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Expanding, Improving, and Completing a Multi-College Interdisciplinary B.S. Data Science Program with Concentrations

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Engineering Division (MULTI) Technical Session 6

Tagged Division

Multidisciplinary Engineering Division (MULTI)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

26

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43534

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43534

Download Count

358

Paper Authors

biography

Karl D. Schubert University of Arkansas Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-8289-9501

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Dr. Karl D. Schubert is a Professor of Practice and serves as the Associate Director for the Data Science Program for the University of Arkansas.

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Lee Shoultz

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Shantel Romer University of Arkansas

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Abstract

This paper describes the roll-out, continuous improvement, and completion of a multi-college interdisciplinary undergraduate program in data science that culminates in a Bachelor of Science degree with its first graduates. The success of graduate-level data science programs across the nation has influenced the creation of undergraduate degrees in data science. There has been tremendous interest by employers in having a workforce that has the skills and techniques, theoretical and practical experience at the undergraduate level to meet their increasing growth and dependency on data to be successful and competitive. This paper presents the results and experiences and continuous improvement of the 36 months of a newly created interdisciplinary program that uniquely integrates business, arts and sciences, and engineering disciplines while meeting the needs of industry stakeholders. The iterative development process, the curriculum, the launch of the program, the first-year data science program, and added years’ courses completing the degree, the full-year Practicum, and first graduates are described as well as new concentrations developed along the way. Lessons learned are summarized to aid other universities in contemplating similar programs. Finally, we discuss student internship readiness, study abroad opportunities, student post-graduation employment offers, industry partner feedback, and future plans.

Schubert, K. D., & Shoultz, L., & Romer, S. (2023, June), Expanding, Improving, and Completing a Multi-College Interdisciplinary B.S. Data Science Program with Concentrations Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43534

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