Data and Decisions Minor

Today's students are tomorrow's doctors, lawyers, politicians, industrial leaders, patients, parents, volunteers, and neighbors who will make important decisions that will impact both themselves and our society. To make these decisions, data serve as an important resource for gathering "objective” information and evaluating risk (or lack thereof) from multiple perspectives. Students in this minor will develop skills to think critically and use data responsibly to formulate judgements beyond their personal inferences/preferences.

Why do it?

At the completion of this minor, students will be able to consume and use data responsibly, ethically, collaboratively, effectively, and efficiently. Such skills are both marketable professionally and useful personally, as data literacy is essential for living in the 21st century.

Requirements

The 18-credit hour minor in Data and Decisions includes 3 hours of introductory restricted electives, 6 hours of core requirements,  6 hours of elective courses selected from a list, and 3 hours of a Data and Decisions Capstone.

Who is it for?

This minor provides the opportunity to learn and apply fundamental concepts in data analytics and make decisions supported by data. The curriculum is designed to be accessible to all students, regardless of quantitative skills, interests, and major. However, this minor would be redundant for students already majoring in data-intensive subjects, such as Computational Modeling and Data Analytics (CMDA), Data Centric Computing, and Statistics.

Need more information?

See more information about the minor, including answers to frequently asked questions and contact information for academic advisors of the minor. 

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This minor is hosted by the Academy of Data Science in collaboration with numerous departments across Virginia Tech.