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.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Data Science maps to CIP 30.7001, Data Science, General, within the MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES family. The official definition:

A program that focuses on the analysis of large scale data sources from the interdisciplinary perspectives of applied statistics, computer science, data storage, data representation, data modeling, mathematics, and statistics. Includes instruction in computer algorithms, computer programming, data management, data mining, information policy, information retrieval, mathematical modeling, quantitative analysis, statistics, trend spotting, and visual analytics.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

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

Typical salary range: $80,000–$130,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 data scientists median $112,590)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Data Science. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Data Science major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Data Science program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Data Science department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Engineering and some computing programs may hold ABET accreditation, which can matter for professional licensure (the PE path) and for some employers and graduate schools. Check whether the Data Science programs you are considering are accredited for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Data Sciencecareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

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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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.