The progressing digitization of all areas of work and life leads to enormous amounts of data (big data): from machine data in the factory via sensor data from the car to social media data from the web. The task of data scientists is the profitable analysis and use of this data for various organizations. You will acquire the necessary basic knowledge of it as well as a pronounced interface and communication competence in the Data Science program. Data scientists combine in-depth technical knowledge in the areas of data integration, data storage and data quality, data analysis and knowledge management as well as in data visualization and information provision with a solid understanding of specific application domains, as well as fundamental business-organizational relationships. With 180 ECTS, the Bachelor of Science Data Science is designed for six semesters (standard period of study).
Courses
The courses of all degree programmes are stored in the C@mpus system - separated by degree program and examination regulations. Please note that not every course is offered in every semester. Good planning of your studies is therefore essential.
A non-binding, short list for the winter semester 2023/24 can also be found here.
General structure of the Bachelor's programme
The Data Science degree program is a computer science degree program. This implies that the basics of computer science are taught here as well as this is required to built up the data science knowledge. The first two semesters form the basic studies, the last four the specialist studies. The program is divided into compulsory and elective areas. The courses of the compulsory area are mandatory for all students, while within the elective areas within a given framework independently focus areas of interest can be set by the students.
The first time hurdle in the Bachelor's program is the orientation examination. This exam must have been passed by the end of the 3rd semester, lastest.
The individual study sections
In the first two semesters of the Bachelor's degree program, main focus is laid on teaching the basics of data science, mathematics as well as theoretical and practical computer science.
The specialization starts in the 3rd semester. In addition to other, essential contents on data science, the curriculum provides for in-depth modules of mathematics, i.e. in statistics, stochastics and numerics. The exercises for the modules offer the opportunity to repeat, deepen and apply the contents of the corresponding lectures both theoretically and with smaller programming tasks. Furthermore, the students independently work on a project in small groups. In such a project, a separate solution for a data science task is developed, implemented and evaluated. Above all, the project serves to deepen important foundations for later professional practice. The topics for these projects usually come from the research topics of the various research groups that are significantly involved in the Data Science degree program. The elective area creates a free space for students in which they can put together their own study contents according to their inclination or desired career orientation. Both a deepening and a supplement of the content relevant for data science is possible here.
Differentiation from other courses of study in the department
The focus of this degree program is on computer science education with an additional focus on data science in its entire breadth (from an IT point of view). To enable this, fundamentals in the areas of modeling, data integration, statistics, analysis methods, information visualization and data security as well as in machine language processing are mandatory. This focus on data-driven processes is not taught in this depth in neither of the related courses of study (Bachelor Computer Science, Software Engineering and Media Informatics). Thus, this focus represents an essential unique selling point.
Studienberatung Data Science
Katrin Schneider
Dr.Program Manager, Department Manager & Erasmus Coordinator of the Computer Science Department