Mar 29, 2024  
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Data Science, B.S.


Lisa Green, program coordinator
Lisa.Green@mtsu.edu

615-898-5775

Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that covers the use of data to make decisions, gain insight, or develop knowledge. Data scientists combine skills from computer science, statistics, and business analytics. Students will start from a business understanding of the question at  hand, using it to inform and understanding the data available, then use skills in the preparation and display of data and in the modeling of data to evaluate the issue at hand. Finally, they will deploy the model they created in order to ensure that it is widely used. A capstone project or internship will allow students to follow the process of data science in a real-world setting and will ensure that they have a portfolio of work to show prospective employers.

Academic Map


Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Data Science, B.S., Academic Map  

Degree Requirements


General Education 41 hours
Major Requirements 45 hours
Data Science Electives 12 hours
Supporting Courses 7 hours*
Electives 15-21 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the General Education curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill General Education requirements, the number of elective hours may vary. 

General Education (41 hours)


General Education  requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following courses required by the program meet General Education requirements:

Supporting Courses (7 hours)


Electives/Minor (15-21 hours)


  • Minor strongly recommended

Curriculum: Data Science


Curricular listings include General Education  requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories. 

Students should consult their advisors each semester to plan their schedules.

Freshman Fall


Subtotal: 16 Hours


Freshman Spring


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Sophomore Fall


Subtotal: 17 Hours


Sophomore Spring


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Junior Fall


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Junior Spring


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Senior Fall


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Senior Spring


Subtotal: 12 Hours