B.S. Planning Guide

Flow Chart

We offer the following flow chart as guidance for how to approach class sequencing. This is not the only way to sequence classes, so there could be instances where your plan differs from the flow chart, and that's okay. Keep in mind that the flow chart does not contain every requirement for the major.

Sample Plans

Every student’s academic plan is unique. Yours will probably look different from the samples and/or your friend’s plan, and that does not mean one of them is wrong. It is also normal for your plan to change as you go along, so please remember to be flexible. With that being said, we provide the sample plans as models to show how a student could complete the Data Science B.S.

Data Science B.S. with Mathematics and Computation Subplan

Sample Plan 1: Starting Year 1 with Math 19

Year 1

Math 19, 20, 21
CS 106A & 106B

Year 2

DataSci 112
Math 51, 52, 53
CS 103 and choice of CS class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. CS 107)
Stats 117

Year 3

Math 104 or 113
MS&E 211X or EE 364A
Ethics
Stats 118
Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
Choice of CS class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. CS 161)
WIM course (before capstone)
Data Science Elective 1 (Math & Comp Subplan)

Year 4

Choice of Stats class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. Stats 202)
Data Science Electives 2 & 3 (Math & Comp Subplan)
MS&E 221
Stats 200
Capstone

Sample Plan 2: Starting Year 1 with Math 51

Year 1

Math 51 & 52
CS 106A & 106B
DataSci 112
Stats 117

Year 2

Math 53
Math 104 or 113
CS 103 and choice of CS class from Math & Comp subplan (e.g. CS 107)
Stats 118

Year 3

Ethics
Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
Stats 200 (after Stats 191)
Choice of CS class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. CS 161)
WIM course (before capstone)
Data Science Elective 1 (Math & Comp Subplan)

Year 4

Choice of Stats class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. Stats 202)
Data Science Electives 2 & 3 (Math & Comp Subplan)
MS&E 211X or EE 364A
MS&E 221
Capstone

Sample Plan 3: Starting Year 2 with Math 51

Year 2

Math 51
CS 106A & 106B
DataSci 112
Stats 117

Year 3

Stats 118
Math 52 & 53
Math 104 or 113
CS 103
Ethics
Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
Stats 200 (after Stats 191)
Data Science Elective 1 (Math & Comp Subplan)
WIM course (before capstone)

Year 4

Choice of CS class from Math & Comp subplan (e.g. CS 107)
Choice of CS class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. CS 161)
Choice of Stats class from Math & Comp Subplan (e.g. Stats 202)
Data Science Electives 2 & 3 (Math & Comp Subplan)
MS&E 211X or EE 364A
MS&E 221
Capstone (winter & spring)

Data Science B.S. with Biology and Medicine Subplan

Sample Plan 1: Starting Year 1 with Math 19

Year 1

Math 19, 20, 21
CS 106A & 106B

Year 2

DataSci 112
Math 51, 52, 53
CS 103
Stats 117
Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan

Year 3

Math 104 or 113
MS&E 211X or EE 364A
Ethics
Stats 118
Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
Choice of CS class from BioMed Subplan (e.g. CS 161)
WIM course (before capstone)
Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan

Year 4

Remaining Bio or HumBio class(es) from BioMed Subplan
MS&E 221
Stats 200
Capstone

Sample Plan 2: Starting Year 1 with Math 51

Year 1

Math 51 & 52
CS 106A & 106B
DataSci 112
Stats 117

Year 2

Math 53
Math 104 or 113
CS 103
Stats 118
Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan

Year 3

Ethics
Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
Stats 200 (after Stats 191)
Choice of CS class from BioMed Subplan (e.g. CS 161)
WIM course (before capstone)
Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan

Year 4

Remaining Bio or HumBio class(es) from BioMed Subplan
MS&E 211X or EE 364A
MS&E 221
Capstone

Sample Plan 3: Starting Year 2 with Math 51

Year 2

Math 51
CS 106A & 106B
DataSci 112
Stats 117

Year 3

Stats 118
Math 52 & 53
Math 104 or 113
CS 103
Ethics
Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
Stats 200 (after Stats 191)
Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan
WIM course (before capstone)

Year 4

Choice of CS class from BioMed Subplan (e.g. CS 161)
Remaining Bio or HumBio classes (2-3) from BioMed Subplan
MS&E 211X or EE 364A
MS&E 221
Capstone

Helpful Hints:

Note that the sample plans above reflect the requirements put into place for the 2023-2024 academic year. Students who are following the 2022-2023 requirements will essentially follow the mathematics and computation subplan but are not required to take DataSci 112.
Plan to take about two or three classes for the major each quarter.
Take Stats 191 before Stats 200. Some students also find it helpful to take MS&E 221 before Stats 200.
MS&E 221 has a prerequisite of MS&E 120. However, Stats 117/118 or Math 151 will provide sufficient preparation, so you do not need to take MS&E 120.
Complete your capstone during your senior year.
Year 3 is the ideal time for a quarter abroad, if that's something you're interested in. No Data Science courses would be required during the quarter abroad.