B.S. in Data Science: Foundations Track

IMPORTANT NOTES: The Data Science major has a capped admission process which means entrance into the major will only be open to continuing students through a lottery. Please see the Data Science Change of Major page for additional details about the lottery and eligibility requirements.

This track emphasizes the underlying computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics methodology and theory, and is especially recommended as preparation for graduate study in data science or related fields.

Notes:
These requirements were put into effect Fall 2022. Requirements from previous years can be found in the General Catalog Archive.

Preparatory Subject Matter (39 units)

Mathematics

MAT 21A Calculus
MAT 21B Calculus
MAT 21C Calculus
MAT 22A Linear Algebra

Computer Science

ECS 17 Data, Logic, and Computing
ECS 32A Introduction to Programming
ECS 32B Introduction to Data Structures

Statistics

STA 35A Statistical Data Science I
STA 35B Statistical Data Science II
STA 35C Statistical Data Science III

Depth Subject Matter (52 units)

Core Coursework

Computer Science

ECS 116 Databases for Non-Majors
ECS 117 Algorithms for Data Science
ECS 119 Data Processing Pipelines for Data Science (Pending Approval)*

Probability & Statistics

STA 108 Linear Regression
STA 141A Fundamentals of Statistical Data Science
MAT 135A Probability OR STA 131A Introduction to Probability Theory

Machine Learning

Choose one:

ECS 111 Machine Learning for Non-Majors (Pending Approval)*
MAT 170 Mathematics for Data Analytics & Decision Making
STA 142A Introduction to Statistical Learning

Mathematics

MAT 167 Applied Linear Algebra OR ECS 130 Scientific Computation
MAT 168 Optimization

Science & Technology Studies

STS 101 Data & Society

Upper Division Electives

Three elective courses in a related discipline.

Three upper division courses approved by major advisor; they should be in statistics, mathematics, computer science or cover quantitative aspects of a substantive discipline. A list of pre-approved electives can be viewed here.

Total Units: 91

*ECS 111 and 119 are still pending final approval. Course titles may change.

Tentative Sample Schedule

Freshman	Fall	Winter	Spring
	MAT 21A	MAT 21B	MAT 21C
	STA 35A	STA 35B	STA 35C
		ECS 17	ECS 32A
Sophomore	Fall	Winter	Spring
	MAT 22A	STA 108	STA 141A
	ECS 32B	ECS 116	ECS 117
	STS 101
Junior	Fall	Winter	Spring
	ECS 119	ECS 130 or MAT 167	Elective
	MAT 135A or STA 131A
Senior	Fall	Winter	Spring
	Elective	ECS 111 or MAT 170 or STA 142A	Elective
		MAT 168