Data Science Major
It’s not just about the numbers. Data science, the study of how to extract meaning from data, is a growing field that can provide students with exciting and rewarding career paths, with opportunities for advanced study in various disciplines. Data scientists can help address the pressing concerns of modern society, including those in health care, sustainability, security, equity and economics – all through data analysis. With our data science program, you won’t just be a cog in a machine, you’ll be a pivotal part of our society’s future.
Why Choose a Data Science Major at Salisbury University?
What makes the data science program at SU unique is its interdisciplinary nature, which allows for exploration of various subject areas. Whether it be social sciences, humanities or business, the reach of data within a discipline and the need to understand its impact on society is continuously growing. Large amounts of data with complex structures in various forms are routinely collected in social networks (e.g., Google and Twitter), human and health sciences (e.g., drug discovery and patient care), sciences and engineering (e.g., astronomy and robotics), business and industry (e.g., advertising and banking), as well as by government and society as a whole.
With six applied tracks, the possibilities are more than the average brain could process – but that’s where you come in. The data science major is a rigorous program that will prepare individuals with the skills necessary to help the demands of this ever-expanding field. During their senior year, all data science majors complete a two-semester course sequence involving research methods in data science and a capstone project. The curriculum is designed with sufficient space for electives to complement your program of study.
For those interested in this field, SU also offers a data science minor, which can complement many other SU majors.
Data Science Tracks
Data science majors at SU choose one of six applied tracks:
Careers for Data Science Majors
What jobs can a data science major get? Good news: Graduates with a degree in data science are in high demand! Currently, there is a data scientist shortage both globally and locally on the Eastern Shore, and it is estimated that in coming years, there will be more than 3 million job postings in data science. With a data science degree from SU, you could pursue any of the following lucrative careers:
- Business Intelligence Developer
- Data Engineer
- Data Mining Specialist
- Enterprise Architect
- Financial Analyst
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Marketing Analyst
- Statistician
Data Science Faculty with Real-World Experience
Our faculty works cooperatively with students both in and outside the classroom to ensure their educational growth and lifelong success.
Meet Your Data Science Faculty:
Joseph Anderson
Dr. Joseph Anderson’s research specialty is in machine learning, convex geometry, optimization, discrete algorithms and computational geometry. He has been the recipient of a $174,000 National Science Foundation grant to help students expand research and education in machine learning and theoretical computer science, as well as present their findings at national conferences. He often mentors students on research projects, and with his guidance SU students have developed data software that could have an impact on the medical or psychology fields.