Computational Data Science Major (BS)

Photo of students in a classroom with the professor at the whiteboard

From work and research to sports and entertainment, the world around us is built, predicted, and changed by how we interpret and apply data. With Hamline's computational data science program, you'll master the tools to gather and analyze large data sets, and you'll gain the skills to apply data-driven solutions to challenges in your field and change the world around you.

The opportunities you'll have access to with a computational data science degree are boundless: Employers in fields as diverse as chemistry, filmmaking, finance, journalism, environmental studies, and history are all seeking professionals with the skills to crunch the numbers they provide and recommend strategic paths forward. Your courses will provide you with a strong foundation of data analysis skills and real-world challenges to build your capacity in the area of study you are interested in.

Student research opportunities

At Hamline, students participate in research with faculty as early as their first year, something usually reserved for graduate students at other institutions. You'll design and conduct your own research project based on your individual interests and goals.

The list of possible research projects is as varied as our students. For example, picture yourself:

  • Using statistical and machine learning to predict the spread of disease
  • Building and programming a self-driving miniature car
  • Using machine learning to predict in-store sales
  • Investigating how to influence online Major League Baseball fan engagement
  • Using natural language processing to generate new Dungeons & Dragons spells

During your research process, you’ll collaborate with scientists at major research institutions, publish your research in academic journals, and present your work at local, regional, and national conferences.

Thanks to my computational data science courses, I was able to implement what I learned into a successful job interview. I was able to land a job before my senior year even started. Thank you Hamline!"

— Karina Mota ‘22; platform data analyst, Accenture

Internships for computational data science students

We make sure you leave Hamline with work experience in the computational data science field on your resume. And the opportunities are boundless. Whether you want to explore a career in machine learning, financial analysis, programming, or more, we have internship opportunities for you.

Examples of past computational data science student internships include:

  • Optum, machine learning Intern
  • Minnesota Department of Human Services, data entry intern
  • LMH Quality Products, data analytics intern
  • National Youth Leadership Council, technology intern
  • Minnesota Academy of Science, communications intern
  • LinkUp, web programming intern
  • Image Sensing System, algorithm intern

Explore career paths

With a bachelor’s degree in computational data science, you’ll be prepared to meet an employer demand that has disrupted the job market by creating entirely new categories of jobs. You’ll be entering a field that is projected to grow by at least 20 percent in the coming years.

Our innovative courses and one-on-one mentoring by faculty will give you the tools to succeed in a variety of jobs, such as:

  • Platform data analyst
  • User experience designer
  • Applications architect
  • Infrastructure engineer
  • Machine learning engineer

You can put your degree to work in any number of fields, including:

  • Data science
  • Environmental data science
  • Software development
  • Machine learning
  • Artificial intelligence