B.S. Planning Guide
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.
Sample Plans: Data Science B.S. with Mathematics and Computation Subplan
Sample Plan 1: Starting Year 1 with Math 19
Year 1
Year 1
- Math 19, 20, 21
- CS 106A & 106B
Year 2
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
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
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
Year 1
- Math 51 & 52
- CS 106A & 106B
- DataSci 112
- Stats 117
Year 2
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
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
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
Year 2
- Math 51
- CS 106A & 106B
- DataSci 112
- Stats 117
Year 3
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
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)
Sample Plans: Data Science B.S. with Biology and Medicine Subplan
Sample Plan 1: Starting Year 1 with Math 19
Year 1
Year 1
- Math 19, 20, 21
- CS 106A & 106B
Year 2
Year 2
- DataSci 112
- Math 51, 52, 53
- CS 103
- Stats 117
- Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan
Year 3
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
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
Year 1
- Math 51 & 52
- CS 106A & 106B
- DataSci 112
- Stats 117
Year 2
Year 2
- Math 53
- Math 104 or 113
- CS 103
- Stats 118
- Bio or HumBio class from BioMed Subplan
Year 3
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
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
Year 2
- Math 51
- CS 106A & 106B
- DataSci 112
- Stats 117
Year 3
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
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 Math 52 before Stats 116.
- Math 53 can be taken prior to Math 52.
- 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 116 or Math 151 will provide sufficient preparation, so you do not need to take MS&E 120.
- Take your WIM class before your capstone, and don’t wait until your senior year to take your WIM.
- The capstone requirement starts with the graduating class of 2025. Complete your capstone no earlier than spring of your junior 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.