Academics

Data Science (College of Engineering)

Welcome to the age of data – big data, unstructured data, mixed media data, you name it – where a need exists for a new class of experts who can extract actionable knowledge from rich and varied datasets.

Huge amounts of data with complex structures in the form of text, video, and streaming data are routinely collected in social networks (e.g., Google, Twitter, Facebook), biological and health sciences (e.g., drug discovery, patient care), sciences and engineering (e.g., astronomy, networks, smart buildings), business and industry (e.g., automotive, robotics, banking, insurance, ad networks) as well as by government and society at large. Data scientists will help quantify and address the pressing concerns of modern society, including those in healthcare, sustainability, security, equity, and economics.

Data scientists blend techniques from computer science and statistics – such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, statistical learning, probability models, and visualization – to manage, analyze, and interpret data.

DS-Eng program information

The data science undergraduate program is a joint program between the EECS Department in the College of Engineering and the Department of Statistics in the College of LSA. The data science program aims to train well-rounded data scientists who have the skills to work with a variety of problems involving large-scale data common in the modern world. The focus of the curriculum is computational tools and statistical analysis as well as hands-on experience.

The data science major is a rigorous program that will provide students with a foundation in those aspects of computer science, statistics, and mathematics that are relevant for analyzing and manipulating large complex datasets. Students will be exposed to both the practical use of data science methods as well as the theoretical properties underpinning the performance of the methods and algorithms. Graduates of the program will be well prepared for exciting careers in data science and will have opportunities for advanced study.

Open to students enrolled in the College of Engineering, this program is administered by the CSE Division of the EECS Department.

Enrollment and graduation data

DS-Eng program guide

DS-Eng Program Guide for students who begin in the College of Engineering before Fall 2024

DS-Eng Program Guide for students who begin in the College of Engineering Fall 2024 or later

Declaring in DS-Eng

Declaration requirements are listed in the DS-Eng program guide. If you meet ALL of these requirements and are ready to declare, please fill out our declaration request form. A staff member will check your eligibility and let you know the outcome. For more detailed questions about the major, students can schedule an advising appointment or come to virtual drop-in advising. In addition, please watch this video prior to declaring.

Double major and minor information

Data Science in the College of Engineering is a contemporary and exciting major, full of expected employment opportunities and ways to impact the world. It is also flexible enough to consider a double major subject to the rules of the respective colleges. To pursue a double-major within CoE, 14 additional technical credits that are not double-counted between the two majors are required (a total of 142 credits instead of 128 credits). To pursue a dual degree with another academic unit, see the College of Engineering rules on combined degree programs (see section on Multiple Dependent Degree Programs). A double major between Data Science and Statistics is permitted, but a double major between Data Science and Computer Science is not permitted. Most minors that are options for CoE students are also permitted, except for minors in Computer Science and in Statistics, since their credits overlap significantly. The Data Science requirements already subsume the requirements of a CS minor.

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Study

Students who enroll in this program and plan to obtain a master’s degree could be eligible for the Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Study (SUGS) program, which enables completion of both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five (to five and a half) years. More information is here. Questions about the program should be directed to [email protected].