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Data Science Minor

Total credit towards Data Science Minor: 20+ required

About the Data Science Minor

The Data Science minor offers Emory students an option to establish or enhance a statistical and computational skill set while pursuing another major program, and without the curricular commitment of a full Data Science B.S. degree. 

It is suitable for students interested in establishing a statistical and computational skill set while pursuing another major program. This minor is useful for those who intend on pursuing a career in fields that utilize data and data science techniques, as well as those who desire a basic facility with data without the mathematical rigor of Data Science's major programs.

DATASCI 100 is the foundational course for the minor in Data Science. The Data Science Minor consists of 7 courses and 20+ credit hours. 

The minor prepares you for:

  • Applied Data analysis careers
  • Non-data science positions that interface with data and with data science

  • How is this different from the Data Science major?

    • The minor requires 20+credit hours while the Data Science major requires 50+ credit hours
    • The minor does not require advanced calculus or linear algebra The minor is built around the foundational course DATASCI 100: Introduction to Statistical Inference. The proceeding courses teach students how to think critically about data, the principles of quantitative research, how to apply statistical concepts to a broader field of statistical analysis, critical skills and concepts in computer programming and inference using Python, and computing skills in R. Students also choose two upper-level electives, where they will apply their foundational skill set.

     

  • What elective options do I have? Can I take any Data Science elective?

    Minor students can take any 300- or 400- level seminar / lecture style DATASCI elective that do not have Data Science major core courses as prerequisites. What does this mean exactly? Any Data Science elective course that lists DATASCI 210 or DATASCI 220 (these are Data Science major-only courses) as prerequisites is not available to Data Science minors.

    We offer a number of Data Science upper-level electives that Data Science minors can take. These include, but are not limited to, Technical Writing, Game Theory, Practical Approaches to Data Science with Text, Introductory Network Analysis, Fundamentals of Cartography and GIS, and Big/Small Data & Visualization, and Social Choice & Elections.

  • Can I have a Data Science major and Data Science minor, or double minor, or a double major?

    Emory College students can pursue a single major, one major and one minor, or two majors. Anything beyond that is not allowed.
     
    It is not possible to major and minor in Data Science because too many of the courses overlap between them.

  • Is there an honors program for the Data Science minor?

    Students cannot pursue Data Science honors if they are part of the honors program. Data Science minors interested in honors should do so in their major.

  • Where can I declare this minor?

    Steps to declaring your major or minor with the Data and Decision Sciences Department:

    • Fill out the Declaration of Major or Minor form in OPUS.
    • After filling out the form in OPUS, email the Department (Undergraduate Program Coordinator)  informing them of your interest and that you have filled out a form in OPUS to declare your major or minor.
    • In response, the department (Undergraduate Program Coordinator)  will email you acknowledging receipt of your email. 
    • Due to the declaration of major or minor meetings being done in groups, you will be notified via email of when the next round of meetings will be scheduled.  In that email announcement you will be provided a form to fill out to select which meeting you would like to attend.
    • According to the meeting time you select, the department (Undergraduate Program Coordinator) will send you the zoom link for that meeting.  
    • The Declaration of major or minor meetings are virtual for about 30 minutes and in a group setting. 

    If you have questions regarding the declaration of major or minor or its process, please reach out to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Sadie Hannans at shanna9@emory.edu.