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 Plan 1: Starting Year 1 with Math 19

Year 1
  • Math 19, 20, 21
  • CS 106A & 106B
Year 2
  • Math 51, 52, 53
  • CS 103 and choice of CS class from section (e.g. CS 107)
  • Stats 116
Year 3
  • Math 104 or 113  
  • MS&E 211X or EE 364A
  • Ethics
  • Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
  • Choice of CS class from section (e.g. CS 161)
  • WIM course (before capstone)
  • Data Science Elective 1
Year 4
  • Choice of Stats class from section (e.g. Stats 202)
  • Data Science Elective 2 & Data Science Elective 3 
  • MS&E 221
  • Stats 200
  • Capstone

Sample Plan 2: Starting Year 1 with Math 51

Year 1
  • Math 51, 52, 53
  • CS 106A & 106B
Year 2
  • Math 104 or 113  
  • CS 103 and choice of CS class from section (e.g. CS 107)
  • Stats 116
Year 3
  • MS&E 211X or EE 364A
  • Ethics
  • Stats 191 (or Stats 203 during year 4)
  • Choice of CS class from section (e.g. CS 161)
  • WIM course (before capstone)
  • Data Science Elective 1
Year 4
  • Choice of Stats class from section (e.g. Stats 202)
  • Data Science Elective 2 & Data Science Elective 3 
  • MS&E 221
  • Stats 200
  • Capstone

Sample Plan 3: Starting Year 2 with Math 51

Year 2
  • Math 51
  • CS 106A & 106B
  • DataSci 154
  • Behavioral Science Core class 1 (e.g. Psych 1)
  • Behavioral Science Core class 2 (e.g. SOC 126)
  • Pathway Class 1
  • Ethics (e.g. COMM 154
Year 3
  • Math 104 or ENGR 108
  • One CS core classes from list (e.g. CS 103)
  • MS&E 111
  • MS&E 120 (after Math 51) or Stats 116 (after Math 52)
  • Behavioral Science Core class 3 (e.g. PoliSci 1)
  • Pathway class 2 & 3
  • WIM
Year 4
  • One CS core classes from list (e.g. CS 124)
  • MS&E 125 (or other from statistical inference core)
  • Last statistical inference core class (PoliSci 150C, SOC 258B, ECON 102C, or EDUC 260A) 
  • Behavioral Science Core class 4
  • Pathway class 3 & 4
  • Capstone (winter and spring quarter)

Helpful Hints:

  • 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 and MS&E 221 before Stats 200.
  • Save Stats 200 for year 4.
  • 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. 
Back to Top