Data Science Certificate

With the advancement of technology, a vast amount of data is produced at an extraordinary pace. According to Forbes “Data is growing faster than ever before and by the year 2020, about 1.7 megabytes of new information will be created every second for every human being on the planet.” Government and businesses are interested in extracting information from these big data they are producing every day. These have created a need for a data scientist who can produce good data-driven products. 

This data science certificate will prepare students for professional careers in data science and graduate studies in Data Science, Statistics, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Machine learning. After completion of the certificate students will be able to:

  • Master open-source computing software like R or Python;
  • Collect data from different data sources, clean data and construct data visualization;
  • Build multiple regression, polynomial regression, truncated regression, logistic regression, ridge regression, and the Lasso;
  • Perform linear model diagnostics and subset selection;
  • Understand machine learning methods like regression trees, classification trees, and random forests;
  • Perform inferential statistics in the form of a confidence interval, z test, t-test, ANOVA, and the chi-square test;
  • Communicate these findings for better business decisions.
  • Apply ethical standards to the conduct of data science, including data analysis and reporting, data sharing, and data security and/or privacy. 

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Core Courses (take 2; 6 hours)

MATH 1401        Elementary Statistics - 3 Hours
MATH 4100        Linear Regression - 3 Hours

Database courses (take 1; 3-4 hours)

BIOL/ENSC 3800        GI Sci Tech-Landscape Ecol - 4 Hours
GEOG 3100                Intro to Geographic Information - 3 Hours
GEOG 4105                Geospatial Data Management - 3 Hours
CBIS 3214                  Intro to Database Management - 3 Hours
CSCI 4710                  Databases - 3 Hours

Statistics/Computing Courses (take 1; 3 hours)

PSYC 2700          Stats Applied to Behavior Sci - 3 Hours
MGMT 3101         Business Statistics - 3 Hours
CRJU 4005          Statistical Analysis for Criminal Justice - 3 Hours
POLS 4000          Systematic Analysis - 3 Hours

Certificate Capstone (choose 1 for a minimum of 3 hours)

Undergraduate Research
Internship

The goal of this capstone is for students to find a way of applying the things they learned in the Data Science certificate. Students will work one-on-one with a faculty mentor.  In each capstone, students must work on a real-world dataset with multiple variables that focuses on an important social issue. A presentation is required to complete and earn a certificate.

Additional recommended coursework:

CSCI 1301       Computer Science I - 3 Hours
CSCI 1302       Computer Science II - 3 Hours
CBIS 4210       Business Application Dev - 3 Hours

Note:  Undergraduate certificates may only be earned and will only be awarded in conjunction with a bachelor’s degree.  They will not be awarded as an independent credential.  Courses used to fulfill certificate requirements may also be used to fulfill core, major, minor, or other program requirements.