Data Science, B.S.
The University of South Carolina’s Bachelor of Science in Data Science is an interdisciplinary program that unites computer science, mathematics, and statistics to tackle real-world problems involving large scale data sets. Based in the College of Arts and Sciences, its faculty are from the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics in that college and from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computing. It provides a strong foundation in all the stages of data analysis, and combines it with the advanced tools and theory needed for developing new methods.
In addition to preparing students for a career in data science, the degree can be customized for students who plan to pursue graduate programs in data science, computer science, mathematics, or statistics. Its curriculum allows students to take a minor or additional major in mathematics or statistics, a minor in computer science, or a second bachelor’s degree in computer science. It can also be combined with a minor or additional major in an area of application.
Other data centered programs at USC include those in the Departments of Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, the interdisciplinary Data Analytics B.S. and a Minor in Data Science. Students who are unsure which program they wish to pursue should consult with their advisor or Exploratory Advising immediately to make sure they take the correct MATH and STAT courses to allow for maximum flexibility.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze complex data using data science knowledge and concepts; appropriate models and methods; quantitative tools; and problem-solving skills to address research questions
- Manage complex data sets to be able to extract useful information
- Synthesize knowledge in the core areas of data science, including statistical, mathematical, and programming fundamentals
- Identify the ethical, policy, and security considerations and issues of working with data and how its use impacts society
- Communicate data and reports effectively in either a data visualization, written or oral format appropriate to a non-technical audience
Admissions
Retention
To be retained in the program, a student must obtain a grade of C or higher in at most two attempts in all mathematics, computer science, and statistics courses required for graduation.
Transfer Requirement
Any student applying to transfer to the Data Science major from other programs within the University, or from other accredited colleges and universities, is required to have earned a grade of “B” or higher in at least one of the following courses, or their equivalent: USC’s MATH 141, MATH 142, MATH 241, STAT 509, or STAT 515. An AP or IB exam score that provides credit for MATH 142 also satisfies this requirement. STAT 509 and STAT 515 are advanced undergraduate courses. This requirement is in addition to the minimum University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 32-46 |
| 2. College Requirements | 15-18 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 32-49 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 24 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
Requirements (120 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Core (32-46 hours) | ||
| CMW - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written 1 | ||
| CC-CMW course(s) | 6 | |
| ARP - Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving 1 | ||
| MATH 141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 142 | Calculus II | 4 |
| SCI - Scientific Literacy | ||
| CC-SCI course(s) (two 4-credit CC-SCI courses) | 8 | |
| GFL - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language | ||
| Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course. | ||
| CC-GFL course(s) | 0-6 | |
| GHS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking | ||
| CC-GHS course(s) | 3 | |
| GSS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences | ||
| CC-GSS course(s) | 3 | |
| AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding | ||
| CC-AIU course(s) | 3 | |
| CMS - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component 2 | ||
| CC-CMS course(s) | 0-3 | |
| INF - Information Literacy 2 | ||
| CC-INF course(s) | 0-3 | |
| VSR - Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility 2 | ||
| ISCI 215, ITEC 101, PHIL 325 or any CC-VSR course(s) | 0-3 | |
| 2. College Requirements (15-18 hours) | ||
| Foreign Language (0-3 hours) | ||
| Only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency | 0-3 | |
| Analytical Reasoning (6 hours) 1 | ||
| CSCE 106 | Scientific Applications Programming | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Vector Calculus | 3 |
| History (3 hours) | ||
| The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement. If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course. If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course. Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list: | ||
| U.S. and non-U.S. History Courses | 3 | |
| Social Science (3 hours) | ||
| Social Science Courses | 3 | |
| Fine Arts/Humanities (3 hours) | ||
| ENGL 363 | Introduction to Professional Writing 1, 3 | 3 |
| or ENGL 462 | Technical Writing | |
| or ENGL 463 | Business Writing | |
| 3. Program Requirements (32-49 hours) | ||
| Supporting Courses (0-13 hours) 1 | ||
| Supporting courses may be used to satisfy the requirements of a Minor or the Major Requirements of an additional major, in which case the hours are counted as part of that Minor or additional major. | ||
| MATH 344 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| or MATH 544 | Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 344L | Applied Linear Algebra Lab | 1 |
| MATH 374 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| or MATH 574 | Discrete Mathematics I | |
| STAT 515 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| or STAT 509 | Statistics for Engineers | |
| Ethics in Data Analysis: | ||
| If ISCI 215 or ITEC 101 or PHIL 325 were not taken to fulfill the Carolina Core VSR requirement with a grade of C or better, then one of the following must be taken: | 0-3 | |
| Professional Issues in Computer Science and Engineering | ||
| Trusted Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Special Topics in Cyber Society and Ethics | ||
| Ethics in the Era of Big Data | ||
| Cyberethics and Information Policy | ||
| Social Issues in Information and Communications Technologies | ||
| Thriving in the Tech Age | ||
| Ethics of Science and Technology | ||
| Engineering Ethics | ||
| AI Ethics | ||
| Minor (0-18 hours) Optional 1 | ||
| This major does not require a cognate or minor. An optional minor may be added to a student’s program of study. A minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University. A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z . An optional additional major may also be added to a student’s program of study. | 0-18 | |
| Electives (1-39 hours) | ||
| 120 (or 128) degree applicable credits are required to complete any degree at USC. After the cognate, minor or second major is complete, any additional credits needed to reach 120 (or 128) total credits can be fulfilled by electives. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. | 1-39 | |
| 4. Major Requirements (24 hours) 1 | ||
| Major Courses (18 hours) | ||
| STAT 516 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| STAT 542 | Computing for Data Science | 3 |
| CSCE 567 | Visualization Tools | 3 |
| CSCE/STAT 587 | Big Data Analytics | 3 |
| or STAT 530 | Applied Multivariate Statistics and Data Mining | |
| STAT 531/CSCE 588 | Advanced Machine Learning with Implementation | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Probability | ||
| Mathematical Foundation of Data Science and Machine Learning | ||
| Introduction to Deep Neural Networks | ||
| Mathematical Foundation of Network Science | ||
| Major Electives (6 hours) | ||
| Select two courses from the list below or from any of STAT 530, CSCE 587/STAT 587, MATH 511/STAT 511, MATH 528, MATH 529, or MATH 572 that were not taken as Major Courses. | 6 | |
| Analysis of Experimental Data in Python | ||
| Parallel Computing | ||
| Artificial Intelligence 4 | ||
| Bayesian Networks and Decision Graphs | ||
| Machine Learning Systems | ||
| Nonlinear Optimization | ||
| Mathematical Statistics 4 | ||
| Advanced Statistical Models | ||
| Sampling | ||
| Introduction to Bayesian Data Analysis 4 | ||
| Computing in Statistics | ||
| Advanced SAS Programming 4 | ||
| Bayesian Networks and Decision Graphs | ||
| Genomic Data Science | ||
- 1
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
- 2
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
- 3
A student who has passed MGMT 250 with a grade of C or higher may use another 3-hour Fine Arts/Humanities course to satisfy this requirement.
- 4
CSCE 580, STAT 512, STAT 535, and STAT 541 have prerequisites not required in the program.
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition | 3 |
| MATH 141 | Calculus I 3 | 4 |
| STAT 515 or STAT 509 |
Statistical Methods I 4 or Statistics for Engineers |
3 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 5,6 | 3-4 | |
| UNIV 101 | The Student in the University (or Carolina Core Requirement) 6 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| MATH 142 | Calculus II | 4 |
| STAT 516 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 3 | |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 5,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 241 | Vector Calculus | 3 |
| STAT 530 or CSCE 587 |
Applied Multivariate Statistics and Data Mining or Big Data Analytics |
3 |
| CSCE 106 | Scientific Applications Programming | 3 |
| Foreign language or Carolina Core Requirement 5,6 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 344 or MATH 544 |
Applied Linear Algebra or Linear Algebra |
3 |
| MATH 344L | Applied Linear Algebra Lab | 1 |
| STAT 542 | Computing for Data Science | 3 |
| ISCI 215 |
Ethics in the Era of Big Data (or any CC-VSR) 7 or Thriving in the Tech Age or Engineering Ethics |
3 |
| Optional Minor or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| History 10 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 374 or MATH 574 |
Discrete Structures or Discrete Mathematics I |
3 |
| CSCE 567 | Visualization Tools | 3 |
| Optional Minor or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 3-4 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH/STAT 511 |
Probability or Mathematical Foundation of Data Science and Machine Learning or Introduction to Deep Neural Networks or Mathematical Foundation of Network Science |
3 |
| STAT 531/CSCE 588 | Advanced Machine Learning with Implementation | 3 |
| Optional Minor or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 6,8 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 6,9 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Data Science Major Elective 11 | 3 | |
| ENGL 363 |
Introduction to Professional Writing 12 or Technical Writing or Business Writing |
3 |
| Optional Minor or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Optional Minor or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Data Science Major Elective 11 | 3 | |
| Optional Minor or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 118-121 | |
- 1
Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.
- 2
Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses.
- 3
Students who place into MATH 115 should take that in their first semester and take MATH 141 in the second semester. Students who place into MATH 111 should take that in their first semester, MATH 115 in their second semester, and MATH 141 in the summer or in their third semester.
- 4
Students who do not satisfy the prerequisites for STAT 515 should take STAT 201, 205, or 206 as an elective in the first semester (if they meet the prerequisites for one of them and don’t already have credit for any of them) and STAT 515 in the second semester. Students who do not satisfy the prerequisites for any of STAT 201, 205, 206, or 515 should take STAT 110 as an elective in their first semester and STAT 515 in the second.
- 5
Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
- 6
The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
- 7
Ethics in Data Science: If ISCI 215 or ITEC 101 or PHIL 325 were not taken to fulfill the Carolina Core VSR requirement with a grade of C or better, then one of the following must be taken in place of an elective: CSCE 390, 581; CYBR 392; ISCI 215, 315, 415; ITEC 101; PHIL 323, 325, 326.
- 8
This major does not require a cognate or minor. An optional minor may be added to a student’s program of study. A minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University. A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z. An optional additional major may also be added to a student’s program of study. Additional majors must include all major courses as well as any prescribed courses noted (*) in the bulletin. Prescribed courses noted in the bulletin may be shared with Carolina Core, College requirements, and Program requirements in the primary program.
- 9
No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
- 10
The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.
- 11
Select two courses from the following list or from any of STAT 530, CSCE/STAT 587, MATH/STAT 511, MATH 528, MATH 529 or MATH 572 that were not taken as Major Courses: CSCE 556, 569, 580, CSCE/STAT 582, CSCE 585; MATH 524; STAT 512, 517, 519, 535, 540, 541, STAT/BIOL 588.
- 12
A student who has passed MGMT 250 with a grade of C or higher may use another 3-hour Fine Arts/Humanities Course to satisfy this requirement.
Program Notes:
- All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
- To be retained in the program, a student must obtain a grade of C or higher in at most two attempts in all mathematics, computer science, and statistics courses required for graduation.
- The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.