Aug 25, 2025

2025-2026 Franklin & Marshall College Catalog

Data Science Major

As more and more organizations begin to rely on data to inform their decision-making processes, the demand for skilled data scientists is only going to increase. The hallmark of the major is the multidisciplinary approach to solving complex problems allowing students to meaningfully participate in and contribute to decision making processes.

Data Science Program Faculty

Professor Iwan Praton, Co-Chair (Fall 2025)

Professor Aaron Howard, Co-Chair (Fall 2025), Chair (Spring 2026)

Members of the Data Science Program Committee

Bennett Helm
Elijah E. Kresge Professor of Philosophy

Christina Weaver
Carmie L. and Beatrice J. Creitz Professor of Mathematics

Jaime Blair
Professor of Biology

Iwan Praton
Professor of Mathematics

David Ciuk
Associate Professor of Government

Danel Draguljić
Associate Professor of Mathematics

Thomas Hull
Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics

Nick Kroll
Associate Professor of Philosophy

Ed Novak
Associate Professor of Computer Science

Ryan Trainor
Associate Professor of Physics

Justin Brody
Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Emily Jensen
Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Yi-ching Lee
Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Willie Wilson
Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Aaron Howard
Senior Teaching Professor of Biology

Additional faculty not on the program committee also contribute to this program.

Major Requirements:

A major in Data Science consists of 14 courses, possibly fewer depending on placement in mathematics or computer science.

Required Courses:

CPS 111 - Computer Science I Credits: 1
CPS 112 - Computer Science II Credits: 1
CPS 222 - Computer Science III Credits: 1
MAT 109 - Calculus I Credits: 1
MAT 110 - Calculus II Credits: 1
MAT 111 - Calculus III Credits: 1
MAT 115 - Introduction to Data Science Credits: 1
MAT 215 - Intro to Statistical Modeling Credits: 1
MAT 216 - Probability and Statistics I Credits: 1
MAT 229 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations Credits: 1
PHI 130 - Good Reasons Credits: 1

Elective Courses (3 total; two must be from Group 1, one from Group 2):

Group 1:

CPS 261 - Algorithms Credits: 1
CPS 360 - Introduction to Machine Learning Credits: 1
CPS 363 - Introduction to Bioinformatics Credits: 1
CPS 367 - Artificial Intelligence Credits: 1
CPS 372 - Information Theory
MAT 316 - Probability and Statistics II Credits: 1
MAT 317 - Intro to Statistical Learning Credits: 1
MAT 323 - Stochastic Processes Credits: 1
MAT 416 - Design and Analysis of Experiments Credits: 1

Group 2:

RST 270 - Why Religion Matters Today
RST 339 - Religion and the Brain Credits: 1
ECO 171 - Inequality, Power, and Justice
RST 373 - Artificial Intelligence & You
PHI 223 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 1
PHI 372 - Digital Knowledge
STS 311 - History of Medicine Credits: 1
FLM 332 - Documentary History and Practice Credits: 1
HIS 351 - China and the Global Environmental Crisis Credits: 1
SOC 210 - Class, Status & Power Credits: 1
SOC 330 - Sociology of Medicine Credits: 1
SOC 350 - Intersectional Approaches to the Sociology of Gender Credits: 1
SOC 360 - Race and Ethnic Relations Credits: 1
SOC 345 - Sociology of Sexuality Credits: 1
SOC 370 - COVID 19, Population, Health Inequality
GOV 372 - Global LGBTQ+ Human Rights
GOV 473 - Political Theory and Racial Injustice
GOV 477 - Global Environmental Health
GOV 350 - Science Gone Wrong: Fraud, Breaches of Integrity, and the Misuse of Statistics Credits: 1
GOV 352 - Global Justice Credits: 1
BOS 335 - Business and the Natural Environment Credits: 1
AMS 385 - Gender at Work Credits: 1
BIO 362 - Data Science in Ecology and the Environment Credits: 1

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Data Science Major

Data Science Program Faculty

Major Requirements:

Required Courses:

Elective Courses (3 total; two must be from Group 1, one from Group 2):

Group 1:

Group 2:

Admission & Aid

Academics

Student Life

About F&M

Success Beyond F&M

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Data Science Major

Data Science Program Faculty

Major Requirements:

Required Courses:

Elective Courses (3 total; two must be from Group 1, one from Group 2):

Group 1:

Group 2: