Program Overview

Data Science Program Overview

The Data Science program at Western Michigan University is a rapidly evolving discipline at the intersection of statistics and computer science. The field's progression has been driven by the surge in processing power available and the increasing amount of data collected, stored, and made available in every facet of business, science, and government.

Program Details

• The program is offered jointly by WMU's departments of Computer Science and Statistics.
• The data science major consists of 45 credit hours, with a statistics core of 16 credit hours and a computer science core of 15 credit hours.
• Students will learn about statistics using R, R programming for data science, storage and retrieval of big data, machine learning, SAS, regression analysis, applied data mining, and computer-based data analysis.
• In the capstone courses, Senior Design I and II, students will work in a group to design and implement a solution to a practical problem involving the handling and analysis of large data sets.
• A laptop is required for this program.

Beyond the Classroom

• As a data science student at WMU, students may work with a local business or research team for their capstone courses, offering valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities.
• This experience could also lead to an internship or research position.

Career Opportunities

• The need to analyze big data sets now permeates industry, marketing, science, medicine, environmental studies, and critical societal issues.
• There is a serious shortage of data scientists to help decision-makers effectively use this data.
• Upon successfully completing WMU's data science program, students will be uniquely qualified to meet these needs.
• There are, and will continue to be, ample job opportunities in the data science area.

Further Education

• If students perform well in WMU's undergraduate data science program, they may also consider entering a master's program in either computer science or statistics.

Program Location

• The program is offered in Kalamazoo.

Related Programs

• Biology
• Computer Engineering
• Mathematics
• Statistics