Academic Catalog

Data Science - BS

Our data science major curriculum intentionally provides a foundation and pathway for engaging broad discipline interests in the arts, humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, health sciences, and business.  Data - in any domain - is at our disposal almost instantaneously.  We need the knowledge and skills to manage, analyze, summarize and interpret the data, and then be able to effectively communicate, both visually and verbally, the results in context within an ethical and respectful frame.

Students majoring in ​data science at St. Catherine University will learn to navigate, model, visualize, summarize, and communicate with data within a vibrantly interdisciplinary, collaborative environment. ​Students will engage in creating​ appropriate models to analyze and interpret data, learn to ask pertinent questions, study ethical considerations, ​and develop ​communication skills involved in data science and data analytics within contextual variety among the liberal arts spectrum. 
 
Data Science majors are required to complete a domain minor or a double major and secure at least one internship as part of the major. They must also choose an interdisciplinary emphasis track based on their personal or professional interests or goals. 

This major is offered in the College for Women only. 

Required Major Courses
DSCI 1000Telling Stories with Data - Introduction to Data Visualization4
DSCI 3000WData Ethics, Governance & Social Impact4
DSCI 2100Introduction to Programming: Applied Computing I4
DSCI 3100Database Management4
DSCI 3300Introduction to Machine Learning for Data Science4
DSCI 3200WAnalyzing Social Issues with Data4
DSCI 4100 Introduction to Cloud Computing (AWS)4
DSCI 4200 Introduction to Large Language Models (Machine Learning II)4
16 credits in an interdisciplinary track: 116
DSCI 4952Independent Study2-4
or DSCI 4604 Internship
Total Credits50-52
1

Suggested interdisciplinary tracks include Business Administration, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, and Arts and Humanities. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to explore different pathways that best suit their individual goals.

Prerequisite Courses
CSCI 1110Introduction to Computer Science4
MATH 1130Calculus I4
STAT 1090Statistical Analysis4
Total Credits12
Required Supporting Courses
CSCI 1120Algorithms and Computer Programming II with Lab4
DSCI 2994 Topics4
OR DSCI 3994
Topics
STAT 2090Statistical Modeling4
MATH 1140Calculus II4
STAT 3090Predictive Analysis4
Total Credits20

Data science majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing DSCI 3000W Data Ethics, Governance & Social Impact and DSCI 3200W Analyzing Social Issues with Data. They complete the liberal arts core Writing Requirement with two other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman and CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice). 

 
Fall Term
CORE 1000WThe Reflective Woman4
DSCI 1000Telling Stories with Data - Introduction to Data Visualization4
COMM 1030Speaking to Lead and Influence (can be taken any semester)4
Spring Term
STAT 1090Statistical Analysis4
DSCI 2000Seminar for Data Science (Offered J-term only; can be taken in 2nd year)2
Fall Term
CSCI 1110Introduction to Computer Science (can be taken 1st yr)4
MATH 1130Calculus I (can be taken 1st yr)4
STAT 2090Statistical Modeling (Offered in even years; can be taken 3rd year if not offered in 2nd)4
Select one from:4
BIOL 1710
Foundations of Biology: Diversity and Evolution with Lab
CHEM 1110
General Chemistry I with Lab
PHYS 1110
Introductory Physics I with Lab
Spring Term
CSCI 1120Algorithms and Computer Programming II with Lab (can be taken 1st yr)4
MATH 1140Calculus II (can be taken 1st yr)4
STAT 3090Predictive Analysis (offered in odd years; can be taken in 3rd year if not offered in 2nd)4
Select one from:4
BIOL 1720
Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology with Lab
CHEM 1120
General Chemistry II with Lab
PHYS 1120
Introductory Physics II with Lab
Fall Term
DSCI 3100Database Management (Offered in odd years; can be taken in 4th year, if not offered in 3rd)4
MATH 2050Linear Algebra4
3000- or 4000-level CRST or WOST course4
Spring Term
DSCI 3200WAnalyzing Social Issues with Data (Offered in even years; can be taken 4th year if not offered in 3rd))4
Select one from:4
PHIL 2200W
Ethics
PHIL 3400
Biomedical Ethics
Fall Term
CORE 3990WGlobal Search for Justice4
Spring Term
DSCI Internship (can be completed any semester)0-4
Total Credits74-78