Admission to the Data Science Major
All undergraduate students admitted to RU New-Brunswick are eligible to pursue either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.
Declaration of Major
To declare the major -for both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees- students must complete the two foundational courses outlined below (with a Grade of C or better) and decide on one of the five available tracks, and finally complete the forms according to their specific school.
- 01:198:142/01:960:142 Data 101: Data Literacy
- 01:960:291 Statistical Inference for Data Science (The 01:960:291. Statistical Inference for Data Science requirement has been expanded to include any of the following: 01:960:212 Statistics II, OR 01:960:384 Intermediate Statistical Analysis, OR 33:136:385 Statistical Methods in Business.)
For SAS Students
For the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) students, you can conveniently add the Data Science major to your academic plan using MyMajor.
For Other Rutgers-New Brunswick Students
For students in other schools, it is essential to complete the required forms corresponding to your school to include the Data Science major in your academic journey officially. Here are the links to the respective forms:
- School of Environmental and Biological Science (SEBS): Students must complete the SEBS form to request a non-SEBS second major https://sebs.wufoo.com/forms/declaration-for-2nd-nonsebs-major/
- School of Engineering (SOE): https://soe.rutgers.edu/academic-advising-and-policies/academic-policies/minors-second-majors-and-dual-degrees.
- Rutgers Business School (RBS): https://forms.office.com/r/90QXFCd1UB
Double Majors
- There are currently no Data Science restrictions on double majors.
- Computer Science Major (198/198S) and Data Science Major – any track (Computer Science track (219S)/ Economics track (219E)/Statistics track (219T)/Societal Impact track (219O) may be combined as a Double Major.
Major/Minor Restrictions
- Data Science-Statistics Track (219T) majors may not minor in Statistics (960).
- As of Nov. 15, 2023, Computer Science (198) Minor and Data Science Major – any track (Computer Science track (219S)/ Economics track (219E)/Statistics track (219T)/Societal Impact track (219O) may be combined as a Major/Minor combination.
- Computer Science Major (198/198S) may be combined with Data Science (219) Minor (any track) for a Major/Minor combination.
- Please visit https://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/major/list-of-majors-and-minors/major-minor-restrictions
Minor Fulfillment on Degree Navigator
Degree Navigator uses the course you completed to fulfill the first possible requirement it can. That doesn't mean that's where it remains! As you take more courses toward the track of your intention, Degree Navigator will re-assign courses to the appropriate requirement/s. Simply follow your Data Science minor course map.
Data Science Major Honors Criteria
- The Data Science UG program established the following criteria to honor the outstanding students in the DS Major.
Current or Cumulative GPA must be greater than 3.25 AND
if the DS Major GPA is greater than 3.6, then Honors,
if the DS Major GPA is greater than 3.75, then High Honors, and
if the DS Major GPA is greater than 3.9, then Highest Honors.
- GPA is rounded up if the 3rd decimal place is over 5.
Removing the Data Science Capstone Project 01:198:310 Requirement (as of April 1, 2025)
The SAS Curriculum Committee has approved a change to the Data Science Minor and Certificate, removing the capstone requirement. While this change is pending final approval by the SAS Faculty in May 2025, we recommend planning your schedule as if the change is already in effect.
Data Science Major Declaration Change (as of Feb. 26, 2025)
We are excited to announce an important update regarding the prerequisites for declaring the Data Science major! Effective immediately, students can declare the Data Science Major after the successful completion of Data101 and Statistical Inference courses only. The Data Management course is no longer required to declare the Data Science major, but it is still a requirement for the DS degree completion. We understand that the previous requirement may have posed challenges for some students, and we believe this update will encourage more students to pursue their academic goals without unnecessary barriers. We are committed to supporting your educational journey and ensuring you have the best opportunities to succeed.
BS in Data Science, Chemical Data Science Track
We're thrilled to introduce a new track within the BS in Data Science program! Beginning in Fall 2024, students will have the opportunity to pursue the Chemical Data Science track. This interdisciplinary program, housed within the Rutgers-New Brunswick (RU-NB) School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), is offered jointly by the Department of Computer Science (CS), the Department of Statistics (Stat), and the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB). The Chemical Data Science Bachelor of Science (BS) track is designed to equip students with expertise in chemical science, technical skills, critical thinking, and communication. It also covers essential areas such as computation, statistical inference, and data management. To learn more about the new track, please view the webpage and email us at if you have any questions.
Undergraduate Advisors
If you require further clarification or assistance, don't hesitate to contact us at .
- For Computer Science Courses (01:198:xxxx): Computer Science advisors
- For Statistics Courses (01:960:xxxx): Statistics advisors
- For Economics Courses (01:220:xxxx):
International Students
Rutgers Global International Student and Scholar Services recommends that international students reach out to Mohini Mukherjee, Executive Director of International Student Services, at , or Maya Sarno, Associate Director of International Student Advising and Support, at for any inquiries.
The Data Science Field
To explore the Data Science career pathway, internships, job opportunities, and other relevant topics, please visit the Home webpage and click 'Read More".
We are all here to guide and support you on your academic journey!
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Online data workshops, for those wishing to learn a new skill or brush up on coding. Workshops include Python, R, SQL, and more. Please see the schedule at https://libcal.rutgers.edu/calendar/nblworkshops and follow the links to register.
Additional Quick links
- Data Science Major B.A. and B.S. Flyer
- Data Science Minor and Certificate Flyer
- Sneak peek at the gateway course, Data 101, Department of Computer Science
- Change of Major or Minor
- Academic Calendar
- Special Permission Numbers (Computer Science courses)
- Special Permission Numbers (School of Communication & Information): Please contact
- SAS Academic Advising
- SAS Core Curriculum
- Career Exploration and Success
- SEED2S (Student Excellence, Experiential learning, and Development in Data Science)
