Department Website
Program Description
The undergraduate major in data science is designed to develop students’ broad knowledge in emerging theories and methods of computational statistics in academic fields within the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
Students who complete the major in data science will be exposed to diverse ways of knowing, research and critical thinking skills, and communication and inference techniques to make them both ethically and scientifically responsible stewards of data, as well as, of course, rigorous scientists.
While students will necessarily gain skills in programming due to the computational nature of the field, this major is not centered on professional or vocational training. Instead, the skill-building in computational applications and database management that takes place within our data science courses and curriculum unfolds within a broader context of scientific and theoretical frameworks for understanding and pursuing deeper objectives, novel knowledge generation, and robust discovery.
Students may contact cds-undergraduate@nyu.edu with questions.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.
Program Requirements
The major in data science requires thirteen 4-credit courses (52 credits) as outlined below. It also requires completion of a CAS minor (applicable only to students pursuing data science as a single major and not as part of a joint or double major).
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| 4 |
| EXPOS-UA 1 | Writing as Inquiry | 4 |
| 1 | 16 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| DS-UA 111 | Data Science for Everyone (offered every semester) | 4 |
| DS-UA 112 | Principles of Data Science (offered every semester) | 4 |
| DS-UA 201 | Causal Inference (offered every fall) | 4 |
| DS-UA 202 | Responsible Data Science (offered every spring) | 4 |
| DS-UA 301 | Advanced Topics in Data Science (offered every spring) | 4 |
| CSCI-UA 2 | Introduction to Computer Programming (No Prior Experience) 2 | 4 |
| CSCI-UA 101 | Intro to Computer Science | 4 |
| CSCI-UA 102 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CSCI-UA 473 | Fundamentals of Machine Learning | 4 |
| CSCI-UA 479 | Data Management and Analysis | 4 |
| 4 |
| Calculus I | |
| Mathematics for Economics I | |
| 4 |
| Calculus II | |
| Mathematics for Economics II | |
| MATH-UA 140 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| or MATH-UA 148 | Honors Linear Algebra |
| MATH-UA 235 | Probability & Statistics | 4 |
| 3 | 16 |
| 8 |
| Total Credits | 128 |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of program requirements, students are expected to have acquired:
- Broad knowledge of emerging theories and methods of computational statistics in academic fields across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
- Knowledge of current methods and tools used to analyze big data and inferences, and to explore data-driven decision making.
- A thorough knowledge base in computer science and statistics as they are aligned with the discipline of data science.
- Diverse ways of knowing, research and critical thinking skills, and communication and inference techniques to make them ethically and scientifically responsible stewards of data, as well as rigorous scientists.
Policies
Program Policies
Policy on Declaration of Major
Students must complete either DS-UA 111 Data Science for Everyone or DS-UA 112 Principles of Data Science (depending on placement) with a grade of C or better before declaring the major in Data Science. This policy applies to all NYU students, not just to those matriculated in CAS. Students may declare during the declaration periods in the fall and spring semesters and the summer sessions. During the fall semester, the declaration period is the month of October; during the spring semester, the declaration period is mid-February to mid-March; and in the summer, the declaration period is mid-June to mid-July. Please write to cds-undergraduate@nyu.edu to request the declaration form during the proper time frames.
It is an official policy in CAS that students cannot enter their junior year undeclared. In order to comply with this policy, students must begin their data science course sequence no later than the spring semester of their sophomore year, which will allow them to declare the major or minor during the summer before their junior year. The Center for Data Science and CAS both advise that students begin their data science courses earlier, and, consistent with the usual practice in CAS, declare the major in the spring of their sophomore year. While students may begin their data science courses later than this point, there is no guarantee they will finish their major requirements in time to graduate within four years.
Policies Applying to the Major
- A grade of C or better is necessary in all courses used to fulfill major requirements; courses graded Pass/Fail do not count toward the major.
- Two courses may be double-counted between the data science major and another major. For permission to double-count more than two courses, students must first request approval from the Center for Data Science (cds-undergraduate@nyu.edu). If approved by the CDS, students must then petition CAS Academic Standards (726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8140).
- Advanced Placement credit (or other advanced standing credit by examination) in computer science and calculus is treated exactly as in the majors and minors in computer science and mathematics. Consult the AP and other tables in the admission section of this Bulletin for course equivalencies.
- Students must check the prerequisites for each course before enrolling. See the section on course offerings for all prerequisites.
- CAS students (in any major or minor) are not permitted to take computer science courses in the Tandon School of Engineering.
- Those interested in spending a semester away should work out their schedule with an adviser as early as possible.
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
College of Arts and Science Policies
A full list of relevant academic policies can be found on the CAS Academic Policies page.