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Data Science Major

The Data Science (DATASCI) major is the integration of data science and liberal arts. It equips students with quantitative skills and data analysis techniques while they explore disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences, or humanities. Currently there are 20 interdisciplinary tracks students can select from.

The DATASCI major is flexible enough students can take quantitative classes (such as statistics, game theory, and experimental methods) and classes in an associated discipline based on your area of interest (such as political science, psychology, neuroscience and behavioral biology, history, and more).  The Data and Decision Sciences Department (𝔻Sci) also has its own interdisciplinary track called the Data Science track which focuses on Machine Learning, experiential learning (such as capstones, internships, etc.).  You can learn more about this major and others by selecting the links to your right.

DATASCI Core Courses

Important: The core course flow shown above applies to all Data Science majors.

Data Science Core Course Flow graphic

Math Prerequisites

MATH 111 and MATH 221 apply to every track of data science major. They must be taken for a letter grade. These courses do not count toward the major GPA but do count toward the 50-credit graduation requirement.

Data Science Electives

DATASCI electives include 300- and 400-level lecture and seminar-style classes that carry at least 3 credit hours. DATASCI 398R, 496R, 497R, and 499R do not fulfill elective requirements.

Please find additional requirements specific to your track below.

Social Sciences

Download the Anthropology Track Checklist 

 

Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the Biological Anthropology Track Checklist 

Track Core

  • ANT 201 Concepts and Methods in Biological Anthropology
  • ANT 202 Concepts and Methods in Cultural Anthropology

Track Electives

  • Sample one course each from the following topic focus:
    • Human Biology
    • Social Science & Medicine
    • Evolution & Behavior
    • Cultural Anthropology
  • Consult the department website here for course designation/acceptability

Download the Economics Track Checklist 

 
Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the International Studies Track Checklist 


Track Core

  • POLS 110 Intro to International Politics
  • POLS 111 Principles of Political Science

Track Electives

  • Track electives: 300+ level courses required
  • Non-POLS course under the International Studies Approved Course List may be used.
  • For the International Studies Approved Course List and other course acceptability, consult the Political Science Department website here

Download the Political Science Track Checklist 


Track Core

  • POLS 111 History of the American Languages
  • POLS RCH Research classes include RCH/394/494 designated courses

Track Electives

  • Track electives: one 100+ level course required; three 300+ level courses required
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the Psychology Track Checklist  

Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the Sociology Track Checklist 


Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the WGSS Track Checklist 

 

Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for course designation/acceptability

Natural Sciences

Download the Biology Track Checklist 

Track Core 

  • BIOL 141 & 141L Foundation of Modern Biology I
  • BIOL 142 & 142L Foundation of Modern Biology II
  • CHEM 150 or 202* Structure and Properties or Principles of Relativity
  • PHYS 151 or 152 Physics for Science and Engineering I or II

     

    *AP credit may be substituted for CHEM150/CHEM202 or for PHYS151/PHYS152

     

Track Electives

Choose one of the following tracks.For each track choose two from a list of approved courses.

  • Track 1: Neurobiology
    • BIOL 360 Intro to Neurobiology, BIOL 450 Computational Neuroscience, BIOL 348 Mechanism of Animal Behavior, BIOL 385 Neurogenetics
  • Track 2: Ecology and Evolution
    • BIOL 241 Evolutionary Biology, BIOL 247 Ecology, BIOL Disease Ecology, BIOL 463 Population Biology and Ecology of Disease
  • Track 3: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
    • BIOL 250 Cell biology, BIOL 264 Genetics: A Human Perspective, BIOl 285 Phage genomics + Introduction to Bioinformatics, BIOL 370 Introduction to Microbiology

Additionally, two biology courses are required as electives. Only one cross-listed course that does not originate in Biology can be counted. All courses accepted as an elective for biology majors except for BIOL 200 Introduction to Biological Research.

Data Science Track Checklist 


Track Core

  • Complete TWO of the 4 available Focus Tracks (total of 12 credits):
    Focus Track A – Machine Learning: DATASCI 347 AND 447
    Focus Track B – Causal Inference: DATASCI 345 AND 445
    Focus Track C – Statistical Theory: DATASCI 365 AND 465
    Focus Track D – Mathematical Modeling: DATASCI 315, 325, or 490: Social Choice Theory

DATASCI Electives

  • Complete FIVE elective courses at 300-level or higher (15 credits)
  • DATASCI 398R, 496R, 497R, and 499R do not satisfy elective requirements

Experiential Learning

  • Choose 2 from DATASCI398R, 495A, 495BW, 496R, 497R, 498R, and 499R (each course number may only be used once). Non-DATASCI experiential learning courses may be used with departmental approval.

Download the Environmental Studies Track Checklist 

Track Core

  • ENVS 120 Living in the Anthropocene or  ENVS 130 Environmental Sciences or ENVS 140 Environmental Change and Health
  • ENVS 132 Intro to ENVS Field Studies

Track Electives

  • Track electives: Sample one course each from the following topic focus:
    • Ecology & Conservation
    • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
    • Social Science & Policy; additional 300+ level courses required
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the Informatics Track Checklist 

 
Track Core

  • CS 170  and 171 Intro to Computer Science I and II
  • CS 224 Foundations of Computer Science
  • CS 253 Data Structures and Algorithms
  • CS 370 Computer Science Practicum
  • CS 377 Database Sytems
  • CS 325 Artifical Intelligence

Track Electives

  • Track electives: 300+ level courses required
  • Consult track department’s website here for course designation/acceptability

Download the NBB Track Checklist 

Track Core

  • BIOL 141 & 141L and BIOL 142 & 142L Foundations of Modern Biology I and II
  • CHEM 1st Sem Chem w/ Lab: CHEM 141 or 150 or 221 or 221Z or 202Z
  • CHEM 2nd Sem CHEM w/ Lab : CHEM 142 or 202 or 222 or 222Z or 203Z
  • NBB 201 Foundations of Behavior
  • NBB 301 / BIOL  360 Introduction to Neurobiology
  • NBB 302 / PSYC 353 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • NBB 401 Perspectives in Neuroscience & Behavior  or NBB 402 Global Neuro and Behavior

Track Electives

  • Two courses are required as electives.
  • Consult the track department's website here for  NBB-approved electives

Humanities

Download the Architectural Studies Track Checklist 

 

Track Core


  • ARTHIST 103 Understanding Architecture  or ARTHIST 104 Great Buildings
  • ARTHIST 210 Introduction to Computer Aided Design

Track Electives

  • Track electives: 200+ courses required
  • Please note that  ARTHIST 397 (internship) may not be applied to track requirements
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the Art History Track Checklist 

 

Track Core

  • ARTHIST 101 Art/Arch Prehistory to Renaissance
  • ARTHIST 102 Art/Arch Renaissance to Present

Track Electives

  • Track electives: 200+ level courses required
  • ARTHIST 397 (internship) may not be applied to the track requirements
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the East Asian Studies Track Checklist 


Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher
  • Sample from at least 3 of the following content areas: Languages and Linguistics; Literature; History and Politics; Cultural Studies; Religion and Thought
  • Consult the track department's website here for the list of area designated courses

Download the English Track Checklist 

Track Electives

  • Track Elective must be 200+ level for all 6 electives

  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the History Track Checklist 

Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the LACS Track Checklist 

Track Electives

  • A total of six courses (3+ credits per course) are required. No more than two courses can be counted at 100-level. One course must be 300-level or higher.
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability

Download the Linguistics Track Checklist 

 

Track Core

  • LING 101 History of the American Languages
  • LING 201 Foundations of Linguistics
  • LING 401W Language, Mind and Society
  • LING 210 Sounds of Human Language or LING 212 Structure of Human Language or 214 Meaning in Human Language

Track Electives

  • Track electives: 200+ level courses required
  • Consult track department’s website here for courses designation/acceptability