Data science degree amplifies Weber State students' futures

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, Weber State University helps students stay ahead with the computational statistics & data science major, designed to give graduates the skills employers need the most. 

“AI isn’t our enemy,” said Jishan Ahmed, assistant professor of Data Science. “AI can write code more efficiently than most undergraduates and even many graduate students. ... So we teach students what they’ll actually be doing in their future careers, which is what sets us apart from other data science programs in the U.S."

Ahmed continues to explain that, "Students learn to use it as a tool while developing the problem-solving skills that employers value.” 

The major is designed to evolve alongside technology and prepare graduates for an ever-changing job market that may eventually look very different from what it does today. 

The CSDS program brings together statistics, computer science, and hands-on data analysis. Students are taught to turn complex datasets into comprehensible and actionable insights in order to help organizations make informed decisions that drive success. 

“Data science is for everybody,” Ahmed said. “It’s not just for people who are good at programming or mathematics. Here, everybody can — and should — learn data science skills.”

For Malia Childs, a CSDS graduate, the program has already proven beneficial. By applying her data skills at the Utah After-School Network, she’s able to help the nonprofit interpret data in ways useful to grant funding and daily operations. 

“You can use data to help in any field,” Childs said. “It’s such a broad career that can take you places you never imagined, helping so many different organizations.”

Regardless of end goals, graduates of Weber’s CSDS program are prepared for careers in data-driven industries as well as advanced studies in a variety of fields, including statistics, mathematics, computer science, and data science at the master’s level.