Advice about Data Science Major
Carefully read the requirements for the Data Science major as listed in the college catalog. Data Science Major
Importance of advising: Your exact schedule will be determined only after consultation with your major advisor. Seeking advice on your data science major plan in your first year is strongly recommended. Reach out to the Data Science Coordinator and they can put you in touch with a potential advisor.
The first two years: A typical data science major is recommended to take the following courses from the MSCS Core in the first two years:
- STAT/COMP 112;
- MATH 137 or 279 and then MATH 236;
- STAT 155 and then 253;
- COMP 120 or 123 and then 127
After completing the introductory courses COMP 123, STAT 155, and STAT/COMP 112, plan to take STAT/COMP 212 at least by Junior spring. This timing is required so that you can take STAT/COMP 456 Senior fall.
Planning for advanced electives: It is useful to consider your interests when choosing upper-level electives. Be aware that upper-level electives may have prerequisites and not all courses are taught every semester or every year so plan accordingly. See MSCS Course Descriptions for frequency for each course.
Here are some suggested paths through the upper-level electives.
- Statistics focus: STAT/MATH 354 [requires MATH 137], 400-level Statistics courses
- Computer Science focus: COMP 221 [requires COMP 128 + MATH 279], 300 and 400-level Computer Science courses
- Math focus: STAT/MATH 354 [requires MATH 137], COMP/MATH 365 [requires HS calculus / MATH 135 + MATH 236], COMP/MATH 479 [many prereq. options including 354], MATH 432 [requires MATH 237 + 312]
A more interdisciplinary focus without additional prerequisites beyond the MSCS Core is possible, though challenging / risky in terms of scheduling as many electives are only taught alternate years or offered occasionally.
Interested in graduate school? If you are interested in pursuing graduate study, consult with an advisor in the MSCS department to discuss the most appropriate choices. You should also seek out opportunities to apply your data science toolkit to real data problems in your junior and senior years.
Use the following diagram to help you visualize the order of courses in the Data Science Major.
Example Schedules
Example 1 (Statistics focus – 12 courses)
| Fall | Spring | |
| First Year | Comp/Stat 112, Math 137 | Stat 155, Comp 123 |
| Second Year | Stat 253, Comp 127 | Math 236, Stat/Comp 212 |
| Third Year | Math/Stat 354 | Stat 452 |
| Fourth Year | Comp/Stat 456 | Stat 454 |
Example 2 (Computer Science focus – 13 courses)
| Fall | Spring | |
| First Year | Comp/Stat 112, Math 279 | Stat 155, Comp 123 |
| Second Year | Stat 253, Comp 127 | Math 236, Comp 128 |
| Third Year | Stat/Comp 212 | Comp 221 |
| Fourth Year | Comp/Stat 456, Comp 484 | Comp 302 |
Example 3 (Math focus – 12 courses)
| Fall | Spring | |
| First Year | Comp/Stat 112, Math 137 | Stat 155, Comp 123 |
| Second Year | Stat 253, Comp 127 | Math 236, Stat/Comp 212 |
| Third Year | Math/Stat 354 | Math/Comp 365 |
| Fourth Year | Comp/Stat 456 | Math/Comp 479 |