Turn data into decisions that move the world.
ECSU’s new B.S. in Data Science gives you the statistics, programming, data analysis, and machine-learning skills to build a career in one of the fastest-growing fields in the country — right here in northeastern North Carolina.
Program Overview
Data Science sits at the meeting point of mathematics, computer science, and real-world problem solving. At ECSU you’ll learn to collect, analyze, and model complex data — and to use it responsibly to answer questions that matter to communities, employers, and industries across the state and nationwide.
The B.S. in Data Science prepares North Carolinians for careers in data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. It expands access to high-quality STEM education for students across ECSU’s service area, including those from rural and underserved communities in northeastern North Carolina.
Because the program is interdisciplinary, you’ll draw on strengths across computing, mathematics, and business — pairing a strong foundation in statistics and programming with applied, hands-on projects. You’ll graduate ready to step into industry, healthcare, finance, government, or research, or to continue on to graduate study.
What you’ll be able to do
- Apply statistics, probability, and linear algebra to analyze real data
- Write clean, efficient code to design, implement, and evaluate data models
- Build, tune, and validate machine-learning and predictive models
- Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
- Make informed, ethical judgments about data, privacy, and AI
Degree Information
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Data Science
- Department: Business and Technology
- Length: Four years · 120 credit hours
Curriculum
120 credit hours over four years: 36 hours of General Education, a 46-hour Data Science core, and 38 hours of electives. Course numbers 100–299 are lower-level; 300–499 are upper-level. Courses marked NEW are new to support this program.
Field Outlooks
34%
Projected national growth in data scientist jobs, 2024–2034
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
$112,590
Median annual wage for data scientists
BLS, May 2024
~23,400
Job openings projected each year through 2034
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
4th
Fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. economy
BLS occupational projections
Career Outcomes
Where a Data Science degree can take you
Graduates are prepared for high-demand roles across the economy. Data skills are needed everywhere data is collected — which today means nearly every employer.
Example Roles
- Data Scientist — frame problems, build models, and turn messy data into decisions organizations can act on
- Data Analyst — find patterns and trends, and translate them into clear reports that guide strategy
- Machine Learning Engineer — design, train, and deploy models that power predictions and automation at scale
- AI Specialist — apply artificial-intelligence techniques to real-world challenges across industries
- Business Intelligence Analyst — build dashboards and pipelines that help teams make data-driven decisions
- Research & data roles — support discovery in healthcare, government, agriculture, and academia
Industries that hire data talent
Technology · Healthcare · Finance · Government & Public Safety · Agriculture & Natural Resources · Advanced Manufacturing · Research
Contact
Take the Next Step
Ready to design, build, and innovate with real-world technology?
