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Data Science

The world is in the midst of a data revolution. From how we shop to how we vote and all decisions in between, there is a growing need for professionals who can use modern data analysis to solve everyday problems.

Data science is an emerging interdisciplinary field with roots in applied mathematics, statistics and computer science. As a data science major, you will develop quantitative and computational skills to create real-world solutions to our world’s most pressing questions. Data scientists are creating and maintaining dashboards in the COVID-19 pandemic, predicting traffic patterns to improve driver safety and helping apps like Uber Eats optimize food delivery.

You will be trained in the data science pipeline, which includes learning how to access data, transform it into a usable format, formulate questions the data can answer, analyze the data and present visualizations and conclusions. You will also learn the programming languages Python and R, which are standard requirements for entry-level data science jobs.

While many graduates will go on to work with big tech, others will find careers in industries like healthcare, business and government. With increasing employment demands across many STEM, social sciences and humanities fields as well, the major will train students for careers in any industry.

How will I focus my studies?

A key component to the data science major is its 12-hour focus area. You can customize the degree to fit your interests by selecting a focus area of your choice to create a degree with practical applications. Working with your academic adviser, you will select classes in a discipline related to your interests and career goals. Examples include astronomy, biology, criminology, geography, geology, geographic information systems, physics, public health, psychology and sociology.

If you’re interested in further specialization in statistics, math and/or computer science, you can work with your adviser to add a dual degree or minors in those areas as well.

Want to learn more?

Visit the School of Mathematical and Data Sciences

Learn more at the Data Science site