Data Science major

Data Science: courses, careers, and where to study

Data Science combines statistics, programming, and domain expertise to turn raw data into decisions — drawing on machine learning, visualization, and data engineering.

A Data Science major sits at the intersection of statistics, computer science, and the domain in which data is applied. Coursework typically includes calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, programming (mostly Python and R), database design, machine learning, and data visualization. Most programs require a capstone project on a real-world dataset.

Employment is broad: every industry that collects data — finance, healthcare, tech, retail, government, sports — hires data scientists. Many graduates pair the major with a domain minor (Economics, Biology, Public Health) to specialize.

What you'll study

  • Statistics, probability, and statistical modeling
  • Linear algebra and calculus for ML foundations
  • Programming in Python and R
  • Machine learning (supervised, unsupervised, deep learning intro)
  • Data engineering and SQL
  • Data visualization (matplotlib, ggplot2, Tableau)
  • Experimental design and A/B testing
  • Ethics, bias, and reproducibility in data work

Typical careers

  • Data Scientist
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Data Analyst
  • Quantitative Analyst
  • Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Research Scientist

Starting salary range: $80,000–$130,000 starting (BLS data scientist median $108,020)

Find a Data Science program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Data Science programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting — no account required.

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