Goucher College 2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalogue

Nov 23, 2024

Goucher College 2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalogue PLEASE NOTE: This is an archived catalog. Programs are subject to change each academic year.

Data Science

Data Science applies scientific and mathematical principles to find nuanced, complex patterns of physical and human behavior in our increasingly data-driven world. The program is inherently interdisciplinary. Students can choose to study purely in data and mathematical sciences or explore another discipline such as economics, environmental studies, or political science. Students choosing to specialize in another discipline will apply data analysis, mathematical modeling, and computational techniques from courses such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to solve complex problems in that discipline.

Graduates will be able to work and contribute in a variety of data-driven careers and causes. Business analytics, political science, environmental monitoring, and bioinformatics all rely on sophisticated data expertise. This major couples this discipline-focused training with a broad liberal arts education that will empower our students with the expertise necessary to succeed in this rapidly growing and changing field.

The major has three parts: Entry, Specialization, and Exploration. You will take three Entry courses and three Specialization courses. Depending upon your area of exploration, you will take three additional courses and a capstone either in our program or another program. The Entry courses are foundational courses within the discipline. The Specialization courses extend this foundation, while giving you specialized knowledge and skills in some of the discipline’s major sub-fields. The Exploration courses explore data analysis in a disciplinary context. Although students may choose the disciplinary context of their major through choice of Exploration courses, please note that Exploration areas do not appear on diplomas or transcripts.

Placement Procedure

Students with an AP score of 4 or more in Statistics may place out of DMC 106.

Students with an AP score of 4 or more in CS-A may place out of CS 116.

Students with an AP score 4 or more in Calculus AB or BC may place out of DMC 172 and DMC 160.

Entry

Take all of the following:

DMC 172 - Applied Calculus (4 Cr.) or DMC 160 - Functions, Data and Models (4 Cr.)
CS 116 - Introduction to Computer Science (4 Cr.)
DMC 106 - Introduction to Statistical Methods (4 Cr.) OR EC 206 - Economic and Business Statistics (4 Cr.)

Specialization

DMC 301 - Foundations of Data Analytics (4 Cr.) or CS 417 - Database and Transaction Systems
DMC 216 - Non-Parametric Statistics (4 Cr.) or DMC 340 - Bayesian Statistics Credits / Units: 4
DMC 305 - Data, Ethics & Fairness (4 Cr.)

Exploration

Choose an area of exploration from the following:

Data and Mathematical Sciences

Economics

All of the following courses are required:

Environmental Studies

All of the following courses are required:

Political Science

All of the following courses are required:

Honors in Data Science

Majors in Data Science are encouraged to strive for honors in the major upon graduation. Honors will be awarded to students who exhibit mastery of the subject in both course work and additional academic endeavors.

Requirements for honors in Data Science:

A minimum grade point average of 3.60 in 200-level and above courses in the major. All courses (other than DMC 290 ) specifically required for the major must be taken for a grade. No more than two approved courses away from Goucher will be counted in the average.
Some evidence of maturity and creativity in Data Science, such as outstanding work on a senior thesis, independent work, paper or final examination in a 300-level or above course.
Approval of the program faculty.