5 tracks to a data science degree

You can have one of the hottest careers in America and earn a generous salary right out of school.

Data Science

This major or minor focuses on the analytic skills and the critical thinking and decision making that are needed to solve today’s problems. You will gain skills in computer programming, statistics, data modeling, data mining and data visualization, and also will learn how to interpret and present information.

Why Data Science?

This emerging field is an area of demand by employers as they seek graduates who can interpret quantitative information, create predictive models and translate analytic results. Harvard Business Review calls data science the “sexiest job of the 21st century,” and Glassdoor names data scientist No. 1 on its Best Jobs in America list. (Links open in new window)

Professors who specialize in the disciplines of physics, mathematics, business and leadership, chemistry, biochemistry and biology teach classes in the data science major and collaborate with you on research, projects and our internship requirement.

Emphasis Areas

In the Bachelor of Arts in Data Science program at Jewell—the most robust program in Kansas City—you will choose one of five areas of emphasis:

  • Bioinformatics
  • Business Intelligence
  • Economic Analysis
  • Math & Modeling
  • Molecular Design

Each emphasis area includes a capstone course your senior year and an internship. You may opt to add a second major in a related area, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, business, biochemistry or Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry. You’ll also find opportunities for creative approaches to your coursework through innovation studios on campus.

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My Jewell Journey

Brady Monks, Kearney

Brady shares his experience in the data science program (business intelligence emphasis) and his internship at Children's Mercy Hospital in data analytics. He's now pursuing a master's degree in data analytics.

  • Meet our Data Science Advisory Board

    Dr. Mark Hoffman, ’91

    • Chief Research Information Officer at the Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Mercy Kansas City
    • Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
    • Ph.D. in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • Former vice president at Cerner Corporation

    Trevor Nicks, ’17

    • Ph.D. in biotechnical engineering at Tufts University
    • Cofounder of a biotechnology startup focusing on the use of spirulina as a sustainable food source

    Dr. Ana Pedraza

    • Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, The Stowers Institute for Medical Research
    • Ph.D. in cell biology from Yale University

    Andrew Sallee, ’99

    • Data and Analytics Strategist, HR Information Management, Cerner Corporation
    • Master's degree in predictive anaylsis, Northwestern University
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  • Data Science Required Courses
    • Calculus I
    • Coding: HTML & CSS
    • Coding II: Javascript
    • Introduction to Data Science
    • Introduction to Programming
    • Data Modeling, Databases & Querying
    • Applied Statistics
    • Data Visualization
    • Data Mining With Applications
    • Internship
    • Data Science Capstone

     

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