2025-2026 Catalog

Data Science Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree

Program Goal(s):

1.    To design, implement, and evaluate a data-driven solution to meet a given set of stakeholder requirements in the context of the program’s discipline involving the collection, representation, manipulation, storage, governance, security, modeling (descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive), and data visualization.

2.    To design, implement, and evaluate a data-driven solution to meet a given set of stakeholder requirements in the context of the program’s discipline involving the collection, representation, manipulation, storage, governance, security, modeling (descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive), and visualization of data.

3.    To communicate effectively (in written, verbal, technical, visual, and non-technical forms) in various professional contexts and assist decision-makers with interpreting.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

PLO 1. Develop relevant programming abilities. 
PLO 2. Demonstrate proficiency with statistical analysis of data. 
PLO 3. Develop the ability to build and assess data-based models. 
PLO 4. Execute statistical analyses with professional statistical software. 
PLO 5. Demonstrate skills in data management. 
PLO 6. Apply data science concepts and methods to solve problems in real-world contexts and communicate these solutions effectively. 

Transfer Options

  • University of Arkansas Fayetteville
    • BS Data Science

Program Description

This degree will prepare data science graduates to identify, clean, transform, model and present data in order to identify useful relationships, inform conclusions, and support decision-making.

This program focuses on identifying, cleaning, transforming, modeling, and presenting data in order to identify useful relationships, inform conclusions, and support decision-making.

Data scientists look for meaning within data to support decision-making. Coursework typically includes programming, math, statistics, data visualization, and business analytics and data scientists use tools such as R, Python, SAS, Tableau, MS Power BI, and AWS/AZURE/Google Cloud. Data science shares tools and skills with computer scientists, statisticians, and computer engineers, but is typically considered a separate inter-disciplinary field in which the data scientist uses a variety of tools to identify, clean, transform, analyze, and model data to identify relationships, draw conclusions, and inform decision-making. 

The proposed degree plan was developed in collaboration with the University of Arkansas to enable transfer into the University’s new B.S. in Data Science

General Information

  • Developmental coursework may be required in addition to the courses required for this degree and/or certificate(s).
  • A [P] indicates that a prerequisite is required before the course can be taken. Refer to the prerequisites table listed below the degree plan or the course description in the College Catalog to determine the prerequisite.

General Requirements

  • This degree requires successful completion of 62 credit hours.
  • All degree-seeking students are required to take Rocket Awareness Orientation.
  • A minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average is required for graduation.
  • Satisfaction of all financial obligations due to the college is required for graduation.

Residency Requirement

The student is required to complete a minimum of 15 semester hours in residence at SAU Tech for associate degrees and technical certificates and half of the credit hours required for certificates of proficiency as well as complete all other graduation requirements.  Students who wish to pursue additional degrees must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of difference between the degrees.

ACTS Course Numbers

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and equitable treatment in the application of credits for admissions and degree requirements.

Degree Plan

Semester I (16 hours)

CPSC 1004Programming I

4

DASC 1003Introduction to Data Science

3

ENGL 1113Composition I

3

Choose three (3) hours from below:

HIST 2013U.S. History I

3

HIST 2023U.S. History II

3

PSCI 2003American Government National

3

Choose three (3) hours from below:

ECON 2103Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECON 2203Principles of Macroeconomics

3

GEOG 2003Introduction to Geography

3

HIST 1003World History I

3

HIST 1013World History II

3

HIST 2013U.S. History I

3

HIST 2023U.S. History II

3

HIST 2083History of Arkansas

3

PSCI 2003American Government National

3

PSYC 2003General Psychology

3

PSYC 2033Abnormal Psychology

3

PSYC 2103Developmental Psychology

3

SOC 2003Introduction to Sociology

3

SOC 2013Social Problems

3

Semester II (15 hours)

CPSC 1014Programming II

4

DASC 1223Intermediate Data Science

3

ENGL 1123Composition II

3

MATH 1525Calculus I

5

Semester III (15 hours)

BIOL 1004The Biological Science

4

DASC 2113Principles and Techniques of Data Science

3

DASC 2214Data Visualization and Communications

3

MATH 2015Calculus II

5

Semester IV (16 hours)

CHEM 1114General Chemistry I

4

DASC 2203Database Management Systems

3

DASC 2133Data Privacy and Ethics

3

Choose six (6) hours from below:

ART 2013Art Appreciation

3

ECON 2103Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECON 2203Principles of Macroeconomics

3

GEOG 2003Introduction to Geography

3

HIST 1003World History I

3

HIST 1013World History II

3

HIST 2013U.S. History I

3

HIST 2023U.S. History II

3

HIST 2083History of Arkansas

3

MUS 2013Music Appreciation

3

PSCI 2003American Government National

3

PSYC 2003General Psychology

3

PSYC 2033Abnormal Psychology

3

PSYC 2103Developmental Psychology

3

SOC 2003Introduction to Sociology

3

SOC 2013Social Problems

3

SPCH 1113Principles of Speech

3

Total Credit Hours: 62