Data Analytics Major

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.

DATA 100 1 Introduction to Data Analytics
CS 110 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
MATH 110 Calculus I
MATH 230 Applied Statistics
CS 210 Intermediate Computer Science and Data Structures
CS 300 1 Data Mining & Machine Learning
ENG 312 Writing for the Sciences
DATA 300 1 Social, Ethical and Cultural Impacts of Big Data
DATA 300 2 Data Visualization and Presentation
DATA 300 3 Methods in Data Analytics
DATA 400 1 Capstone in Data Analytics
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

Geography

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