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Data ScienceMajor

As a Data Science major, you will develop quantitative and computational skills to solve real-world problems. Customize the degree to fit your interests by choosing a focus area to create a degree with practical applications.

Overview

What is Data Science at WVU like?

Description

Data is being collected constantly, whether we realize it or not. “Big data” is more than numbers – it’s images, tweets, locations. New industries like digital humanities and computational social sciences are appearing at the intersection of traditional fields of quantitative study, and this major is training students to understand and support these emerging needs.

Data science is an interdisciplinary field with roots in applied mathematics, statistics and computer science. With increasing employment demands across many STEM, health, social sciences and humanities fields, WVU seeks to meet this need with a new Bachelor of Science in data science.

A key component to the Data Science major is its 12-hour focus area. Working with their academic advisers, Data Science students will take classes in a discipline related to their interests and career goals. Students can choose their area of emphasis among academic areas including the social sciences, humanities and sciences. Examples include astronomy, biology, criminology, geography, geology, GIS, physics, public health, psychology and sociology.

Students with an interest in further specialization in statistics, math and/or computer science can add minors in those areas as well.

Data Science program highlights:

Living-Learning Communities
Research/Academic Opportunities

At a Glance

Admission Requirements
Careers and Employers
Cost and Aid
Courses and Plan of Study
Fast Facts
Related Majors and Minors
Related Pathways

College/School:
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Division:
Department:
Degree Designation:
BS
Degree Program:
Data Science

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Fast Facts

What makes Data Science at WVU unique?

Academic
Facility
Financial Support
Go First

Customize the major by selecting a focus area that reflects your career interests.
Earn academic credit through Eberly internship courses.
Data Science majors are some of the only undergraduate students with access to WVU's High Performance Computing facilities.
500+ scholarships awarded annually by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
Academic Enrichment Program offers funding for activities that complement, extend and enhance your academic experience.
WVU’s Data Science major is the first to be offered at a Research 1 institution in West Virginia.

Research and Academic Opportunities

Data science students will have opportunities for undergraduate research and faculty mentorship at a Research 1 university. The program participates in WVU’s Research Apprentice Program and Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Students majoring in data science can also apply for the Eberly College’s Academic Enrichment Fund to help finance internships, study abroad and research.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Student Organizations

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Professional Organizations

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Data Science Central

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

We are in the midst of a data science revolution. The mining, analysis and visualization of large data sets are now front and center and influencing all aspects of our daily lives. From how we shop to how we travel, and all the decisions made in between, the need for professionals who can apply the techniques of modern data analysis to solve problems across the public and private sectors has opened up tremendous potential for employment immediately upon graduation. While many graduates will go on to work with big tech, others will find careers across industries including healthcare, business and government.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Data Science major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Bright Outlook
Green Occupation
Requires a Graduate Degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.
Possible job titles for this career include: Clinical Data Management Director (CDM Director).
$108,020Median Salary

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Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.
Possible job titles for this career include: .
$108,020Median Salary

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Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.
Possible job titles for this career include: Senior Statistician.
$104,110Median Salary

Learn More

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Data Science at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Data Science major.

View the Plan of Study

Cost and Aid

How much does Data Science at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

View Tuition and Fees

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Find Scholarships

Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

Visit the Net Price Calculator

Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Data Science can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Data Science at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Data Science major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

Computer Science
Computer Science majors learn to program, but they also learn how to use computers to solve problems and develop the skills to pursue great careers in fields like data analytics, software development, cybersecurity or artificial intelligence.

Learn More
Mathematics
Mathematics can be found in almost every sector of the world. Our faculty’s interdisciplinary approach to mathematics will prepare you for careers as research analysts, technical consultants, computer scientists, educators and systems engineers.

Learn More

What minors could I consider?

Astronomy
Minor
Computer Science
Minor
Criminology
Minor
Geography
Minor
Geography: Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Minor
Geology
Minor
Physics
Minor
Sociology
Minor
Statistics
Minor

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
Math and science touch every part of daily life. In our STEM majors, you’ll solve everyday problems and build a better future for all of us.

Learn More

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

Request Information

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Visit WVU

It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.

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