B.S. in Data Science: Foundations Track (Coming Fall 2022)

IMPORTANT NOTES: The Data Science program will only be open to continuing students through a lottery. Please see the FAQ page for additional details about the eligibility requirements, timeline information, etc.

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.

Preparatory Subject Matter (39 units)

MAT 21A Calculus
MAT 21B Calculus
MAT 21C Calculus
MAT 22A Linear Algebra
ECS 17 Data, Logic, and Computing
ECS 32A Introduction to Programming
ECS 32B Introduction to Data Structures
STA 35A Statistical Data Science I
STA 35B Statistical Data Science II
STA 35C Statistical Data Science III

Depth Subject Matter (52 units)

ECS 116 Databases for Non-Majors
ECS 117 Introduction to Algorithms for Data Science
ECS 119 Data Processing Pipelines for Data Science (Pending Approval)*
ECS 130 Scientific Computation OR MAT 167 Applied Linear Algebra
MAT 135A Probability OR STA 131A Introduction to Probability Theory
MAT 168 Optimization
STA 108 Linear Regression
STA 141A Fundamentals of Statistical Data Science
STS 101 Data & Society

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

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, 117, 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 117	ECS 116
	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

Major Admission Requirements for Continuing Students

The Data Science major will only be open to continuing students through a lottery. In order to be eligible for the lottery, you need to have completed the following courses and received a minimum 3.2 GPA in the entire group of courses. All courses must also be taken for a letter grade with no grade less than a C.

ECS 32A/B
MAT 21A/B/C
MAT 22A
STA 13 or STA 32 or STA 35A or STA 100

Additional details and dates for the lottery will be added as they become available. For the 2022-2023 academic year, we expect that the number of continuing students selected for the Data Science major will be low. Since admission into Data Science is not guaranteed, we strongly recommend having a backup plan. University requirements also state that all students considering switching their major must have completed at least one quarter at UC Davis, as well as be in good academic standing.