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Data Science

major, minor

Computer Science / Majors & Programs / Data Science

Data Science

major, minor

Degree Overview

Glance at the headlines today, and it quickly becomes clear that businesses, non-profits, and governments all desperately need people who can wisely collect, interpret, and apply data. In Calvin's data science program, you'll learn to analyze and understand data—and put it to effective use in a business, scientific, or social setting.

Calvin is one of the first Christian institutions to offer a data science program. Here, you’ll take foundational classes in computer science, statistics, and mathematics. Then you’ll pair your analysis and critical-thinking skills with a subject area that fits your career goals—like biology, geography, business, economics, or political science.

You’ll tie it all together with a capstone project that you can proudly present to employers, who are eager to hire data scientists like you.

Take the next step:

Program Distinctives

 
Christian perspective - Here, all your classes are taught by Christian professors who are experts in their fields. They’ll challenge you to take ethical issues seriously. You’ll carefully consider how data can be used to empower business and improve lives.
 
Practical approach - Calvin’s robust core requirements mean that you’ll take four or five classes in another field of interest. You’ll apply your data science skills to that field before you graduate, giving you practical experience and expertise.
 
Expanding opportunities - If you crunch the data on data science job openings, you’ll see that it’s a rapidly expanding field—more and more industries see the benefit of using analytical data. You’ll graduate with deep experience and a wide-open career path.

Degree Information

major
  • Overview

    This major combines roughly equal portions of computer science and statistics with a substantial cognate in a domain area of the student’s choice, where they will apply their data analysis skills.

  • Courses
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  • Course Schedule and Cognates

    The following course schedule provides a suggested framework for students pursuing a BA (or BS) in data science.

    YearFallInterimSpring
    Freshman

    		 

    Sophomore
      • DATA-202
      • STAT 243 (or 343 in spring)
      • Cognate III

    		  

    Junior


      • CS-3XX*
      • STAT-341 or 344
    Senior
      • CS 3XX*
      • Cognate V (if necessary)

    		  

    * CS 342, 344 are offered every year and CS 374 is offered other year according to the published course schedule.

    The Data Science program is an interdisciplinary mix of Computer Science, Data, Mathematics, and Statistics. For more information about the program, please contact the Chair of Computer Science or the Chair of Mathematics & Statistics.

    Cognates

    Cognates must total at least 15 semester hours, usually with the same course prefix (e.g. BIOL, BUS, GEOG, POLS, etc.) other than CS, DATA, MATH or STAT. At least 6 hours must be at the 300 level. A current list of suggested cognate course tracks can be found here:

    Data Science Cognate Tracks

    Students can propose other course combinations in consultation with their advisor.

Degree Information

minor

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