Data Science, B.S.

Program Overview

Saint Louis University's Bachelor of Science in Data Science equips graduates with programming, statistical analysis, and data management skills. The interdisciplinary program, supported by the Computer Science and Mathematics and Statistics departments, combines theory and hands-on experience to prepare students for careers in high-demand fields such as technology and research. Faculty expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, and other areas enhances the curriculum's rigor and relevance.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Saint Louis University Bachelor of Science in Data Science is an interdisciplinary program supported by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. SLU's curriculum is modeled upon guidelines for undergraduate programs in data science as endorsed by the American Statistical Association's Board of Directors. Classes are small and are taught by enthusiastic instructors.

Objectives:

The program aims to equip graduates with the following skills:

• Programming and computer science skills: Graduates will be able to use programming and other computer science skills to analyze and interact with data.
• Statistical analysis: Graduates will be able to apply statistics to analyze data sets.
• Data acquisition and management: Graduates will be able to acquire and manage complex data sets.
• Predictive modeling: Graduates will be able to use technical skills in predictive modeling.

Description:

The B.S. in data science is among the most rigorous degrees offered at SLU. This program combines carefully selected computer science, statistics, and mathematics courses with four semesters of practica and capstone experiences. The result is an education rooted in the fundamentals but that also provides hands-on experience with cleaning, visualizing, analyzing, and reporting on data. Students choose electives within the major to specialize in the computer science or statistical aspects of data science.

Teaching:

• Faculty: Faculty in the data science program do research in machine learning, natural language processing, time series, topological data analysis, and in other areas of statistics, computer science, and mathematics.
• Small class sizes: Classes are small and are taught by enthusiastic instructors.

Careers:

• Demand for data science skills: The McKinsey Report estimated that the United States would face a shortfall of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills, while also needing 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to make decisions based on the analysis of big data.
• Career opportunities: The Harvard Business Review calls data scientist "the sexiest job of the 21st century,” and Glassdoor has ranked data scientist as the No.
1 overall job in the USA in terms of the number of job openings, earning potential, and career opportunities rating.
• Industries: Students with a B.S.
in data science will be well-positioned to work in technology, government, research, and consulting fields, among others.

Other:

• Fieldwork and Research Opportunities: There are multiple research, internship, and consulting opportunities for students in the data science program.
Past students have done cross-disciplinary work with ArchCity Defenders, the Department of Sociology, the Department of Languages, Literature and Cultures, the Department of English, and the Medical School Liver Center, while others have done work in data science itself, doing research with faculty within the departments of Mathematics and Statistics, the Department of Computer Science, and the Lincoln Lab at MIT, among others.
• SLU Data Science Club: The SLU Data Science Club provides students with an opportunity to practice their predictive modeling in competitions.
Some competitions are hosted locally by SLU solely for students at SLU, while others pit SLU students against students and professionals from across the world.