2022-2023 Academic Catalog

Jul 07, 2025

2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

DSCI 103 - Data, Computing and Society

Data in the 21st Century draws many parallels to Oil in the 18th Century, while its use is increasing,
its applications and full utility remain largely untapped. While limited in usefulness it its raw
form, substantial value arises from its refining, that is the derivative forms from its processing,
mixture with other components, and its transformation. Such processes on Data are purposed with
gaining insights, nuggets of information not directly observable. One finds achievement of
efficiencies engendered by the refining of data ranging broadly across diverse domains from
transportation and commerce to entertainment and healthcare. More recently, governments have
employed data to improve apportionment of funds and delivery of critical services. An
organization’s ability to employ data and use it to generate insights enables better decision-making.
In this course, we cover introductory concepts purposed with building student background in the
Data Science process, that is posing questions, gathering data, developing analyses, and articulating
data-informed decisions. We also introduce students to entry level computational tools and
methods purposed with extracting insights from data as we survey the Data Science process and consider its impact. Students will also be challenged to consider issues concerning privacy, bias,
and ethics surrounding data and crafting data-informed decisions. A goal of the course is to
expose students to examples from varied domains.

Prerequisites: MATH 119 OR 120 OR 124 OR GEOG 110 OR ECON 160 OR SOC 202 OR PSYC 105 OR PSCI 107 OR QBUS 110 OR BIOL 106

Corequisites: MATH 119 OR 120 OR 124 OR GEOG 110 OR ECON 160 OR SOC 202 OR PSYC 105 OR PSCI 107 OR QBUS 110 OR BIOL 106

Anticipated Terms Offered: Annually (Depending of availability of faculty to teach it)