Data and algorithms increasingly affect our lives, from recommending TV shows to detecting cancer in medical imaging to determining loan eligibility. This is due to the vast amount of available data and the computational power to process it effectively. Data science is the study of extracting meaning from large datasets to improve our understanding of the world around us.

Managing and analyzing data has become integral to sciences, social sciences, business, humanities, and engineering due to the abundance of unstructured and raw data available for discovery and decision-making. Inherently interdisciplinary, Data science combines critical thinking with principles of mathematics, statistics, and computer programming to recommend solutions in various fields. As data-driven solutions and statistical models impact more aspects of our lives, the consequences of algorithmic decision-making require urgent examination and understanding of related ethical questions.

The Data Science program is designed to provide students with the mathematical, statistical, and computer programming tools necessary to ethically interpret an increasingly data-driven world. Students develop organizational, analytical, and visualization skills to present actionable information from data. Ethical considerations are integrated throughout the curriculum, including opportunities for students to collect and analyze data responsibly. Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in semester-long, team-based consulting projects using real data and present results to actual clients. To apply data science principles, students are encouraged to take domain-specific electives that inspire their capstone projects.

The Data Science major is ideal for students who wish to develop strong analytical, quantitative, and communication skills. It provides a solid foundation and experiences that prepare students for future endeavors, whether in employment or graduate study.