BA MAJOR & MINOR

What You’ll Study

Data Science is useful across many disciplines including Business, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Science, and Political Science. You’ll learn the mathematics, statistics, and computer science skills required to effectively extract information from large data sets, analyze results, and communicate your findings. You’ll specifically focus on applying data science to challenging problems in areas such as environmental sustainability and social justice.

You will take courses covering topics such as statistics, data science, machine learning, geographic information systems (GIS), computer programming, calculus, linear algebra, statistical modeling, and databases. Once you learn the basics of the programming languages Python and R and develop skills in GIS, you will dive into advanced mathematics, statistics, and data science courses.

Capstone

As your studies culminate in a Capstone Project, you will apply your knowledge and skills to an area of your choosing that involves social or environmental advocacy. Working closely with faculty, you could complete a purely academic project in one of these areas, choose a project that solves a problem for a community partner, or work on a significant data-driven project through a professional internship with a company or nonprofit organization.

Data Science students recently won a state award for their work with local nonprofit Bounty and Soul to improve food access. In a project funded by a South Big Data Hub grant, they used machine learning to analyze health and social vulnerability data to create maps to help the organization prioritize locations for healthy food distribution and nutritional counseling.

Explore Classes in This Program

Using programming languages such as R and Python, you’ll master machine learning techniques such as clustering, classification, and regression. You’ll become fluent in extracting information from large data sets, building and interpreting statistical models that can be used for predictions, and creating effective visualizations and data summaries.

In this course, you’ll further understand how to use geographic information science to help people and the planet. You’ll learn about spatial analysis procedures on raster and vector data, database management, topology, model design, 3D modeling, open source GIS, web mapping, and project management. You’ll design and conduct a significant research project, often to solve a real-world problem for outside organizations

In this course, you’ll learn how to use data science to help address problems in environmental sustainability and social justice through case studies. By the end of this pre-Capstone course, you will choose your Capstone topic and select sufficiently robust data sets to analyze in depth in the Capstone Course.

Still curious? See the Curriculum

Warren Wilson students crave a challenge. I am continually amazed at the enthusiasm with which our students throw themselves into an endeavor, whether it be a physically exhausting service trip or an intellectually stimulating research question. Wilson students tend to say “bring it.”

David Abernathy, Ph.D.

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I love the diverse interests of students, faculty, and staff at Warren Wilson.

Holly Rosson, Ph.D.

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Faculty member Christopher Potvin stands smiling in a red shirt in front of Orr Cottage

Working with students is my biggest passion. I think my motto as a long time summer camp counselor and director sums up my teaching philosophy pretty well: Camp is for the campers!

Christopher Potvin, Ph.D.

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Warren Wilson students challenge me to be my best. They are curious, they ask questions. They have their own ideas about 'what', and offer the opportunity to explore in learning the 'why' and 'how.'

Gretchen W. Whipple, Ph.D.

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IT Director Michael Mars Landis stands smiling

Wilson students are engaged and invested in their own education more than what I've seen elsewhere, and we treasure our community, along with the relationships we form.

Michael Mars Landis, MS

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Students and professor involved in NASA DEVELOP — NASA

Three alumni worked for NASA to create two tools to prevent deforestation and wildfires.

Crunch Numbers, Change the World

Use your data analysis skills to make a difference for one of our community partners.

Student provides tech support on Information Technology Crew — Professional Experience

Gain valuable work experience on the Information Technology Services Crew.

Students stand in front of a window wearing formal clothes — Internships Spotlight

Gain business opportunities, jobs, and mentoring relationships in Data Science through our Career Center.

A land cover classification map of buncombe county.

Fieldwork Profile

Mapping Change

Students in the Advanced GIS class completed a 20-year update to the project “Mapping Change”. The first project, created in 2003, was designed to give decision-makers and stakeholders the data necessary for examining change in Buncombe County over the two decades leading up to the turn of the century.

Given the significant growth and change in the county over the past twenty years, the update spanned several aspects of social and environmental change with population growth, housing development, food insecurity, social vulnerability, land use change, and water quality being points of focus.

Learn More

Data Science

What You’ll Study

Capstone

Improving Food Access

Explore Classes in This Program

Machine Learning

Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Environmental & Social Advocacy with Data

Hands-on, All-in

Mapping Change

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