Accelerated B.S. in Data Science & Informatics (Data Science) / M.S. in Informatics (Data Science)

Website: https://twu.edu/informatics/undergraduate-programs/

The Accelerated 4+1 Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Informatics with Data Science Minor / Master of Science in Informatics with Application Area: Data Science begins with a comprehensive computer science core and combines academic components from the computer science and mathematics programs. This hybrid interdisciplinary program prepares students for diverse careers available to those with in-demand science and mathematics-oriented degrees. The program teaches key components of informatics and data science, such as data analysis, visualization, machine learning, and big data. At TWU, small class sizes provide quality learning environments and active engagement with an outstanding, caring, and eager faculty.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance, software testing, and validation procedures, adapt to new hardware, or to upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  2. Work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary project team to coordinate database and project development, determine project scope and limitations, critically analyze issues, and solve problems.
  3. Develop and implement procedures for data management, data storage and retrieval while evaluating data quality, data security, data transfer, data analysis, modeling, and visualization.
  4. Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification, or disclosure.
  5. Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  6. Demonstrate personal accountability and work habits, integrity, and ethical behavior.
  7. Demonstrate proficiency in the software tools to achieve the skills listed, including but not limited to Java, Python, Perl, SQL, NoSQL, R, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Tableau, SAS, SPSS, modeling software.

Admissions

Application Deadlines

  • Fall - June 1st
  • No Spring admissions  
  • No summer admissions

Admission Requirements

To apply to the Accelerated B.S. in Informatics with Data Science minor / M.S. in Informatics with Application Area: Data Science program, students must:

  • Be currently enrolled in the B.S. in informatics with Data Science minor program at TWU.
  •  Have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all upper-division coursework.
  • Have successfully completed a minimum of 72 but no more than 90 semester credit hours of coursework toward the B.S.

How to Apply to the Accelerated Program

Students interested in applying to this accelerated program are encouraged to contact your advisor prior to applying preferably in the Spring semester of your sophomore year to ensure that you are advised to correct plan of study in preparation for the accelerated program.

  • Be currently enrolled in the B.S. in informatics with Data Science Minor program at TWU.
  • Notify the TWU Division of Computer Science Undergraduate Advisor of your interest in the accelerated program. The email must contain your last Name and TWU ID and Accelerated Program in the subject line.
  • Notification of interest in the BS/MS in Informatics should be done after a successful completion of 72 SCH and prior to 90 SCH in the program.
  • Students accepted to the accelerated BS/MS in Informatics program should apply to Master’s in Informatics with Application Area: Data Science during their final undergraduate semester. Students must apply for graduate admission by March 1 if graduating in May or August, or October 1 if graduating in December.

Accelerated Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to the accelerated graduate degree program once they have attained advanced junior standing with at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours (SCH). Upon admission to an accelerated program, students with senior standing (90 earned SCH) may enroll in graduate courses for credit. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

  • Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
  • Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. The program may set higher GPA requirements as outlined on their TWU graduate program website at the time of graduate application.
  • Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.

Graduate Application Process

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120   

Major: 49 SCH Minor: 18 SCH

Program Code: INFO.BS.DATASCI.ACC;    CIP Code: 11.0104.00

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher while in the Accelerated B.S./M.S. program.

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

CSCI 1423
& CSCI 1421		Programming Fundamentals I
and Programming Fundamentals I - Laboratory		4
CSCI 1513Introduction to Informatics3
CSCI 2493Programming Fundamentals II3
CSCI 2513Information Security and Ethics3
CSCI 3053Data Structures3
CSCI 3513Information Systems Project Management3
CSCI 3703Interface Design and Development3
CSCI 4513Data Warehousing3
CSCI 4723Machine Learning3
HS 3383Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Informatics3
LS 3053Interdisciplinary Information Retrieval3
MATH 1713Elementary Statistics II3
NURS 2213Introduction to Health Informatics3
Graduate Courses
CSCI 5103Fundamentals of Informatics3
CSCI 5203Database Systems3
CSCI 5413Data Communication Networks3
Total SCHs49

Courses Required for Minor

CSCI 3113Fundamentals of SAS Programming3
CSCI 3423Database Management3
CSCI 3603Foundations of Data Science3
CSCI 4303Advanced Modeling and Visualization3
CSCI 4823Principles of Data Mining3
Graduate Courses
CSCI 5673Big Data: Management, Access, and Use (replaces CSCI 4623)3
Total SCHs18

Departmental Requirements

MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I (May be applied from core.)3
Electives
Upper-level CSCI (3000-4000 level) (With advisor's approval.)6
Global Perspectives3
Total SCHs12

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
CSCI 1423
& CSCI 1421		Programming Fundamentals I
and Programming Fundamentals I - Laboratory		 4
CSCI 1513Introduction to Informatics 3
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
CSCI 2493Programming Fundamentals II COSC 14373
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
MATH 1713Elementary Statistics II 3
Creative Arts Core3
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
CSCI 3053Data Structures 3
MATH 1013Financial and Quantitative Literacy MATH 13323
NURS 2213Introduction to Health Informatics 3
CSCI 3423Database Management 3
Life/Physical Sciences Core3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
CSCI 2513Information Security and Ethics 3
CSCI 3513Information Systems Project Management 3
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Life/Physical Sciences Core3
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core3
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
CSCI 3603Foundations of Data Science 3
CSCI 4723Machine Learning 3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
LS 3053Interdisciplinary Information Retrieval 3
Social & Behavioral Science Core3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
CSCI 3113Fundamentals of SAS Programming 3
CSCI 3703Interface Design and Development 3
CSCI 4303Advanced Modeling and Visualization 3
CSCI 4513Data Warehousing 3
Multiculture Women's Studies (CAO) Core3
 SCHs 15
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
CSCI 5103Fundamentals of Informatics 3
CSCI 5203Database Systems 3
HS 3383Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Informatics 3
CSCI 4823Principles of Data Mining 3
Elective (Global Perspective course)3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
CSCI 5413Data Communication Networks 3
CSCI 5673Big Data: Management, Access, and Use 3
Elective (3000-4000 CSCI)3
Elective (3000-4000 CSCI)3
General Elective1
 SCHs 13
 Total SCHs:  120