Major overview
This course is one of 13 majors offered in the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) degree.
Every industry is using the increasing availability of large volumes of data to improve their efficiency. Data scientists harness the power of data to drive innovation – from predicting weather patterns and optimising harvesting in agriculture, to improving patient diagnosis and treatment in healthcare, to enhancing the management of remote infrastructure in mining.
Data science is a multidisciplinary field involving computing, statistics, internet technologies and media technologies.
In this major, you’ll gain multidisciplinary, data science skillsets involving computing, statistics, and media and emerging internet technologies.
It's designed for high-performing students to pursue their interest in data science through an additional focus on research, leadership and entrepreneurship.
The flexible approach to studying data science enables you to explore the field through for-credit immersive research experiences, industry placement and/or interdisciplinary team-based projects.
How to study this major
A major is a set of eight or more units you complete as part of a degree, including at least two in your final year. To study this major, you’ll need to apply for one of the degrees listed below.
Career outcomes
Careers
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- Data engineer
- Financial analyst
- Business intelligence analyst
- Bioinformatician
Industries
- Technology
- Business
- Resources and energy
- Agriculture and environment
- Economics, banking and finance
- Transport and supply-chain logistics
- Geographic information science
- Defence
- Health and medical
- Media and communication
- Sport and recreation
- Arts
Major structure
What you’ll learn
In this course, you'll gain practical experience programming in both R and Python and exposure to data science professionals.
Foundational studies in programming and statistics will form the basis of higher-level studies in data mining, data security and computer simulation.
You will develop your capacity to extract, analyse and visualise large volumes of data and communicate analytical outcomes to various audiences.
In the second and third years of your course, you can undertake for-credit internships and immersive work experiences.
And in your final-year capstone experience, you'll have the opportunity to pursue data science projects based from pure research through to translational (entrepreneurial) science.
How this course will make you industry ready
This course has been developed in collaboration with industry. Data science is a dynamic field and the course is reviewed regularly by external advisors to ensure students' skills and knowledge content are current and industry-relevant.
You'll have opportunities to undertake internal and external internships and immersive work experience, which can be used for course credit.
Detailed course structure and unit information
For detailed information and course structure, visit our Handbook.
How to apply
This major is part of a degree. To apply, choose the degree you want to study and review its entry requirements. Then, prepare any required documents and submit your application before the deadline for your chosen intake.
After you receive and accept your offer, you can enrol in this specialisation either at the start of your degree or later in your studies, depending on your course structure.
Choose your degree
To study this major, you'll need to apply one of the degrees listed below.Explore more
Find more resources to help you take the next step in your Curtin journey.