Data Science Major

The major in data science provides students with the skills and the theory necessary to analyze and derive insights from large sets of structured and unstructured data.  The program aims to provide students with the computing and programming skills needed for data science. It also aims to provide them with a broad and deep understanding of the concepts in statistics, machine learning, neural networks, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, data visualization, data mining, and the mathematics that is foundational to these concepts.

Goal 1: Students will be prepared for a variety of professions in data science and be able to adapt to complex technological and analytical environments in the workplace.

Outcome 1.1:  Students will be able to perform standard data science tasks such as data wrangling, data visualization, statistical modeling, and the application of machine learning models.

Outcome 1.2:  Students will be able to communicate, orally and in writing, the results of technical data analysis to both specialists and non-specialists.

Goal 2: Students will know the fundamental mathematical, statistical and computing skills needed for data science.

Outcome 2.1:  Students will be able to write computer programs to solve a problem or perform a task needed for data science.

Outcome 2.2:  Students will be able to perform basic computations in areas of math and statistics that are needed for understanding the methodologies and algorithms in data science.

Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements

Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements.  See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.

First Year Course Requirements
ENG 101Craft of Language3
World History Course Area3
Philosophy Requirements
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course.
Philosophy Level One3
Philosophy Level Two3
Theology & Religious Studies Requirements
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course.
Theology3
Religious Studies3
Diversity & INT 151 Requirements
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years
Diversity3
INT 151Inequality in American Society1
Math & Natural Science Requirements
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements.
Mathematics3-4
Natural Science4
Social Science Requirement3
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Non-Native Language Requirement3-4
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement.
Literature Requirement3
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement3
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Overlay Requirements
Writing-Intensive3
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition).
Mission-Overlay3
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science.
Total Hours47-49

Major Requirements

DSC 223Intro Math of Data Science3
DSC 325Essentials of Data Science3
or CSC 346 Introduction to Data Science
DSC 326Advanced Data Science3
or CSC 347 Advanced Data Science
MAT 161Calculus I (will count for CCC: Mathematics)4
MAT 162Calculus II4
MAT 213Calculus III4
MAT 226Introduction to Linear Algebra3
MAT 321Probability3
CSC 115Intro to Computer Science3
or CSC 133 Python Programming for All
CSC 120Computer Science I4
CSC 351Database Management Systems3
CSC 362Artificial Intelligence3
DSS 415Data Wrangling & Visualization3
or DSS 416 Data Wrangling: Ethics Int.
DSS 445Statistical Programming Lang3
Statistics or Applied Math Elective (select one course, the others may be taken as Data Science Electives):3
MAT 322
Mathematical Statistics
MAT 313
Mathematical Optimization
MAT 316
Operations Research
DSC 424
Regression and Time Series
Data Science Electives (select three courses):9
DSC 225
Data Science for Sports
DSC 424
Regression and Time Series
DSC 425
Machine Learning/Data Science
MAT 328
Design of Experiments
MAT 423
Applied Statistical Methods
MAT 311
Numerical Analysis
MAT 313
Mathematical Optimization
MAT 316
Operations Research
MAT 322
Mathematical Statistics
MAT 334
Combinatorics & Graph Theory
MAT 420
Convex Analysis & Optimization
CSC 330
Generative AI
CSC 345
Image Data Science
CSC 348
Advanced Machine Learning
CSC 365
Intro to Security
CSC 358
Big Data and Web Intelligence
CSC 353
Internet Application Develpmnt
CSC 372
Game AI
DSS 420
Introduction to Data Mining
DSS 435
Advanced Business Analytics
DSS 451
Machine Learning for Bus I
DSS 455
Machine Learning for Bus II
ECN 410
Econometrics
ECN 487
Research Methods
BIO 420
& 420L
Bioinformatics
and Bioinformatics Lab
PHY 332
Intro. to Network Science
Total Hours58

Free Electives

Graduation requires 120 credits. Any credits necessary to reach that number outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives.

Double Major in Data Science

A double major in Data Science and Mathematics and a double major in Data Science and Computer Science are possible and can be completed within four years. A double major in Data Science and some other discipline might also be possible. For students who are interested in a double major in Data Science, please contact the program director.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
CSC 115
or CSC 133
 Intro to Computer Science
or Python Programming for All
 3
MAT 161 Calculus I 4
Non-native language or Social Science 3-4
World History 3
Philosophy Level One or Free Elective 3
 Hours16-17
Spring
DSC 223 Intro Math of Data Science 3
MAT 162 Calculus II 4
ENG 101 Craft of Language 3
Social Science or Non-native language 3-4
Free Elective or Philosophy Level One 3
 Hours16-17
Sophomore
Fall
DSC 325 Essentials of Data Science 3
MAT 213 Calculus III 4
Natural Science 4
Literature 3
INT 151 Inequality in American Society 1
 Hours15
Spring
DSC 326 Advanced Data Science 3
MAT 226 Introduction to Linear Algebra 3
Data Science Elective 3
Diversity 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Junior
Fall
MAT 321 Probability 3
CSC 120 Computer Science I 4
DSS 445 Statistical Programming Lang 3
Philosophy Level Two 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours16
Spring
Statistics or Applied Math Elective 3
DSS 415
or DSS 416
 Data Wrangling & Visualization
or Data Wrangling: Ethics Int.
 3
Data Science Elective 3
Theology 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Senior
Fall
CSC 351 Database Management Systems 3
CSC 362 Artificial Intelligence 3
Data Science Elective 3
Free Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring
Religious Studies 3
Fine & Performing Arts, Design, & Creativity 3
Free Electives 6
Optional Free Elective 0-3
 Hours12-15
 Total Hours120-125