All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.
Data science is concerned with drawing useful and valid conclusions from data. Data scientists develop mathematical models, computational methods, and tools for exploring, analyzing, and making predictions from data. They ask appropriate questions about data and interpret the predictions based on their expertise of the subject domain.
The primary goal for the data science major is to train a generation of students who are equally versed in predictive modeling, data analysis, and computational techniques. To this end, in addition to learning about data science models and methods, students will acquire expertise in a particular subject domain. The major also educates students about the societal and ethical impact of data science so that they can make responsible decisions as data science practitioners.
The major consists of 112 units with fifty-two units from lower-division courses and sixty units from upper-division courses. The lower-division curriculum includes calculus and linear algebra courses for sixteen units, data science courses for twenty-eight units, and subject domain courses for eight units. The program includes twenty units of elective courses that will enable students to embark upon an in-depth exploration of one or more areas in which data science can profitably be applied. Alternatively, students can choose to explore the mathematical, statistical, and computational foundations of data science in even greater depth.
All majors will be required to undertake a senior project that will give them an opportunity to creatively synthesize much of what they have learned in the data science courses for addressing problems in chosen domains.
Students are expected to complete the following fifty-two units by the end of their sophomore year. All courses must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a minimum grade of C–.
Students must complete sixty upper-division units. All courses must be taken for a letter grade unless offered Pass/Not Pass only. A minimum grade of C– is required.
This minor is intended for students whose primary area of interest lies outside data science, but who are interested in acquiring competence in methods of data analysis. It requires completion of fifty-six units. Courses must be taken for a letter grade with a minimum passing grade of C–. Please be advised that DSC 40A and DSC 40B serve as prerequisites for required courses. DSC 40A-B can be taken for P/NP by data science minors.
Because of the large number of students interested in data science and the limited resources available to accommodate this demand, the university has declared the data science major “capped.” This allows the Data Science Undergraduate Program to continue to offer the highest quality academic program to our students and avoid delays in time to degree due to lack of capacity in our courses.
Transfer applications will not be accepted until the fall 2019 application period for admission into the fall 2020 term. The first cohort of transfer students entering UC San Diego as data science majors is expected for fall 2020. All potential transfer students must indicate on the UC application if they wish to major in data science. Generally, we do not advise transfer students who have matriculated as a different major to attempt to switch into the data science major through the capped major application process. This is due to the additional screening process that would add to transfer students’ time to graduation, without a guarantee of acceptance into the major.
Prospective transfer students must complete the minimum major preparation course work to be considered for admission into the major. Visit assist.org to find the complete listing of major preparation and transferable courses at your college.
Please note that the courses listed in assist.org are for preparation for your major. The courses used in the screening requirements for admission into the major are those on our website.
Effective Fall 2021 (submit application November 2020)
For more information, please see: https://admissions.ucsd.edu/transfer/transfer-major-preparation.html.
UC San Diego students who would like to change from another major into the Data Science Undergraduate Program may apply to the major via the capped major application. Applications will be accepted twice per year and must be submitted on or before the deadline. Please see the department website at https://datascience.ucsd.edu/academics/undergraduate/ for details.
