Data Science

Adam D. Eck, David H. and Margaret W. Barker Associate Professor of Computer Science and Business; chair

Joshua H. Davidson, Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science
Zeinab Mohamed, Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science
Jeffrey A. Witmer, Professor of Statistics

Affiliated Faculty/Staff
Margaret Brehm, Associate Professor of Economics
Nancy E. Darling, Professor of Psychology
Aaron D. Goldman, Associate Professor of Biology
Daphne John, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Assessment and Accreditation
Eric Lin, Associate Professor of Business
Kevin M. Woods, Professor of Mathematics

Visit the program web page for up-to-date information on program faculty, visiting lecturers, and special events.

Data science is the study of principled, scientific methods for collecting, managing, analyzing, and decision-making using data. It synergizes and builds upon the computational problem solving of computer science, the analytical skills of statistics and mathematics, and the designed data collection and experimentation of the natural and social sciences to unlock insights and knowledge from large- and small-scale data in diverse mediums (e.g., numbers, text, audio, images, and video). Students study data science methods to better understand our complex, technology-driven world and to make evidence-based decisions. They also apply these methods within one or more disciplines across the liberal arts curriculum.

Explore Winter Term projects and opportunities.

Majors, Minors, and Integrative Concentrations

Students interested in statistics should consider either the data science major (with the statistical theory and applications concentration) or the statistical modeling minor .

Curriculum

Students interested in studying data science can get started through our introductory course DATA 101 that provides an overview of the entire data science process and how it can be used to both understand the world around us and to support evidence-based decision making. Introductory courses in statistics (DATA 113 ) and computing (CSCI 150 ) also provide useful background in data science for both the major and the integrative concentration. Students with a strong background in statistics (including AP Statistics in high school) or mathematics might consider starting in DATA 205 , although DATA 113 welcomes all students of all experience levels.

Courses

Data Science