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Embracing the Liberal Arts in an Interdisciplinary Data Analytics Program

Published: 22 February 2019 Publication History

Abstract

In 2016, we launched an interdisciplinary, undergraduate Data Analytics major that extends the definition of "interdisciplinary" beyond computer science, mathematics, and statistics to the natural and social sciences, humanities, and fine arts. Our program was conceived, and continues to be administered, as an independent academic unit by a Committee of faculty representing ten disciplines. Students majoring in Data Analytics complete four or more mathematics and computer science courses, four project-oriented Data Analytics courses, three to four courses in one of seven applied domains, and a required summer internship. Data Analytics courses are taught by both dedicated Data Analytics faculty and other faculty from the Committee. Partnerships with campus offices, alumni, businesses, and nonprofits have enhanced both coursework and internship opportunities. The major's popularity has exceeded our expectations, and has succeeded in attracting students with a variety of academic interests, many of whom would not have otherwise pursued a computational or quantitative major.

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    SIGCSE '19: Proceedings of the 50th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
    February 2019
    1364 pages
    ISBN:9781450358903
    DOI:10.1145/3287324
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    Published: 22 February 2019

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    Author Tags

    1. curriculum
    2. data analytics
    3. data science
    4. liberal arts

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    SIGCSE '19 Paper Acceptance Rate 169 of 526 submissions, 32%;
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    • (2025)A Window into DataWorks: Developing an Integrated Work-Training Curriculum for Novice AdultsProceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3641554.3701826(568-574)Online publication date: 12-Feb-2025
    • (2024)Developing a Data Analytics Practicum CourseInformation Systems Education Journal10.62273/QFMI649122:2(47-69)Online publication date: 2024
    • (2024)Doing and Defining Interdisciplinarity in Undergraduate ComputingACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/365467624:3(1-26)Online publication date: 4-Apr-2024
    • (2024)WIP: Python for Everyone as a Mathematics GE Course: Broaden Participation and Enhance Data Science Career Pipeline2024 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)10.1109/FIE61694.2024.10892893(1-5)Online publication date: 13-Oct-2024
    • (2023)Identifying the Computing Education Needs of Liberal Arts and Sciences Students (Discussion Paper)Proceedings of the 23rd Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research10.1145/3631802.3631805(1-7)Online publication date: 13-Nov-2023
    • (2023)Data Science for Social Science and Digital Humanities ResearchGuide to Teaching Data Science10.1007/978-3-031-24758-3_19(283-301)Online publication date: 21-Mar-2023
    • (2022)How Computer Science and Statistics Instructors Approach Data Science Pedagogy DifferentlyProceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education - Volume 110.1145/3478431.3499384(29-35)Online publication date: 22-Feb-2022
    • (2022)CS Curricular Innovations with a Liberal Arts PhilosophyProceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education - Volume 110.1145/3478431.3499329(537-543)Online publication date: 22-Feb-2022
    • (2022)Interdisciplinary CS1 Course for Non-Majors: The Case of Graduate Psychology Students2022 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON)10.1109/EDUCON52537.2022.9766516(86-93)Online publication date: 28-Mar-2022
    • (2021)A journal for interdisciplinary data science educationCommunications of the ACM10.1145/346928164:8(10-11)Online publication date: 26-Jul-2021
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