What do Students Study in a Data Science College Major?
by Mia J.
With the rapid development of AI and internet companies, coupled with high salaries and countless job opportunities, data science has become an increasingly popular major. Like many millennials, I have a deep love for social media, enjoying meeting new people and learning about others’ lifestyles. I am particularly fascinated by how social media recommendation systems work. I often marvel at how the internet knows exactly what to show on my homepage and keeps me engaged.
This curiosity led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in mathematics and statistics, with a minor in computer science, and later a graduate degree in data science. I now understand the operational logic behind today’s social media products and aim to contribute to creating more personalized and better user experiences in social media.
The foundation of data science lies in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. Fundamental courses in mathematics and statistics include Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, and Statistical Inference. Essential computer science courses cover Python programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Databases and SQL, and Machine Learning. Building on these foundations, data science majors undertake core courses like Data Mining, Big Data Technologies, Data Visualization, Predictive Modeling, and Natural Language Processing. These courses are designed to help students integrate their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and computer science and apply it to data analysis.
With the rising prominence of data science, many universities now offer dedicated data science majors. However, if a university doesn’t have a data science major, students can still pursue degrees in statistics, mathematics, or computer science and select relevant courses to build a similar skill set. Data science can be applied across various industries, and many universities offer domain-specific branches, such as business analytics, product analytics, bioinformatics, public policy, financial data analysis, and environmental science. This allows data science students to learn how to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems in different fields.
For instance, my interest in social media and digital marketing led me to take many business-related and e-commerce courses during my graduate studies. This tailored my data science techniques to product analysis, enhancing my ability to apply these skills effectively in the context of social media and digital marketing.
Studying data science equips students with a versatile skill set that is highly sought after in today’s data-driven world. Whether it’s improving social media algorithms, enhancing business strategies, or advancing scientific research, data scientists play a crucial role in transforming data into actionable insights.
