Program Description
As society becomes increasingly dependent on data, new knowledge, skills, and professions are emerging to collect, organize, interpret, and use data. Data analytics uses data-driven techniques to transform raw data into useful information — information that may be used to identify and solve problems, evaluate claims and make inferences, and influence human decisions and machine models.
Data Analytics is used in nearly every professional domain, including business and government, health and social services, and science and education. The minor in Data Analytics is an excellent supplement to any major, providing valuable skills for employment in many careers.
Entering and Completing the Minor
In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. Minors are not required except for students in the Professional Studies (BA). SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, including minors, so if you change your mind about a minor or want to include an additional minor, you are able to do so as outlined below.
Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen minor(s) as soon as you have determined it and are eligible to join it, especially by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a minor within their first two quarters at SPU.
- If this is your first quarter at SPU, request entrance to your minor in Banner by following these instructions.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a minor in this department.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different minor.
- You must complete the minor requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the minor.
Data Analytics Minor
30 credits total, including 15 upper-division
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
MAT 3380 | Introduction to Data Science | 5 |
or DAT 3380 | Introduction to Data Science |
DAT 4500 | Data and Society | 5 |
| 10 |
| Statistics for Business and Economics | |
| Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences | |
| Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Engineering Probability and Statistics | |
| Engineering Probability and Statistics |
| Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences | |
| 5 |
| Biostatistics | |
| Quantitative Methods for Decision Making | |
| Statistical Modeling | |
| Advanced Statistical Analysis | |
| 5 |
| Data Analytics and Visualization | |
| Beginning Programming | |
| Problem Solving and Programming | |
| Computer Programming for Engineers | |
| Living in a Digital World | |
| Database Management | |
| Advanced Issues in Computer Science | |
| Introduction to Machine Learning | |
| Data Journalism | |
| Computational Linguistics I | |
| Computational Linguistics II | |
| Linear Algebra | |
| Probability and Statistics | |
| Mathematical Statistics | |
| Tests and Measurements in Psychology | |
| Psychological Research Methods | |
| Data Analytics and Storytelling for Consumer and Social Sciences | |
| Sociological Research Methods | |
| 10 |
Total Credits | 30 |