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Study Data Science

Help transform information into insights that shape the world. Gain the technical skills, knowledge, and ethical perspective you need with a bachelor's degree in data science.

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Bachelor of Science

Major, Minor

124

4 Years

Salem Campus

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Our Data Science Major & Minor

Data scientists are creating new knowledge every day. Willamette will prepare you to excel in this rapidly growing field. Connect your studies to real-world experiences to communicate your findings in ways that are clear and persuasive.

Why choose Data Science at Willamette?

  • Study data science through a liberal arts lens. We offer a holistic education that allows students to bolster their understanding of data science. Go beyond the boundaries of data to learn skills that expand your career prospects.
  • Turn learning into real-world experiences. Secure highly-competitive internships, broaden your understanding through a study abroad program or make an impact through research.
  • Explore advanced data science programs. Willamette has the resources of a liberal arts school and a computing and information sciences school. Explore our bachelor's degree, our 3+1 BS/MS program, or even a master's degree in data science.

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Alumni Stories

With skills in statistical analysis and data visualization, our alumni have expanded organizations and inspired policymakers. They're analyzing cultural trends, tracking the spread of diseases, and developing algorithms to improve the gaming experience.

  • Colleen Smyth BA ’15, MS ’21

    High school teacher utilizes Data Science
    Colleen Smyth BA ’15, MS ’21 leveraged her data science master's capstone project to predict on-time graduation factors, applying her findings to improve her school's strategies while pioneering new data-focused curricula, underscoring the increasing importance of data science in education.

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  • Smiling young person wearing a

    Zach Haroian BS/MS ’21

    Willamette graduates first 3+1 dual degree student
    Zach Haroian BS/MS ’21 secured a position as an Associate Machine Learning Engineer at PitchBook Data before graduating. At PitchBook, Haroian builds models to analyze text data, applying his expertise in natural language processing and his skill in communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Introducing Some of Our Faculty

Learn from professors who are experts in computer science, math, statistics, and the social and natural sciences. As leaders in their fields, they offer a breadth of knowledge and resources. Work with professors one-on-one through small class sizes to solve problems while analyzing data.

  • Meet Professor Gore

    Dr. Kristen Gore specializes in data science and statistics with extensive experience in both academia and industry. She is passionate about engaging students in real-world STEM applications through courses in data science and statistical inference.

    Headshot of Dr. Kristen Gore
  • Meet Professor Ibser

    Dr. (Fletcher) Hank Ibser has extensive teaching experience, including positions at UC Berkeley and Reed College. Passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration, his research reflects his belief in the broad applicability of statistical methods.

    Headshot of Dr. (Fletcher) Hank Ibser

Curriculum

Embrace the core principles of data science while exploring other concepts through our liberal arts college. Learn core computer programming languages like R and Python. Explore topics like linear algebra, data analytics, and machine learning.

  • DATA 252 Models and Machine Learning

    Discover the essential skills for managing and processing diverse datasets. Learn more about relational databases, file-based databases, cloud storage, and data streaming to harness the power of SQL.

  • DATA 351 Data Management with SQL

    In this project-based course, explore cutting-edge techniques for modeling and predicting real-world data from diverse applications. Become proficient in using R packages to implement techniques like logistic regression, decision trees, and neural networks.

Program Requirements

Our Art History major requires 40 semester hours to complete the degree. Core courses make up 28 semester hours. Each student pursuing a major will be required to complete 12 semester hours of electives at any level chosen from classes with CS or DATA prefixes.

Students pursuing a Data Science minor will need to complete 20 semester hours. Course requirements include CS 151, DATA 151, DATA 152, and eight hours of electives at any level, chosen from courses with a DATA prefix.

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Admissions Information

Our Data Science program is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

Willamette University provides Data Science majors with generous merit scholarships and financial aid, with no separate application needed. All admitted undergraduates are automatically considered for scholarships starting at $26,000 per year.

Additionally, students may receive up to $10,000 annually through the NSF-supported STEM Fellows Program, which offers mentorship and extra opportunities for those with financial need and academic promise. Data Science students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can also apply for the Fairweather Fellows program, which provides up to $10,000 annually, a paid summer experience, and priority access to events and professional development activities.

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FAQs

Willamette University

Data Science