2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Data Science (A.S.)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs - Majors, Minors, Certificates

Program Coordinator/Contact

Kurt Cogswell, Department Head
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Architecture, Mathematics, and Engineering 209
605-688-6196

Program Information

The Data Science major prepares students to use the power of data to help organizations of all sorts and society as a whole to make better decisions.  Students learn to use mathematics, statistics, and computational tools to analyze data, and learn to communicate the results of their analysis in order to produce the greatest positive impact.  Completion of Option 1 of the Data Science major will allow students to transfer 60 credits of coursework towards many bachelor’s degree programs in the applied, social, or natural sciences that can be enhanced by additional data science focus.  Completion of Option 2 of the Data Science major will allow students to transfer 60 credits of coursework towards B.S. in Data Science or the B.S. in Mathematics with Data Science Specialization.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Data Science major, students should be able to:

  • gather requirements from professional contexts and translate them into a clearly articulated data analysis problem.
  • identify and gather the data necessary for the analysis and prepare the data for analysis.
  • select the optimal combination of mathematical and statistical techniques necessary to solve this problem.
  • select those software tools and computing environments that are optimal for implementing these mathematical and statistical techniques.
  • conduct the analysis in a manner that produces well-understood and reproducible results, and avoids common analytical and ethical problems associated with data analysis.
  • interpret the results of the analysis to generate actionable intelligence, and;
  • communicate the results of the analysis to stakeholders in the optimal combination of written, graphical/visual, and verbal means.

Course Delivery Format

Program courses are delivered on campus, in classroom and laboratory settings, and online.

Requirements for Data Science Major: 60 Credits


Associate of Science

System General Education Requirements


Supporting Coursework


Electives


Taken as needed to complete any additional requirements.

Total Required Credits: 60


Summary of Program Requirements


Associate of Science

System General Education Requirements 25-26 Credit Hours
Major Requirements 24-25 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework 3 Credit Hours
Electives** 10 Credit Hours

**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet


The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs - Majors, Minors, Certificates