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Data Science

Our society increasingly values decisions that are supported by data. PLU graduates who can enter their vocations and their communities with experience of collecting, managing and analyzing data will be empowered to lead and serve more thoughtfully, skillfully, and rationally.

Data science is emerging as a field that is revolutionizing science and industries alike. Work across nearly all domains is becoming more data driven, affecting both the jobs that are available and the skills that are required. As more data and ways of analyzing them become available, more aspects of the economy, society, and daily life will become dependent on data…. Data science spans a broader array of activities that involve applying principles for data collection, storage, integration, analysis, inference, communication, and ethics. — National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 2018

The Data Science Minor is ideal for students who would benefit from in-depth experiences managing, analyzing, and visualizing data. The minor is designed for students from virtually any major, although quantitative literacy at or exceeding the level of PLU MATH 140 (Precalculus) is required.

Full details and requirements are available in the PLU catalog.

“Data science allows for collaboration between many different fields. Much of the work I am doing involves interacting with specialists in math, physics and biology. Handling and analyzing the data their experiments have generated is critical in getting the most out of those experiments and would not be possible without data science.”

-John Smith, PLU Student

“…I recognize the value a data science minor offers to students. This minor would allow me to gain an introduction to the tools and skill sets that are in high demand today, and this minor would serve as a credible signal to employers that I have gained this experience. I am hopeful that I might have an opportunity to participate.”

-Max Staple, PLU Student