a labor market that increasingly relies on skills that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. Upon completion of this program, students will gain technical capabilities, enhanced critical and analytical thinking skills, a well-developed skillset for coding, programming, managing, and interpreting data sets, as well as effective writing, communication, and collaborative working skills.
B.S. in Data Science
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Data Science will create well-rounded graduates across multiple domains, well versed in the application of data science to solve existential issues, able to think critically across numerous fields and synthesize information to form cogent, well-founded opinions, have excellent communication skills, and see Data Science from a multidisciplinary perspective. In addition, completing this program will enhance students’ career development and employment opportunities. Students can declare this major starting in Fall 2025.
Minor in Data Science
The Data Science Minor is aimed at students who are interested in pursuing careers in data science or related fields. The degree is a multidisciplinary undergraduate program that will provide students training in mathematics, computation, and statistics; data collection, management, description, and analysis; communication and project management; ethics; problem solving; and judgment and decision making.