Graduate Certificate in Data Science Foundations
The graduate certificate program in Data Science Foundations teaches students the foundations of data science from a computing perspective. This degree is designed for students with a wide range of backgrounds who have no formal computer science education but have strong math and science skills.
Students who complete this certificate will be able to pursue professional careers in data science. They will be eligible to be considered for admission to the following MSc programs in data science: Applied Data Science, Communications Data Science, Spatial Data Science, Healthcare Data Science, Public Policy Data Science, and Environmental Data Science.
Students will first learn the basics of data science, including data processing, algorithms, parallel computing, statistical methods, and machine learning. They will also learn how to write basic data processing programs in Python. These introductory classes will prepare them to tackle the complexity of real-world problems to build scalable data systems. Through class projects and homework, students will create a portfolio of their work to demonstrate their skills to potential employers.
This graduate certificate is offered through the USC Viterbi Admissions & Student Engagement (VASE) office. Prospective students can refer to the VASE website for more information about the program.
Current students follow degree requirements in effect for the academic year they began their studies at USC. If you are a current student, please refer to your STARS report or the appropriate USC Catalogue for your year. Students seeking to advance their catalogue year to follow updated curricula may contact their department advisor.
