Data Science Major

The data science major is jointly offered by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Statistics at Western Michigan University.

Program Requirements

Background Support (8 credit hours)

  • MATH 1220 - Calculus I (4 hours)
  • MATH 2300 - Elementary Linear Algebra (4 hours)

Computer Science Core (16 credit hours)

  • CS 2610 - R Programming for Data Science (4 hours)
  • CS 3100 - Storage, Retrieval, and Processing of Big Data (3 hours)
  • CS 5821 - Machine Learning (3 hours)
  • CS 4900 - Software Systems Development I: Requirements and Design (3 hours)
  • CS 4910 - Software Systems Development II: Implementation, Testing (3 hours)

Statistics Core (16 hours)

  • STAT 2600 - Data Analysis Using R (4 hours)
  • STAT 2630 - Introduction to Mathematical Statistics Using R (3 hours)
  • STAT 4640: Introduction to Statistical Computing (3 hours)
  • STAT 5680: Regression Analysis (3 hours)
  • STAT 5870: Big Data Analysis Using Python (3 hours)

Choose two from the following electives (six hours)

  • CS 3400, 3500, 4430/5430, 5180, 5260, 5300, 5400, 5550, 5700, 5820
  • STAT 5610, 5660, 5670, 5820, 5850, 5860

Other requirements

  • Writing Course: CS 4900/4910.
  • All students are required to have a laptop.

Advising

  • Both computer science and statistics faculty may advise for this program.