Statistics & Data Science Major Course Requirements 2021

Overview

Both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Statistics & Data Science require the same set of supporting and core coursework. A minor in any subject outside the math department is required with this major.

The information and requirements given here apply to the 2021–2022 catalog. For other catalog years, please consult the archive.

Catalog Requirements

The Academic Advising Report (ADVIP) gives complete degree requirements:

Note: this program was brand new for Fall 2018. All SDS majors are expected to meet with an advisor in the Math Center at least once a semester.

Supporting Computer Science Requirement

All SDS majors are required to complete a computer programming course in Python, regardless of the degree selected. Choose one course:^(*)

CSC 110— Introduction to Computer Programming I
CSC 250— Essential Computing for the Sciences
ISTA 130— Computational Thinking and Doing

^(*)Either CSC 110, CSC 250, or ISTA 130 is recommended for most students; CSC 120 will also satisfy the requirement. As an alternative, qualified students may complete both ECE 175 AND BE 205.

Core Courses

MATH 122A AND MATH 122B ⁽¹⁾ or MATH 125— Calculus I

MATH 129— Calculus II

MATH 223— Vector Calculus

MATH 313— Introduction to Linear Algebra ⁽²⁾

DATA 363— Introduction to Statistical Methods

DATA 375— Introduction to Statistical Computing ⁽³⁾

MATH 464— Theory of Probability ⁽⁴⁾

MATH 466— Theory of Statistics

DATA 467 — Applied Linear Models ⁽⁵⁾

DATA 498A — Capstone for Statistics and Data Science ⁽⁶⁾

One upper-division statistics major elective.

⁽¹⁾MATH 122A and MATH 122B are a single-semester sequence of courses that cover Calculus I.

⁽²⁾Either MATH 313 or MATH 310 may be used to fulfill this requirement in the SDS major. However, please note that 310 has a prerequisite of MATH 254. Students who completed MATH 215 prior to fall 2015 or who have transfer credit equivalent to MATH 215 will still fulfill this requirement, though they will not earn upper-division credit for the course.

⁽³⁾ DATA 375 was offered for the first time in Spring 2019; hereafter it will be offered every fall and spring semester.

⁽⁴⁾Students who have completed MATH 313 and MATH/DATA 363 AND are declared SDS majors or minors will receive assistance from the Math Center to enroll in MATH 464, bypassing the MATH 323 prerequisite. Once there are enough SDS majors to support independent courses, we plan to open new versions with the appropriate prerequisites.

⁽⁵⁾ DATA 467 was offered for the first time Fall 2019; hereafter it will be offered every fall semester.

⁽⁶⁾ DATA 498A was offered for the first time in Spring 2020; hereafter it will be offered every spring semester.

Statistics & Data Science Major Elective Courses

The SDS major requires one upper-division elective course. The current courses that will be accepted toward this requirement are listed below. More course options may be added as the program grows; see your academic advisor for details.

Course options:

DATA 367— Statistical Methods in Sports Analytics
DATA 396T— Topics in Undergraduate Statistics & Data Science^(*)
DATA 462— Financial Math
DATA 468— Applied Stochastic Processes
DATA 496T— Advanced Topics in Undergraduate Statistics & Data Science^(*)
DATA 498H— Honors Thesis^(**)
SIE 440— Survey of Optimization Methods

^(*)DATA 396T and 496T are special topics courses. When available, they will usually be offered in spring, and topics covered will vary. Consult our website for details and availability.

^(**)One semester of DATA 498H (Honors Thesis) may be used toward SDS major requirements. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College; consult your Honors advisor for details and to create a plan for graduating with honors.

For an example of how to order your coursework to heed prerequisites and meet all degree requirements, please consult the sample 4-year plans. You will develop an individualized plan in consultation with your faculty advisor. Students planning to enroll in three MATH/DATA courses in a single semester are advised to talk to their math department faculty advisor before finalizing their schedule. The Math Department requires that students enrolling in four or more MATH/DATA courses for a single term obtain permission from their math department faculty advisor. Note that special courses like Supplemental Instruction, Workshops, Teaching Assistantship enrollment, and Pedagogy courses for the Secondary Math Education Program are not counted toward this limit.