Domains
Applied data analysis majors choose a domain, or an area of concentration, as part of their degree requirements. Each domain comes with a sequence of curated courses designed to help you develop specialized skills in a professional area of interest.
Domain Sequence Options
Majors must select one of the following domain sequences. In addition to completing course work, you will also conduct a final research project where you apply core data science skills to a practical problem related to your domain area.
American Political Representation
Faculty Advisor: Jason Byers, Department of Political Science
Political representation is at the core of democratic governance. It includes the multifaceted interests, incentives, opinions, and relationships among the public, politicians, and campaigns central to elections and policies. In the United States, it is also structured by the layered and complicated institutions of the federal, state, and local governments.
The study of American political representation necessitates extensive theoretical and contextual skills. Contemporary American politics students also need empirical training. Understanding hypothesis development, research design, data collection, coding, analysis, and presentation is essential to understanding and contributing to knowledge about American politics. This domain within the BA in Applied Data Analysis provides the insights and skills necessary for students to address some of the most important questions confronting the United States.
Required Courses
- Domain: select three courses from POLS 2607, 3612, 3617, 3618, 3625.
- Capstone: DSDA 4815.
- W course: POLS 3608W.
Earth Data Science
Faculty Advisor: Ran Feng, Department of Earth Sciences
Earth data science is a field that uses data science techniques to study Earth processes and solve environmental issues. From finding subsurface structures to imaging the atmosphere, Earth data scientists have transformed how we investigate the Earth system, find resources, and identify natural hazards.
The Earth science domain within the BA in Applied Data Analysis offers a series of courses in data analytics, geophysics, climate change, and environmental geochemistry. The domain is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to solve today’s environmental challenges.
Required Courses
- Domain: select three courses from ERTH 2800, 3020, 3710, 4230, 4810.
- Capstone: ERTH 4150.
- W course: ERTH 2050W.
Population Dynamics
Faculty Advisor: Jeremy Pais, Department of Sociology
The population dynamics domain examines society through demographic processes. The curriculum provides an overview of the theory, data, and methods used by demographers and other population scientists—like sociologists, public health researchers, labor economists, environmentalists, epidemiologists, and social geographers—to understand how population change through fertility, mortality, and migration impacts our societies. Knowledge of ongoing population dynamics is critical to promoting healthy social institutions that shape everyday living, from doctor’s appointments, consumer products, and classroom experiences to dating and even your vacations or a peaceful walk in the woods.
The coursework for this domain will introduce students to the diversity of data sources used by population scientists and the modern methods used to analyze these data. Data exposure will cover a gambit from traditional sources like Census data and nationally representative longitudinal surveys to more modern applications of administrative data, network data, spatially referenced data, and computationally intensive unstructured data from social media platforms.
Required Courses
- Domain: select three courses from SOCI 2110(W), 2651(W), 2660(W), 2820(W), 2901(W), 3971(W).
- Capstone: DSDA 4815.
- W course: select one of the W versions in the domain list.
Public Management and Policy
Faculty Advisor: Mohamad Alkadry, School of Public Policy
Data analysis is a central competency for public policy and public management professionals. Almost 25% of Connecticut jobs are in the public sector (state agencies and city or town municipalities) and nonprofit organizations. Understanding these fields will make students more qualified for these positions.
Coursework in this domain covers everything from a tour of the fields of public policy and administration to introducing students to the disparity of outcomes of public policy and its implementation, to the essential but complex world of public budgeting and finance, to focusing on specific policy issues facing society, and more.
Required Courses
- Domain: select three courses from PP 3032, 3033, 3098, 4031, 4034.
- Capstone: DSDA 4815.
- W course: PP 3020W.
Survey Research Methods
Faculty Advisor: Mohamad Alkadry, School of Public Policy
The survey research industry relies heavily on data analysis competencies. Students who take courses in this domain will learn essential survey research skills such as methodology, survey design and questionnaire construction, sampling, implementation, and reporting.
Students pursuing this domain will also be exposed to additional aspects of the survey research industry, such as government and nonprofit issues, allowing them to expand their career horizons beyond the private sector.
Required Courses
- Domain: PP 2100, 3030, 3098.
- Capstone: DSDA 4815.
- W course: PP 3020W.