Data Science

“The world is one big data problem.” ― Andrew McAfee (Co-Director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy)

Program Overview

About Our Programs

This interdisciplinary degree has a core curriculum that leads to 7 different specializations, allowing the degree to be tailored to the student’s interests.

Each specialization builds upon the core courses and, where available, application-specific statistics courses. Specializations enable graduates of this program to pursue the creation of, analysis of, and use of data-driven knowledge to influence the decisions of businesses, of communities, and of national/international policy-makers. Fill out your LSSU application and become part of the data revolution!


Degrees

This degree provides a solid background in computer science and applied mathematics during your first two years. The general education requirements are tailored to the selected concentration area. The upper-division courses in the Junior and Senior year will provide depth and specialization in the concentration while adding core competencies in data analytics and data manipulation.


Choosing a Career in Data Science

Job prospects in Data Science are strong, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 31% growth rate through the end of 2029. Other related occupations in the top 20 included “Statistician”, “Information Security Analyst”, and “Operations Research Analyst” which are all related to Data Science. The median pay in 2019 was $94,284 per year. Harvard Business Review lists Data Scientist as the “Sexiest Job of the 21st Century.”


See Program Catalog

Core Curriculum

The common core for this program is Computer Science with a strong Mathematics/Statistics foundation.

  • LIBR 102 Introduction to Information Science and College Success | 2 credits
  • EVRN 131 Introduction to GIS and GPS | 3 credits
  • CSCI 105 Introduction to Computer Programming | 3 credits
  • CSCI 115 Introduction to Data Science | 3 credits
  • CSCI 121 Principles of Programming | 4 credits
  • CSCI 201 Data Structures and Algorithms | 4 credits
  • CSCI 211 Database Applications | 3 credits
  • CSCI 265 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 credits
  • CSCI 342 Advanced Programming Techniques | 4 credits
  • CSCI 411 Data Analytics | 3 credits
  • MATH 151 Calculus | 4 credits
  • MATH 261 Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 credits
  • MATH 305 Linear Algebra | 3 credits

Concentrations

Concentration courses:

  • BIOL 131 General Biology: Cells | 4 credits
  • BIOL 132 General Biology:Organisms | 4 credits
  • BIOL 220 Genetics | 4 credits
  • BIOL 280 Biostatistics | 3 credits
  • BIOL Elective
  • BIOL 337 General Ecology | 3 credits
  • BIOL 490+
  • CHEM 115 General Chemistry I | 5 credits

See Course Descriptions

Business data scientists gather and interpret information to solve complex business problems. The field is far-reaching, but the core purpose is to collect and interpret data sets to uncover important insights used to improve decision-making that drives organizational success.

The business analytics concentration in the data science program prepares students to gain foundational domain expertise in business, leading to careers such as data analysts, data architects, data scientists and information officers in business organizations.

Students acquire knowledge in accounting, statistics, economics, and marketing. The concentration gives students the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest to prepare them for today’s job requirements and careers: managerial economics, environmental economics, insurance, operations management, or marketing research. During their senior year, students choose BUSN 466 Business Policy or an employment internship in business analytics.

Concentration courses

  • ACTG 132 Principles of Accounting I 4
  • ACTG 133 Principles of Accounting II 4
  • BUSN 121 Introduction to Business 3
  • BUSN 211 Business Statistics 3
  • ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3
  • MRKT 281 Marketing Principles and Strategy 3
  • MRKT 381 Consumer Behavior 3

Choose of the following specializations:

  • ECON 302 Managerial Economics 4
  • ECON 307 Environmental Economics 3
  • FINC 443 Insurance 4
  • MGMT 371 Operations/Business Analytics 3
  • MRKT 480 Marketing Research 4

Choose one of the following Capstone projects:

  • BUSN 466 Business Policy 3
  • Internship 3

See Course Descriptions

Concentration courses:

  • CHEM 115 General Chemistry I 5
  • CHEM 116 General Chemistry II 5
  • CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry I 4
  • CHEM 231 Quantitative Analysis 4
  • CHEM 326 Organic Chemistry II 4
  • CHEM 332 Instrumental Analysis 4
  • CHEM 351 Introductory Biochemistry 4
  • CHEM 310 Applied Spectroscopy 4

OR

  • CHEM 361 Physical Chemistry I 4

AND

  • CHEM 363 Physical Chemistry Laboratory: Kinetics and Reaction Dynamics 1
  • CHEM 499 Senior Seminar 1

See Course Descriptions

Concentration courses:

  • GEOL 121 Physical Geology 4
  • GEOL 122 Historical Geology 4
  • NRES 299 Sophomore Seminar 1
  • NRES 399 Research Project Design 1
  • GEOL 495 Senior Project 2
  • NRES 499 Senior Capstone 1

Complete at least 10 credits from the following:

  • GEOL 223 Earth Materials 4
  • GEOL 308 Structural Geology Systems 4
  • GEOL 315 Geoenvironmental Systems 4
  • GEOL 322 Geochemical Systems 4
  • GEOL 334 Hydrologic Systems: Surface and Groundwater 4
  • GEOL 355 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation 4
  • GEOL 431 Geophysical Systems 4
  • GEOL 440 Technology in Geology 2
  • GEOL 450 Geology Seminar I 1
  • GEOL 451 Geology Seminar II 1

See Course Descriptions

Concentration courses:

  • HLTH 101 Introduction to Medical Terminology 2
  • HLTH 150 Introduction to Public Health 3
  • HLTH 210 Introduction to Health Care Concepts and Issues 3
  • HLTH 235 Healthcare Informatics 2
  • HLTH 490 Independent Study in Health 2-4
  • KINS 332 Health Promotions 3
  • MATH 207 Principles of Statistical Methods 3
  • PHIL 220 Biomedical Ethics 3
  • SOCY 266 Medical Sociology 4

See Course Descriptions

Robotics has positively transformed lives and work practices, raised efficiency and safety levels, and provided enhanced levels of service. Robotics, worldwide and in North America, has seen exponential growth both in industrial settings (such as in automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries) and in the service settings (such as healthcare, agriculture, and logistics). The Data Science curriculum provides the student a solid foundation in computer science, math, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. This sets up the stage for excellence in the Robotics concentration where the students learn about mobile robotics, industrial robotics, machine vision, 3D simulation, and more while getting hands-on experience in LSSU’s $2 million robotics lab. LSSU’s graduates with the robotics concentration have numerous job offers to choose from that offer nationally competitive salaries.

Concentration courses:

  • EGRS 105 1
  • EGRS 215 Introduction to Robotics 2
  • EGRS 372 Mobile Robotics 4
  • EGRS 380 Robotics Technology 2
  • EGRS 381 Robotics Technology Lab 1
  • EGRS 430 Systems Integration and Machine Vision 4
  • EGRS 480 Manufacturing Automation 3
  • EGRS 481 Manufacturing Automation Lab 1
  • EGNR 496 Senior Directed Project 3
  • PHYS 221 Principles of Physics I 4

See Course Descriptions

Concentration courses:

  • EVRN 225 Intermediate GIS 3
  • EVRN 325 Geospatial Analysis 3
  • EVRN 355 GIS Programming and Applications 4
  • EVRN 365 Applied Geospatial Technologies 4
  • EVRN 445 Remote Sensing and Spatial Statistics 4

Choose one two-course sequence:

  • NRES 398 Planning an Experiential Learning Project 1
  • NRES 497 Experiential Learning Project 3

OR

  • EVRN 495 Senior Project 2

AND

  • NRES 399 Research Project Design 1
  • NRES 499 Senior Capstone 1

See Course Descriptions

Job Outlook

The 21st century is driven by data. It touches every aspect of our lives: shopping, health, business, community development, etc. etc. etc.

Job prospects in Data Science are strong, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 31% growth rate through the end of 2029.

Other related occupations in the top 20 included “Statistician”, “Information Security Analyst”, and “Operations Research Analyst” which are all related to Data Science.

The median pay in 2019 was $94,284 per year. Harvard Business Review lists Data Scientist as the “Sexiest Job of the 21st Century.” Inside Higher Ed has run several articles on the need for Data Science instruction and professionals, including a March 30, 2017 piece that stated “A shortage of job candidates with fluency in data science and analytics is among the nation’s most yawning of skills gaps… ”.

$94,284

Median Salary for Data Science in 2019

31%

Job Prospects in Data Science Growth Rate