Data Science

Our society increasingly values decisions that are supported by data.  The Data Science Program at Pacific Lutheran University equips students with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind (e.g. curiosity, skepticism, holding results with intellectual humility) needed to ethically and responsibly harness the power of data.

Data science is a dynamic field that has been reshaping the landscape of science, industry, and daily life. The ubiquity of data in our lives necessitates professionals who can convert this data into actionable insights, communicate those insights to a variety of audiences, and ethically anticipate and respond to potential consequences of the harnessed information – whether the consequences be intended or not. This field is reshaping professions, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation, and demanding a higher standard of accountability and responsibility for the producer of data grounded insights.

Bachelor of Science Degree

PLU offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science, through partnership between the Mathematics and Computer Sciences Departments, in collaboration with other disciplines across campus. This program helps students develop as responsible stewards and critical thinkers about data, analysis, and their impact on society, while also equipping students with tools to process, visualize, and interpret large datasets. The curriculum combines foundational knowledge, advanced techniques, and critical inquiry to prepare graduates for both immediate employment and further academic pursuits.

Major in Data Science
64 semester hours

28-32 semester hours of mathematics/statistics, 24-28 semester hours of computer science/data science, plus 4-8 semester hours of supporting courses:

• 20 semester hours of required mathematics/statistics courses:
  • MATH 152, 331
  • MATH/STAT 242*, 348, 442**
• 12 semester hours of mathematics/statistics electives from:
  • MATH 253, 318, 422, or MATH/STAT 342
• 20 semester hours of required computer science/data science courses:
  • CSCI 144, 270, 330
  • DATA 233, 499A, 499B
• 8 semester hours of electives from:
  • CSCI 367, 371, or 390
• 4 semester hours of supporting courses from a Domain-Specific Elective.
  • Select at least one option from the list of Domain-Specific Electives that applies data science principles in a disciplinary context or provides deeper study of data science topics (see details below).

*MATH/STAT 145, STAT 231, 232, or 233 may replace MATH/STAT 242.

**ECON 344 may substitute MATH/STAT 442 if it is not also used as the domain-specific elective.

All courses counted toward the major must be completed with grades of C or higher.

A maximum of eight (8) credits at the 300+ level may be double-counted for other major requirements and a maximum of eight (8) credits may be double-counted for other minor requirements. Petitions to substitute courses may be submitted to the Data Science Director to address double-counting constraints. Students minoring in statistics may not use any of their “8 additional semester hours of statistics” towards the Data Science major.

Minor

The Data Science Minor is ideal for students who would benefit from in-depth experiences managing, analyzing, and visualizing data. The minor is designed for students from virtually any major, although quantitative literacy at or exceeding the level of PLU MATH 140 (Precalculus) is required.

Minor in Data Science
20 semester hours

Computational and Data Science Foundations
8 semester hours

• DATA 133: Introduction to Data Science I or CSCI 144: Introduction to Computer Science (4)
• DATA 233: Introduction to Data Science II (4)

Statistical Foundations
8 semester hours

• Any of MATH/STAT 145, STAT 231, 232, 233, or MATH/STAT 242 (4)
• MATH/STAT 348: Statistical Computing and Consulting (4)

Domain-Specific Electives
4 semester hours

Select at least one option from the list of electives that applies data science principles in a disciplinary context or provides deeper study of data science topics. Details about Domain-Specific Elective Options are given below.

All courses counted toward the minor must be completed with grades of C or higher.

Students may complete requirements for the minor in any order that meets course prerequisites.

A maximum of eight (8) credits may be double-counted for other major and minor requirements, although students minoring in statistics may not use any of their “8 additional semester hours of statistics” toward the Data Science minor.

Students may transfer a maximum of 8 semester hours toward the Data Science minor, unless they have permission from the director.

Domain-Specific Electives

Domain-Specific Elective Options for the Data Science Major and Minor

Domain-Specific Elective courses must go beyond introductory topics and techniques to develop advanced statistical expertise for the respective field where at least one of the following are met:

1. Data are not easily collected (e.g., makes use of intricate study design; requires in-depth survey design), OR
2. Data are not easily managed (e.g., data are messy; data set is excessively large; data are not easily synthesized), OR
3. Data are not easily analyzed by selecting routine analyses from a series of menu items (e.g., arguments must be made for appropriate covariates), OR
4. Data are not easily presented (e.g., requires sophisticated visualization techniques)

Approved courses include***:

• BUSA 310: Information Systems and Database Management (4)
• BUSA 467: Marketing Research (4)
• COMA 461: Advertising, PR + Campaigns (4)
• Selected CSCI 387/388/389/487/488/489: Special Topics in Computer Science courses (4)
• ECON 344: Econometrics (4)
• ESCI 331: Maps: Computer-Aided Mapping and Analysis (4)
• NURT 318: Research Methods (2) with NURS 319: Healthcare Technology (2)
• POLS 301: Political Science Methods (4)
• PSYC 242: Advanced Statistics and Research Design (4)
• SOCI 301: Quantitative Research Methods (4)

***Students may petition for a course not on this list to satisfy the Domain-Specific Elective.