Department Website
Program Description
The undergraduate major in Data Science develops students’ broad knowledge in foundational theories and emerging methods of computational statistics. The program prepares students for the rapidly evolving nature of the field by teaching enduring fundamentals that remain core across diverse settings, even as technologies, programming languages, and applications change, while also exposing students to the latest frontiers of data science. Additionally, the program emphasizes the increasing role that data-driven methods play in the world today and encourages students to critically consider the implications of this expanding reliance on data. Graduates of the program will gain both the technical rigor of data science and the self-awareness to navigate its broader impacts.
As part of the program’s design, students take courses in the Departments of Computer Science and Mathematics as well as those offered by the Center for Data Science. Advanced courses are taught by experts in a range of fields, offering opportunities to explore topics in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. As a reflection of the interdisciplinary nature of data science, students are required to pair the major in Data Science with a CAS minor.
Honors Program
This major program of study does not currently offer an honors track.
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 | Principles of Data Science I (offered every semester) | 4 |
| DS-UA 112 | Principles of Data Science II (offered every semester) | 4 |
| DS-UA 201 | Causal Inference (offered every semester) | 4 |
| DS-UA 202 | Responsible Data Science (offered every spring) | 4 |
| DS-UA 301 | Advanced Topics in Data Science (offered every semester) | 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 185 | Probability & Statistics (formerly UA 235) | 4 |
| 3 | 16 |
| 8 |
| Total Credits | 128 |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of program requirements, students are expected to:
- Achieve a rigorous understanding of the mathematical, statistical, and computational principles that underpin data science, so that students will have the foundational mastery to pursue of the many applications of data sciences without limitation.
- Understand approaches such as causal inference, machine learning, and data management that are involved in different settings across varied academic and applied contexts.
- Examine the relationship between data science and society by addressing ethical and philosophical issues in modern statistics, data science, and AI, and develop the ability not only to design data models but also to communicate effectively about these models and their outputs.
Policies
Program Policies
Policy on Declaration of Major
Students must complete either DS-UA 111 Principles of Data Science I or DS-UA 112 Principles of Data Science II 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 at any time during the academic year using the links below. Any questions or concerns regarding the declaration process should be directed to cds-undergraduate@nyu.edu.
College of Arts and Science students cannot enter their junior year undeclared and must begin their data science (and, if applicable, computer 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 (CDS) and CAS both advise that students begin their data science courses earlier and declare the major in the spring of their sophomore year. Although 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. Students cannot declare any major or joint major with CDS after completion of their junior year.
Other 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 or another minor (not both).
- The major requires completion of any minor in CAS (the minor in Computer Science and the cross-school minor in Public Health are now accepted for this requirement). Students who choose the minor in Computer Science, the joint minor in Mathematics and Computer Science, or the minor in Mathematics may double-count no more than two courses between their chosen minor and the major in Data Science and might need to take additional courses for their minor due to overlap with this major. These students cannot double-count two other courses between the Data Science major and a second major or a second minor.
- 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.
- 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.