Data science is an emerging discipline that lies at the intersection of computer science, mathematics, and statistics. With data being collected everywhere, including from smartphones, computers and televisions, there is a growing need to have qualified scientists who can identify and apply algorithms and statistical models to interpret big data. More than just analyzing information, data scientists utilize machine learning and software tools to process and manipulate data to help organizations visualize and find meaning in their data.

Career Potential

Data science is a rapidly growing sector of analytics. Graduates seek positions in public and private industry where big data is needed to provide guidance and support to decision-makers. In business sectors from finance, technology, healthcare and retail to manufacturing, data scientists are in high demand. Graduates may pursue job titles such as data scientist, data mining engineer, data analyst, decision scientist, machine learning scientist, data manager and data architect.

The NSM Career Success Center is an important resource for students pursuing STEM and healthcare careers. Career professionals are available to provide strategies for mastering job interviews, writing professional cover letters and resumes and connecting with campus recruiters, among other services.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Data Science at UT Dallas

The bachelor of science in data science is an interdisciplinary degree that is jointly offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Department of Computer Science in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. Its curriculum provides a solid foundation in the disciplines of computer science, mathematics and statistics, and includes a capstone project. Our program prepares students for jobs as data scientists or related positions in industry, business and government, and also for graduate study in any of the three disciplines.

Students must earn 120 hours to graduate: 42 hours from the University’s core curriculum, 65-67 hours in the major, plus 11-13 elective requirements where students can tailor their learning experience more closely to their interests. Visit catalog.utdallas.edu for the most current requirements and courses offered.

High School Preparation

Data science requires a strong high school preparation in mathematics and computer science. A minimum of elementary algebra and geometry should be completed, while trigonometry and calculus are highly recommended. Any Advanced Placement courses in computer science, mathematics or statistics are highly beneficial.

Quick Facts about the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

UT Dallas’ School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students in biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, and physics. In addition to regular coursework, undergraduates are encouraged to participate in research alongside faculty and graduate students. Together with its world class departments, the school also hosts the renowned MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute and the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences that developed the mass spectrometer that discovered water on Mars.

• Established in 1975
• Six departments
• More than 3,200 students
• 30 degrees offered
• Alumni include a Nobel Prize winner, a NASA astronaut, and numerous faculty fellows of the National Academy of Engineering and American Association for the Advancement of Science

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Actuarial science, biochemistry, biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, data science*, geosciences, mathematics, molecular biology, physics

Bachelor of Arts: Biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics

Master of Science: Actuarial science, bioinformatics and computational biology, biotechnology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics

Master of Arts in Teaching: Mathematics education, science education

Doctor of Philosophy: Chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics

*Joint program between the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Certificates

• Data Science
• Genomics
• Geophysics
• Quantum Information
• Certificate in Biomedical Sciences (CBioMed)

Teacher Certification

The UTeach Dallas program offers students the opportunity to complete the requirements for high school teacher certification along with their regular BS or BA degrees.

Fast Track to Graduate School

The Fast Track program enables exceptionally gifted UT Dallas students to include master’s level courses in their undergraduate degree plans. Students who meet the requirements for admission to graduate school, and the minimum GPA requirement for their major, can take up to 15 semester credit hours of approved graduate level courses in their senior year to use toward completion of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  

To take graduate courses in the Fast Track program upper-division undergraduates must have completed 90 semester credit hours and petition their associate dean for permission to take graduate courses.