Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Applied Data Science

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Data Science is designed to prepare graduates for a variety of careers within the data science field. The program builds upon a strong foundation of programming and data analysis to prepare data scientists who will be able to apply their skills to real-world applications. Graduates are prepared to join the data analysis workforce or pursue more advanced degrees.

Admission Requirements

• Freshmen admission to engineering majors is to a 'pre-major' status (i.e., Pre-Applied Data Science).
• Continuation in the major will be subject to meeting specific lower division course and GPA requirements at CSULB that indicate the student's ability to succeed and complete the major.
• Transfer applicants and CSULB students seeking admission into Applied Data Science must also meet similar major specific requirements.
• To become fully admitted into the Applied Data Science major, all prospective students (i.e., pre-majors, undeclared, major changes) must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA and complete the following lower-division courses with a minimum grade of "C" prior to earning 60 units:
  • Core Lower-Division Major Requirements:
    • CECS 180 – Data Computing for Everyone (3 units)
    • CECS 174 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving (3 units)
  • General Education Foundations Courses:
    • Written and Oral Communication (Consistent with AB-928 no GE waiver is required)

Degree Progress

• First-Time Engineering freshmen pre-major and transfer students must complete the Engineering Degree Progress Requirements within their first academic year.
• At the end of the second full semester, typically Spring, students who have not met the requirements must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor from the Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC) to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional Semester to complete.
• Such students must submit a Degree Progress Extension Petition with the College of Engineering Dean's Office.
• First-Time Freshmen: A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in CECS 180 and CECS 174 within one calendar year.
• Transfer Students: A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in CECS 181, CECS 228, and CECS 274 within one calendar year.

Course Requirements

• A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in all courses required for the major.
• A minimum of 120 units is required for the Bachelor's Degree.
• Lower Division:
  • Take all of the following:
    • CECS 100 – Critical Thinking in the Digital Information Age (3)
    • ENGR 101 Introduction to Engineering Profession (1)
    • ENGR 102 - Academic Success Skills (1 unit)
    • CECS 105 - Introduction to Computer Engineering and Computer Science (1 unit)
    • CECS 174 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving (3 units)
    • CECS 180 Data Computing for Everyone
    • CECS 181 Intro to Data Science
    • MATH 181 Mathematics for Data Science I
    • CECS 228 Discrete Structures with Computing Applications
    • CECS 229 Discrete Structures with Computing Applications II
    • CECS 274 Data Structures
    • CECS 280 Data Mining
    • CECS 281 Introduction to Data Visualization for Data Science
• Upper Division:
  • Take all of the following:
    • CECS 328 Algorithms
    • CECS 381 Stochastic Computing (3 units)
    • ENGR 350 Computers, Ethics and Society (3 units)
    • CECS 351 Social Data Analysis and Computing (3 units)
    • CECS 451 Artificial Intelligence
    • CECS 456 Machine Learning
    • CECS 478- Introduction to Computer Security (3 units)
    • CECS 492A- Applied Data Science Senior Project I (3 units)
    • CECS 492B- Applied Data Science Senior Project II (3 units)

Focus Areas

• Take eighteen units from one of the following focus areas (Analytical Public Health or Computational Linguistics) and take nine units of elective courses from any of the focus areas:
• Analytical Public Health:
  • 6 required courses (18 units)
  • HSC (PPH)- 360 The Role of Data (PHIT-B) (3 Units)
  • HCA 419 Healthcare Database Management (3 units)
  • HCA 420 Healthcare Data Visualization (3 units)
  • HCA 421 Healthcare Data Science Capstone (3 units)
  • HSC (PPH)- 460-A Emerging Technologies for the Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT-C) (3 Units)
  • HSC (PPH)- 460-B Public Health Maps and Spatial Analysis for Health Equity Informatics and Technology (PHIT-D) (3 Units)
• Elective courses
  • HSC (PPH)- 260 Introduction to Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT-A) (3 Units)
  • HCA 300 The Health Care System (3 units)
  • HSC 400 Principals of Epidemiology (3 Units)
  • HSC 403 Community Health Statistics (3 Units)
  • HCA 416 Mgmt & Info Systems (3 units)
  • HCA 417 Technology, Ethics and Society (3 units)
  • HSC 420 Global Health (3 units)
  • HCA 428 Population Health Management (3 units)
  • HCA 450 Quality Assurance in Healthcare (3 units)
• Computational Linguistics:
  • 18 required units
  • LING/ANTH 170 Introduction to Linguistics
  • LING 325 Modern English Grammar
  • LING 350 Natural Language Processing
  • LING 401 Corpus Linguistics
  • LING 423 Semantics
  • LING 424 Laboratory Phonetics
• Electives:
  • LING 301 Research Methods
  • LING 379 Sociolinguistics
  • LING 420 Phonology
  • LING 421 Syntax
  • LING 422 Discourse
  • LING 438 Psycholinguistics

Program Details

• Effective: Fall 2025
• Academic Plan Code: CECSBS05U1 (Concentration Code: 01)
• CIP: 30.7001
• CSU Code: 17035
• Career: Undergraduate
• College: 52, College of Engineering
• Department: Computer Engineering and Computer Science
• Delivery: Face-to-face
• STEM Eligible