Data Science, B.S.

The Saint Louis University Bachelor of Science in Data Science is an interdisciplinary program supported by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. SLU's curriculum is modeled upon guidelines for undergraduate programs in data science as endorsed by the American Statistical Association's Board of Directors. Classes are small and are taught by enthusiastic instructors.

Curriculum Overview

The B.S. in data science is among the most rigorous degrees offered at SLU. This program combines carefully selected computer science, statistics and mathematics courses with four semesters of practica and capstone experiences. The result is an education rooted in the fundamentals but that also provides hands-on experience with cleaning, visualizing, analyzing and reporting on data. Students choose electives within the major to specialize in the computer science or statistical aspects of data science. 

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Faculty in the data science program do research in machine learning, natural language processing, time series, topological data analysis, and in other areas of statistics, computer science and mathematics.

There are multiple research, internship and consulting opportunities for students in the data science program. Past students have done cross-disciplinary work with ArchCity Defenders, the Department of Sociology, the Department of Languages, Literature and Cultures, the Department of English and the Medical School Liver Center, while others have done work in data science itself, doing research with faculty within the departments of Mathematics and Statistics, the Department of Computer Science and the Lincoln Lab at MIT, among others.

The SLU Data Science Club provides students with an opportunity to practice their predictive modeling in competitions. Some competitions are hosted locally by SLU solely for students at SLU, while others pit SLU students against students and professionals from across the world.

Careers

The McKinsey Report estimated that the United States would face a shortfall of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills, while also needing 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to make decisions based on the analysis of big data.

The Harvard Business Review calls data scientist "the sexiest job of the 21st century,” and Glassdoor has ranked data scientist as the No. 1 overall job in the USA in terms of the number of job openings, earning potential and career opportunities rating. Data is being produced in many places, and companies need employees who can analyze the data and communicate the results. Students with a B.S. in data science will be well-positioned to work in technology, government, research and consulting fields, among others. 

Admission Requirements

Begin Your Application

Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. 

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.

Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken post-secondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will be able to use programming and other computer science skills to analyze and interact with data.
2. Graduates will be able to apply statistics to analyze data sets.
3. Graduates will be able to acquire and manage complex data sets.
4. Graduates will be able to use technical skills in predictive modeling.
5. Graduates will be able to visualize data to facilitate the effective presentation of data-driven insights.

Non-Course Requirements

All Science and Engineering B.A. and B.S. students must complete an exit interview/survey near the end of their bachelor's program. 

Continuation Standards

Students must have a minimum of a 2.00 cumulative GPA in data science major courses by the conclusion of their sophomore year, must maintain a minimum of 2.00 cumulative GPA in these courses at the conclusion of each semester thereafter, and must be registered in at least one data science course counting toward their major in each academic year (until all requirements are completed).

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

†

Students must earn a C- or better.

‡

Strongly recommended for capstone

Program Notes

• STAT 3850 Foundation of Statistics (3 cr) and CSCI 2100 Data Structures (4 cr) are crucial to this program, as they serve as prerequisites for all of the upper division STAT and CSCI courses. As such, they should be taken as soon as reasonably possible.
• Possible STAT electives include STAT 4840 Time Series (3 cr), MATH 4800 Probability Theory (3 cr) and STAT 4850 Mathematical Statistics (3 cr).
• Possible CSCI electives include CSCI 2300 Object-Oriented Software Design (3 cr), CSCI 3100 Algorithms (3 cr), CSCI 3300 Software Engineering (3 cr), CSCI 4610 Concurrent and Parallel Programming (3 cr), CSCI 4620 Distributed Computing (3 cr), CSCI 4740 Artificial Intelligence (3 cr), CSCI 4760 Deep Learning (3 cr), CSCI 4830 Computer Vision (3 cr), and CSCI 4845 Natural Language Processing (3 cr).
• At least one elective must have a STAT designator and at least two electives must have a CSCI designator.
• Twelve hours of CSCI/STAT electives are required.

Note: SLU-Madrid and SLU-St. Louis program requirements vary slightly by campus.

Unlock the power of data to solve real-world problems and drive innovation with a Bachelor of Science in Data Science from Saint Louis University — Madrid.

Gain in-demand skills at SLU-Madrid, including in machine learning, big data and analytics to lead the digital revolution. Whether you're passionate about technology, healthcare, finance, or beyond, a career in data science is your gateway to success. 

Curriculum Overview

This data science program focuses on equipping you with the knowledge and skills to analyze, interpret, and extract meaningful insights from data. It integrates elements of computer science, mathematics and statistics with the goal of addressing real-world problems through data-driven decision-making.

Healthcare, public institutions, telecommunication, finance, marketing, social sciences, travel, environmental studies ... Today's world runs on data and with this program, you will learn the skills necessary to collect, clean, organize and analyze data.

This B.S. degree can be easily combined with another major (such as computer science) or minors (such as computer science, math and business analytics), providing you with a deeper knowledge of the foundations of this area and a global understanding of the use of data science in other disciplines.

Fieldwork, Internships and Careers

Class sizes are intentionally kept small at all levels to encourage active participation, foster meaningful discussions, and make it easier for professors to address individual learning needs. This focused approach enhances understanding, promotes collaboration, and ultimately leads to better educational outcomes. This environment and the teaching of award-winning full-time faculty and industry experts will place you in an unbeatable starting point to enter the job market.

Data science experts are highly demanded by companies worldwide. Indeed, the launch of B.S. in this field is relatively new, so far CS/math graduates have filled these positions. Consequently, companies would be bidding for you as an expert in data science.

As a graduate in data science you have a wide range of career opportunities across various (any) industries like data scientist, data analyst, machine learning engineer, business analyst or artificial intelligence analyst.

You will also have opportunities to do internships in Spanish companies, putting your theoretical knowledge to work.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the major, you must have at least a 2.00 cumulative average and complete a declaration of major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be assigned a departmental advisor.

Tuition and Fees

SLU-Madrid is committed to providing a quality Jesuit education at an affordable price. Tuition rates at the Madrid campus are approximately 40% lower than at comparable private universities in the U.S.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a financial aid officer, email us at financialaid-madrid@slu.edu. 

• Tuition and Fees
• Scholarships and Financial Aid

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution. 

Data Science, B.S. (STLCC 2+SLU)