Data Science

Major Emphasis

Data Science is one of the emphases available to CIS majors. The curriculum focuses on computer modeling, visualization, and data analysis across large sets of information for the purpose of complex problem solving. Courses like Information Visualization, Data Mining, Data Structures, and Numerical Computation give students a strong foundation in Data Science concepts that benefit them in internships and early career opportunities.

Additional information about the program and about the broad array of opportunities for internships, research, and careers is available in the Visual Guide for Data Science Emphasis (link to PDF) and on the CIS major page.

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Data Science Snapshot

Courses

Research and Internships

For students interested in majoring or minoring in CIS or completing a CIS-affiliated concentration, the visual guide files linked below may be helpful in planning. There are many paths through the major, so the department strongly advises that students talk to an advisor in CIS about their educational and career plans to select the best set of courses for them.

Careers After W&J

The experiences CIS majors accumulate as students prepare them well for a range of jobs across industries. Our graduates have developed careers in software development, business analytics, project management, social media and marketing management; I.T. consulting; game design; web design; UI/UX research; database management, and information security.

Alumni like Garrett Pyle ’16, who serves in the logistics field of the U.S. Army, credits the CIS program and courses for helping him build his professional career, and the social and philanthropic experiences he shared with friends on campus for creating a lifelong community.

Similar Programs

Program Downloads

CIS Data Science Emphasis Visual Guide

Beyond the Classroom

W&J’s CIS program prioritizes hands-on practice. Activities in the classroom and off-campus internships help students apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Internships have included cybersecurity research, data migration and data analysis, and healthcare records implementation. These positions prepare them for careers in technology firms of all sizes, private companies, and nonprofit organizations, as well as rigorous post-secondary programs.

Our students find success before they even leave campus. Jakerra Lance ’22 earned a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) with the University of Austin Texas through the National Science Foundation, and used her skills as a CIS and history double major to work on an independent visualization project with the Cyberinfrastructure Research 4 Social Change REU site.

CIS majors also apply their skills at local non-profit organizations with an unmet technology need during their capstone course, Service Learning Project Management. Our students have worked with WashPa Outdoors, Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA (DVSSP), Washington County Food Bank, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) on projects ranging from creating a local bird-finding app, promoting conservation education, and analyzing information security management.