2022-2023 Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Data Analytics Major


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This major combines study in math and computer science with a firm foundation in the liberal arts. In her TED Talk on challenges in interpreting big data, data analyst Susan Etlinger said: “What we need to do instead is spend a little bit more time on things like the humanities and sociology, and the social sciences, rhetoric, philosophy, ethics, because they give us context that is so important for big data, and because they help us become better critical thinkers.”

OWU’s program requires students to be strong in quantitative methodology, and it helps you develop the skills to use data to explore and make connections in larger social, political, and economic contexts. In addition to foundational studies in mathematics and computer science, you also will take courses in:

  • The social, ethical, and cultural impacts of big data in our lives
  • Data visualization, where you’ll learn how to communicate effectively with data
  • Science writing
  • And data-related issues in the sciences, humanities, and arts.

Since careers in data analytics span many industries, this can be a valuable second major. Ohio Wesleyan also offers minors in data analytics and data and society.

Learning Objectives


A major in Data Analytics should have a combination of technical knowledge, disciplinary specific skills

and social and political knowledge that enables them to:

1. Technical Knowledge

a. Understand how data is stored/processed/used

b. Analyze data using a variety of statistical techniques

c. Manipulate data using a variety of programming techniques

d. Recognize abstract organizations and constructs of data

e. Visualize and communicate data for multiple audiences

f. Work with real, large and complex datasets

2. Discipline Specific Applications

a. Articulate problems specific to a discipline

b. Represent a problem in a manner conducive to solution

c. Frame questions and represent them symbolically

d. Communicate findings to appropriate audiences

3. Social, Cultural, and Ethical Impacts

a. Assess the impact of big data on existing societal institutions and norms

b. Assess the impact of specific research on individuals and communities

c. Assess the impact of research design on the scope and applicability of the resulting

conclusions

d. Recognize ethical dilemmas and assess implications of research with

big data

 

 

Major Requirements


The major in Data Analytics consists of 13 courses.

  1. DATA 100 1 Introduction to Data Analytics  
  2. CS 110 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming  
  3. MATH 110 Calculus I  
  4. MATH 230 Applied Statistics  
  5. CS 210 Intermediate Computer Science and Data Structures  
  6. CS 300 1 Data Mining & Machine Learning  
  7. ENG 312 Writing for the Sciences  
  8. DATA 300 1 Social, Ethical and Cultural Impacts of Big Data  
  9. DATA 300 2 Data Visualization and Presentation  
  10. DATA 300 3 Methods in Data Analytics  
  11. DATA 400 1 Capstone in Data Analytics
  12. Two cognates from any one discipline below or other courses as approved by the director or steering committee of the major.

Politics and Government

PG 279  and one of the following:
PG 261 , PG 344 , PG 347 , PG 363 , PG 359  

Economics

ECON 251 
ECON 355  

Finance

FIN 280  

FIN 462  or FIN 465  

Accounting

FIN 361 
ACCT 351  

Physics

PHYS 111 C 
PHYS 280  

Computer Science

CS 310 
CS 340  

Geography

GEOG 112  or GEOG 355 
GEOG 369  or GEOG 353  or an approved section of GEOG 490/491

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