Organisations are increasingly making use of large volumes of digital data, from personal medical histories, to socio-economic statistics, to internet trends. Data science is one of the newest professions to come from this demand for effective storage, maintenance, and use of ‘big data’.
Data Science combines mathematics, statistics, computing, technology innovation, and practical results. You will study at the forefront of modern practices and issues in the digital world, including ethics and security of data, strategy development, and statistical programming.
With such a wide range of industry applications and career opportunities, Data Science has been identified as one of the most essential and employable skills of the 21st century.
Qualifications
- Certificate in Science
- Bachelor of Science
Why study Data Science at UC?
- Aotearoa New Zealand is ranked as the #1 country for starting a business (World Bank Group Doing Business 2020 Report), and Ōtautahi Christchurch is home to a number of computing technology and innovation industries, with many start-up companies searching for skilled graduates from UC.
- A number of research centres at UC utilise data science, including Toi Hangarau | Geospatial Research Institute, Hangarau Tangata, Tangata Hangarau | HIT Lab NZ, Wireless Research Centre, Te Kāhui Roro Reo | NZ Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour, and Te Pokapū Aronui ā-Matihiko | UC Arts Digital Lab.
Courses
UC offers a major in Data Science as part of the Bachelor of Science.
Data Science major
Students complete these courses throughout their degree for the Data Science major:
100-level
- COSC 121 Introduction to Computer Programming or COSC 131 Introduction to Programming for Engineers (available in 2021)
- COSC 122 Introduction to Computer Science
- MATH 102 Mathematics 1A
- MATH 120 Discrete Mathematics
- STAT 101 Statistics 1
200-level
- COSC 262 Algorithms
- COSC 265 Relational Database Systems
- DATA 201 Data Wrangling
- DATA 203 Data Science Multivariable Methods
- One course from STAT 211–299
300-level
- COSC 367 Artificial Intelligence
- DATA 301 Big Data Computing and Systems
- MATH 303 Applied Matrix Algebra
- STAT 315 Multivariate Statistical Methods
- STAT 318 Data Mining
With approval, students doing a double major with Data Science and another related subject may instead complete DATA 301 and three of the required 300-level courses.
Contact us
Te Kura Pāngarau | School of Mathematics and Statistics
Phone +64 3 369 2233
Email [email protected]
Location
See the School’s website for up-to-date location details.
Postal address
College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand