Purdue University

A major in data science puts graduates at the forefront of an emerging field and prepares them for an exciting career at the intersection of computer science and statistics.

Data Science is the interdisciplinary field of inquiry that uses quantitative and analytical methods to help gain insights and predictions based on big data. Students learn about key computational methods and statistical techniques and develop the deep analytical thinking skills needed to reason reliably, intelligently and creatively from data. The vast amounts of data generated every day has created a data-rich and data-driven world. The data science major will open pathways to careers in virtually every area of society, from healthcare, security and sustainability to education, business and economics.

Students in first year data science share most of the first two semesters of curriculum with the computer science majors. After that, they may select an emphasis in computer science, mathematics, or applied statistics for the remainder of the degree progression. Data science students have a large number of electives with which they may choose to specialize in another subject area in which they would like to apply their skills.

Careers in Data Science

Glassdoor named the data scientist the No. 1 occupation on a recent “Best Jobs in America” listing. The average entry-level salary for data scientists is $86,000.