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Accelerated BS/MS Data Science Sample Curriculum

Plan of Study: 111 undergraduate credits + 30 graduate credits

This webpage provides an accessible overview of the 5-year BS/MS plan in Data Science. For advising or official record use, consult the full catalog, approved elective lists, and program requirements.

Program note: Nine credits are counted toward both programs, and one graduate course is used in place of a free elective in the undergraduate program.

Freshman Year

First Semester

  • ENL 101 – Critical Writing & Reading I (3 credits)
  • CIS 180 – Object-Oriented Programming I (4 credits)
  • DSC 101 – Introduction to Data Science (University Studies 1E) (3 credits)
  • MTH 153 – Analytic Geometry & Calculus I (4 credits)

Semester Total: 14 credits

Second Semester

  • ENL 102 – Critical Writing & Reading II (3 credits)
  • CIS 181 – Object-Oriented Programming II (4 credits)
  • University Studies 3B (3 credits)
  • University Studies 4B (3 credits)
  • MTH 154 – Analytic Geometry & Calculus II (4 credits)

Semester Total: 17 credits

Sophomore Year

First Semester

  • MTH 181 – Discrete Structures I (3 credits)
  • MTH 221 – Linear Algebra (3 credits)
  • DSC 201 – Data Analysis & Visualization (4 credits)
  • Laboratory Science I (University Studies 2A) (4 credits)
  • University Studies 3A (3 credits)

Semester Total: 17 credits

Second Semester

  • MTH 280 – Introduction to Scientific Computation (3 credits)
  • MTH 231 – Elementary Statistics I: Exploratory Data Analysis (3 credits)
  • CIS 280 – Software Specification & Design (4 credits)
  • Laboratory Science II (4 credits)

Semester Total: 14 credits

Junior Year

First Semester

  • CIS 360 – Algorithms and Data Structures (3 credits)
  • MTH 331 – Probability (3 credits)
  • DSC 301 – Matrix Methods for Data Analysis (3 credits)
  • ENL 266 – Technical Communications (3 credits)
  • University Studies 4A (3 credits)

Semester Total: 15 credits

Second Semester

  • CIS 381 – Social & Ethical Aspects of Computer Science (University Studies 2B) (3 credits)
  • MTH 332 – Mathematical Statistics (3 credits)
  • University Studies 4B (3 credits)
  • Science/Quantitative Elective (University Studies 2A) (3 credits)
  • University Studies 4C (3 credits)

Semester Total: 15 credits

Senior Year

First Semester

  • DSC 498 – Data Science Senior Capstone I (2 credits)
  • DSC 520 – Computational Methods (3 credits)
  • CIS 452 – Database Design (3 credits)
  • DSC Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 credits)
  • DSC Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 credits)

Semester Total: 14 credits

Second Semester

  • DSC 499 – Data Science Senior Capstone II (2 credits)
  • DSC 530 – Data Visualization Workshop (3 credits)
  • CIS 490 / DSC 522 – Machine Learning / Mathematical Statistics (3 credits)
  • DSC Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 credits)
  • DSC Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 credits)

Semester Total: 14 credits

Graduate Program – Fifth Year

MS in Data Science: 21 additional graduate credits

First Semester

  • DSC 600 – DSC Master’s Project (3 credits)
  • DSC Graduate Technical Elective (3 credits)
  • DSC Graduate Technical Elective (3 credits)
  • DSC Graduate Technical Elective (3 credits)

Semester Total: 12 credits

Second Semester

  • DSC 690 – Data Science Thesis (3 credits)
  • DSC Graduate Technical Elective (3 credits)
  • DSC Graduate Technical Elective (3 credits)

Semester Total: 9 credits

Program Notes

  • The plan combines 111 undergraduate credits and 30 graduate credits.
  • Nine credits count toward both the BS and MS programs.
  • One graduate course is used in place of a free elective in the undergraduate program.
  • University Studies requirements are embedded throughout the undergraduate portion of the plan.
  • Students should work closely with an academic advisor to confirm course sequencing and graduate-course eligibility.