Data Science CS (DSCS) Degree Requirements Fall 2023

The first computer science and math courses of the data science degree are almost identical to those of the computer science degree. They lay the foundation of basic principles and skills for the major. The first data science courses in the plan of study are taken in the sophomore year: CS 242, Introduction to Data Science, and STAT 355, Statistics for Data Science. In addition to the body of courses required of all College of Science students, DSCS majors will take courses in data mining and machine learning, data analytics, probability, and statistical theory. The DSCS major curriculum culminates with a capstone course or experience. Other computer science and statistics electives allow students to tailor the major to personal interests.

All beginning data science majors are required to take CS 19300, Tools. This is a 1 credit course that Computer Science students take in their first semester. Students are equally encouraged to take CS 29100, Sophomore Development Seminar, and CS 39100, Junior Resource Seminar.

For this degree, all major required courses, all major electives (selectives), and their pre-requisites, regardless of department, must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Course	Title	Credits	Semester
CS 18000	Problem Solving and Object-Oriented Programming	4	1
CS 18200	Foundations of Computer Science	3	2
CS 38003	Python Programming	1	2
CS 24200	Introduction to Data Science	3	3
STAT 35500	Statistics for Data Science	3	3
CS 25100	Data Structures & Algorithms	3	4
CS 25300	Data Structures & Algorithms for DS/AI	3	4
STAT 41600	Probability	3	4
CS 37300	Data Mining and Machine Learning	3	5
STAT 41700	Statistical Theory	3	5
CS 44000	Large Scale Data Analytics	3	7
CS 44100	Data Science Capstone	0-3	8

Transfer credit (including credit from regional campuses) for 100 and 200 level core courses is possible only if those courses are taken before the student enters the Purdue West Lafayette Computer Science program. The Department of Computer Science does not accept transfer credit for 300 or 400 level DS or CS coursework (with the exception of pre-approved Study Abroad coursework). 

Detailed Data Science Description and Plan of Study from the University Catalog

Data Science Electives

The Data Science major requires two additional CS elective courses, one STAT elective course, and one Ethics elective course beyond the requirements in the table above.  Required electives must be selected from the following tables.

Data Science Computer Science Electives Course Options (2)

Course Number	Title	Credits
CS 30700 or CS 40800	Software Engineering I or Software Testing	3
CS 31100 and CS 41100	Competitive Programming 2 and 3 The combination of (CS31100 and CS41100) satisfy one elective	4
CS 31400	Numerical Methods	3
CS 34800 or CS 44800	Information Systems or Introduction to Relational Databases	3
CS 35500	Introduction to Cryptography	3
CS 38100 or CS 48300	Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms or Introduction to the Theory of Computation	3
CS 43900	Introduction to Data Visualization	3
CS 45800	Introductions to Robotics	3
CS 47100	Introduction to Artificial Intelligence	3
CS 47300	Web Information Search and Management	3
CS 47500	Human-Computer Interaction	3

 

Data Science Statistics Elective Course Options (1)

Course Number	Title	Credits
STAT 42000	Introduction to Time Series	3
MA/STAT 49000	Elementary Stochastic Processes	3
STAT 50600	Statistical Programming and Data Management	3
STAT 51200	Applied Regression Analysis	3
STAT 51300	Statistical Quality Control	3
STAT 51400	Design of Experiments	3
STAT 52200	Sampling and Survey Techniques	3
STAT 52500	Intermediate Statistical Methodology	3

 

Data Science Ethics Elective Course Options (1)

Course Number	Title	Credits
ILS 23000	Data Science & Society: Ethical, Legal, Social Issues	3
PHIL 20700	Ethics for Technology, Engineering, and Design	3
PHIL 20800	Ethics of Data Science	3

 

Unacceptable courses for credit for Data Science students in College of Science.

Curriculum Resources

Data Science prerequisite flowchart (PDF)

Visit the College of Science Curriculum Resources page to find Degree Progression Guides. 

Capstone Requirement

View details on the capstone requirement.