Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Informatics (Data Science Minor)
Website: https://twu.edu/informatics/undergraduate-programs/
The B.S. in Data Science and Informatics with Data Science Minor begins with a comprehensive computer science core and combines academic components from the computer science and mathematics programs. This hybrid interdisciplinary and interprofessional 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."
- In 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.
- 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.
- Develop and implement procedures for data management, data storage and retrieval, evaluating data quality, data security, data transfer, data analysis, modeling, and visualization.
- Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification, or disclosure.
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
- Demonstrate personal accountability and work habits, integrity, and ethical behavior.
- Proficient 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.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 43 SCH Minor: 18 SCH
Program Code: INFO.BS.DATASCI CIP Code: 11.0104.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 1423 & CSCI 1421 | Programming Fundamentals I and Programming Fundamentals I - Laboratory | 4 |
| CSCI 1513 | Introduction to Informatics | 3 |
| CSCI 2493 | Programming Fundamentals II | 3 |
| CSCI 3053 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CSCI 3513 | Information Systems Project Management | 3 |
| CSCI 3703 | Interface Design and Development | 3 |
| CSCI 4313 | Networking and Data Communication | 3 |
| HS 3383 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Informatics | 3 |
| LS 3053 | Interdisciplinary Information Retrieval | 3 |
| MATH 1713 | Elementary Statistics II | 3 |
| NURS 2213 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 3 |
| CSCI 4923 | Capstone in Interprofessional Informatics | 3 |
| Choose two of the following | 6 | |
| (approved by advisor) | ||
| Information Security and Ethics | ||
| Data Warehousing | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Probability and Statistics | ||
| Total SCHs | 43 | |
Courses Required for Minor
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| CSCI 3113 | Fundamentals of SAS Programming | 3 |
| CSCI 3423 | Database Management | 3 |
| CSCI 3603 | Foundations of Data Science | 3 |
| CSCI 4303 | Advanced Modeling and Visualization | 3 |
| CSCI 4623 | Big Data and High Performance Computing | 3 |
| CSCI 4823 | Principles of Data Mining | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 18 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1703 | Elementary Statistics I (may be applied from core) | 3 |
| Elective (to include 3 SCH global perspectives) | 15 | |
| Total SCHs | 18 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| CSCI 1421 | Programming Fundamentals I - Laboratory | 1 | |
| CSCI 1423 | Programming Fundamentals I | COSC 1436 | 3 |
| CSCI 1513 | Introduction to Informatics | 3 | |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| MATH 1703 | Elementary Statistics I (Recommended Core) | MATH 1342 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 2493 | Programming Fundamentals II | COSC 1437 | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| MATH 1713 | Elementary Statistics II | 3 | |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 3053 | Data Structures | 3 | |
| MATH 1013 | Financial and Quantitative Literacy (Recommended Core CAO) | MATH 1332 | 3 |
| NURS 2213 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 3 | |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Life/Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 3513 | Information Systems Project Management | 3 | |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Multicultural Women's Studies (CAO) Core | 3 | ||
| Life/Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 3423 | Database Management | 3 | |
| CSCI 3603 | Foundations of Data Science | 3 | |
| LS 3053 | Interdisciplinary Information Retrieval | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 3703 | Interface Design and Development | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Level Major Discipline) | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Elective (Upper Level) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 4313 | Networking and Data Communication | 3 | |
| HS 3383 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Informatics | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Minor Course (Upper Level) | 3 | ||
| Elective (Global Perspectives course) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CSCI 4923 | Capstone in Interprofessional Informatics | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Upper Level) | 3 | ||
| Elective (Upper Level) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 1 | ||
| SCHs | 13 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
