What are Data and Decision Sciences?

The 𝔻Sci Value Proposition

We ensure students are not just savvy with today’s technology, but also ready to think critically about solving tomorrow’s challenges.

The 𝔻Sci Mission Statement

𝔻Sci is committed to teaching Emory students the skills critical to using Data and AI to answer questions and solve problems in their applied field, whatever their disciplinary interest or level of technical sophistication. 𝔻Sci is committed to helping students define and pursue career paths through experiential learning and day-one readiness training for careers in tomorrow’s AI-driven, data-focused workforce.   

Why?

The world is changing: With the massive growth of computing power, the world’s ability to turn information into data and to apply complex algorithms to draw insights and create products from that data is reaching previously unimaginable heights. As a result, the workforce of tomorrow will look entirely different from the workforce of today. Facility with data and AI is increasingly necessary across all sectors and jobs.

Education is changing: Many are turning to statistics, data science, and computer science for the technical skills necessary to collect, analyze, and produce insights and products from data, but these skills are only half the story. Where do questions and problems come from? How do we use data and AI intelligently and ethically? How do we communicate our discoveries with impact?

Questions and problems come from contextual fields of knowledge (e.g., natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, business, law, health, and medicine). Using this technology intelligently requires research design and critical thinking skills. Communicating with impact requires well-honed presentation and written skills.

At 𝔻Sci, technical skills are only the beginning. Our innovative curriculum, experiential learning, 𝔻Sci community, and in-house career preparation ensure that 𝔻Sci students from all educational backgrounds are ready to embrace the future as data-driven decision-makers.

• The Department of Quantitative Theory and Methods (QTM) was established in December 2011 as the Institute for Quantitative Theory & Methods.
• The first graduating class commenced in 2016, and the first Public Policy & Analysis major graduated in the class of 2018.
• In July, 2025, the Department of Quantitative Theory & Method (QTM) became the Department of Data and Decision Sciences (𝔻Sci). 
• Our first and most popular major, Quantitative Sciences (QSS), officially launched in 2014. In fall 2025, the major name changed to Data Science (DATASCI). It currently has 20 interdisciplinary tracks in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.
• In addition to the DATASCI major, the department offers three joint majors – Applied Mathematics and Statistics (AMS), Business Administration and Data Science (BBA + DATASCI) and Public Policy Analysis (PPA) – as well as a DATASCI minor. 
• The department believes strongly in real-world research experience and provides experiential learning opportunities like DataThink projects and data hack events, research fellows and Honor’s programs, and support for internships as part of the curricular experience. 
• In 2023, we launched a Master of Data Science program, and the first cohort graduated in the Summer of 2024.