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Data Science Minor Requirements 2024-2025

These degree requirements apply to students who declared between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025.

Course Requirements

Linear Algebra (5 units)

Select one course:

  • ENGR 108:  Introduction to Matrix Methods
  • Math 51: Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications
  • Math 104: Applied Matrix Theory

*Students who've taken CME 100 are recommended to take ENGR 108 to satisfy this requirement. 

Programming (5 units)

Select one course:

  • CS 106A: Programming Methodology (CS 106AP and CS 106AJ also satisfy this requirement)
  • CS 106B: Programming Abstractions
Probability (3-5units)

Select one course: 

  • CS 109: Introduction to Probability for Computer Scientists
  • EE 178: Probabilistic Systems Analysis
  • MATH 151:  Introduction to Probability Theory
  • MS&E 120: Introduction to Probability
  • STATS 117: Introduction to Probability Theory
  • STATS 118: Probability Theory for Statistical Inference

*Students who've taken CS 109 / EE 178 / MS&E 120 for their degree will be required to take STATS 118 or MATH 151 to satisfy this requirement. 

Statistics (3-5 units)

Select one course:

  • ECON 102A: Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists
  • HUMBIO 88: Introduction to Statistics for the Health Sciences
  • HUMBIO 89: Introduction to Health Sciences Statistics
  • MS&E 125: Introduction to Applied Statistics 
  • STATS 110: Introduction to Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences
  • STATS 141: Introduction to Statistics for Biology
  • STATS 191: Introduction to Applied Statistics 
  • STATS 200: Introduction to Theoretical Statistics
Data Mining and Machine Learning (3-5 units)

Select one course:

  • DATASCI 112: Principles of Data Science
  • POLISCI 150B: Machine Learning for Social Scientists 
  • STATS 202: Statistical Learning and Data Science
Data Science Methodology from the cognate field of interest (2-5 units)

Note that courses may not be offered every year: refer to ExploreCourses

Select one course:

  • BIODS 210 - Configuration of the US Healthcare System and the Application of Big Data/Analytics
  • BIOMEDIN 202 - BIOMEDICAL DATA SCIENCE
  • COMM 177I - Investigative Watchdog Reporting
  • CS 224N:  Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning
  • CS 224W - Machine Learning with Graphs
  • CS 279 - Computational Biology: Structure and Organization of Biomolecules and Cells
  • DATASCI 154: Solving Social Problems with Data
  • EARTHSYS 240: Data Science for Geoscience
  • ECON 102B - Applied Econometrics
  • ECON 102C - Advanced Topics in Econometrics
  • ECON 137 - Decision Modeling and Information
  • ECON 151 - Tackling Big Questions Using Social Data Science
  • ECON 291 - Social and Economic Networks
  • ENGLISH 184E - Literary Text Mining
  • ESS 171 - Climate Models and Data
  • GEOPHYS 115: Taking the Pulse of the Planet
  • IMMUNOL 206 - Introduction to Applied Computational Tools in Immunology
  • MS&E 125 - Introduction to Applied Statistics
  • MS&E 135 - Networks
  • MS&E 226: Fundamentals of Data Science: Prediction, Inference, Causality
  • MS&E 245A - Investment Science
  • POLISCI 150B - Machine Learning for Social Scientists
  • POLISCI 150C: Causal Inference for Social Science 
  • PUBLPOL 185: Data Science for Environmental Business
  • SOC 10 - Introduction to Computational Social Science
  • SOC 126 - Introduction to Social Networks
  • SOC 180A - Foundations of Social Research
  • SOC 180B - Introduction to Data Analysis
  • SYMSYS 1 - Minds and Machines

Additional Information

  • All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade.
    • Data Science will accept a letter grade or credit for all major/minor courses from the 2020-21 academic year.
    • Data Science will also accept courses that are only offered as S/NC (i.e. letter grade option not available). 
  • A note about double counting: 
    • Students may not overlap ("double-count") courses when completing multiple major and/or minor requirements, unless overlapping courses constitute introductory skill requirements (for example, introductory math or a foreign language).
    • For majors & minors with overlapping requirements, the courses that may be double counted are Math 51, ENGR 108, CS 106A/B.  Beyond these, students would need to find another suitable course to satisfy the requirements for the minor.
  • Any changes to the initial course of study should be approved in advance by the department.
  • If you have any questions or would like to talk more about the minor, please reach out to the Student Services Specialist.

Typical Paths to the Minor

Frosh: Math 21, Programming
Sophomore: Linear Algebra, Probability
Junior: Statistics, Data Science Methodology
Senior: Data Mining and Machine Learning
Frosh: (AP Calculus), Programming
Sophomore: Linear Algebra, Probability
Junior: Statistics, Data Science Methodology
Senior: Data Mining and Machine Learning