2024-25 Catalogs

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Columbia, MO 65211
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Data Science

Director of Undergraduate Programs in Data Science

Lawrence D. Ries
College of Arts and Science and College of Engineering
134D Middlebush Hall
RiesLD@missouri.edu

Academic Advising

Computer Science focus - last names A-K:
Rusty Elder, ElderRD@missouri.edu, 573.882.8869

Computer Science focus - last names L-Z:
Justine Durham, DurhamJu@missouri.edu, 573.884.3403

Mathematics focus and Statistics focus - all students:
Kyle Wiechens, kjwy9f​@missouri.edu

Description

Data Science is an interdisciplinary degree built on a core triad of fields: statistics, mathematics, and computer science. Data Science students learn how to acquire, analyze, communicate, and develop models from data through application of statistical, mathematical, and computer science techniques.

The BS in Data Science is offered in three focus areas through two colleges. Students electing the computer science focus earn their degree from the College of Engineering and students electing either the mathematics focus or the statistics focus earn their degree from the College of Arts and Science. The choice of a focus area allows students to take specialized coursework in whichever of the three areas they have the most interest. The degree, BS in Data Science, is the same for all three focuses.

Teaching Professor of Statistics L. Ries*
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science G. Scott**
Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics D. Belt*

Faculty for the undergraduate Data Science program hold academic appointments in Engineering (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) and Arts and Science (Department of Mathematics and Department of Statistics).

*

Graduate Faculty Member - membership is required to teach graduate-level courses, chair master's thesis committees, and serve on doctoral examination and dissertation committees.

**

Doctoral Faculty Member - membership is required to chair doctoral examination or dissertation committees. Graduate faculty membership is a prerequisite for Doctoral faculty membership.

Graduate programs (including master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates) are offered in the affiliated disciplines of computer sciencemathematics, and statistics. Additionally, the Graduate School offers an MS in Data Science and Analytics as well as several related certificate programs.