Data Science Major

Develop the skills needed to ask questions you care about and find the answers through data with a data science major. Data science is all about details and problem solving. The major is particularly well-suited for people who are detail oriented and naturally ask a lot of questions. Critical thinking, asking and answering complex questions, and continual learning are key components of the major. Many courses are in mathematics and computer science. Our liberal arts approach puts a particular emphasis on making connections and broadening perspectives, so our students can also take data science courses in economics, physics, sociology, political science, psychology, and more. 

 
Our students are continually learning technical and problem-solving skills. Through coursework, data science faculty model processes of assessing and solving a problem never encountered before. Project-based assignments allow students to practice those processes so they have the skills and confidence to complete any tasks in their careers. While at Washington College, students get foundational skills in programming and statistics, working with data that have often come from local community organizations. Our students have real-world impacts on our local community.  
 
Many students studying data science will double major with another subject that interests them. It is also common for data science students to have minors in various areas across campus. Combining data science with other areas of interest allows students to use the tools they learn here to pursue inquiry in areas that they are passionate about and make connections beyond the classroom.