Data Science, Bachelor of Science College of Letters & Science

The Data Science program has a capped admission process. Information about the requirements for continuing students to change majors into Data Science can be found at Department of Statistics.


The Major Program

Data Science combines computational, mathematical and statistical reasoning to draw conclusions based on data. Data science techniques and methods can be applied to problems from virtually any discipline; for example, in agricultural and environmental sciences, biological sciences, engineering, medical sciences and social sciences.

The Program

Data Science majors receive a Bachelor of Science degree. The program requires both theoretical and applied course work to underscore the strong interdependence of technical foundations in computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics, and their applications to any field of inquiry relying on quantitative data analysis. The B.S. degree program has one track, the Foundations track.

B.S. in Data Science-Foundations Track emphasizes the underlying computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics methodology and theory, and is especially recommended as preparation for graduate study in data science or related fields.

Career Opportunities

Inferential and computational techniques are used in many fields, including the agricultural and environmental sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, and health sciences, business, and engineering. The wide applicability of data science is reflected in the strong demand for graduates with data science training in both the public and private sectors. Employment opportunities include careers in data & policy analysis in government & industry, tech industry, insurance & healthcare industry, engineering, public health, biological & pharmaceutical research, law, and education. Students with an undergraduate degree in data science may enter advanced studies in data science, computer science, applied mathematics, statistics, economics, finance, psychology, medicine, business management & analytics, and other professional school programs.

Major Advisor

For a current list of faculty and staff advisors in the Department of Statistics, see Undergraduate Advising.

Foundations Track

Preparatory Subject Matter
Computer Science Engineering
ECS 017Data, Logic, & Computing4
ECS 032AIntroduction to Programming4
ECS 032BIntroduction to Data Structures4
Mathematics
MAT 021ACalculus4
MAT 021BCalculus4
MAT 021CCalculus4
MAT 022ALinear Algebra3
Statistics
STA 035AStatistical Data Science I4
STA 035BStatistical Data Science II4
STA 035CStatistical Data Science III4
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal39
Depth Subject Matter
Computer Science Engineering12
Databases for Non-Majors
Algorithms for Data Science
Data Processing Pipelines
Probability & Statistics12
Applied Statistical Methods: Regression Analysis
Fundamentals of Statistical Data Science
Probability
Introduction to Probability Theory
Machine Learning
Choose one:4
Applied Machine Learning for Non-Majors (Pending Approval)
Mathematics for Data Analytics & Decision Making
Statistical Learning I
Mathematics8
Optimization
Applied Linear Algebra
Scientific Computation
Science & Technology Studies4
Data & Society
Upper Division Electives
Three elective courses in a related discipline. A list of pre-approved electives can be found on the Department of Statistics website. 12
Depth Subject Matter Subtotal52
Total Units91