Data Science

At the UO, Data Science students and faculty harness the power of data to unravel mysteries, predict trends and drive impactful change. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including high-performance computing clusters and extensive datasets, enabling them to explore and analyze real-world problems across diverse domains. Through collaboration with industry and academic partners, the Data Science Department fosters a vibrant and dynamic learning environment, preparing students for a successful career in data science.

10k+
JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN DATA SCIENCE NATIONWIDE
$100,910
AVERAGE STARTING SALARY FOR DATA SCIENCE JOBS
40,500

NEW DATA SCIENCE JOBS PROJECTED BY 2031

What you can do with a degree in Data Science

A mastery of big data prepares you for a next-generation career. Data scientists are essential players in nearly every industry, ranging from auto production to aerospace, healthcare and biotech, as well as investment banking, insurance, government, and even non-profit management.

At the University of Oregon, we train data scientists to be wholistic researchers, capable of crossing disciplines and breaking boundaries. Our data scientists consider not only what can we do with data – but what should we do.

With a UO degree in data science, you'll have a key to a career for years to come. In fact, search “data science” on Indeed and you’ll see more than 10,000 opportunities around the country. Glassdoor, a leader in workforce analysis, estimates the starting salaries for data science jobs between $81k-149k – for entry-level jobs.

For those looking for a master’s degree or a doctorate, the UO’s training in quantitative and computational skills makes graduates particularly attractive to an advanced degree program.

students working around a table in a classroom

The Data Science Major

The Data Science undergraduate program teaches computational, statistical, and inferential data science skills side-by-side with applied knowledge in one of eleven different areas:

Our unique interdisciplinary program teaches you how to extract knowledge and insight from data, empowering you to make decisions earlier, faster, better. When you graduate, your understanding of applied data science techniques, framed within the liberal arts, will help launch you directly into the workforce.

Once a Duck, Always a Duck

student posing in front of multiple screens displaying code

Lindsey Uribe '23

Data Science Major, Biology Domain, Mathematics Minor

Lindsey Uribe was interested in data science long before she knew it was a viable career option. She had always found working with numbers to be satisfying. But she also had an interest in biology. When she began looking for an academic program that might combine the two, she found a match with UO’s Data Science program. Lindsey graduated in Winter 2023 with a data science degree and a minor in mathematics. She then secured a full-time position as a data scientist with Dexcom, the company where she had interned.

Read Lindsey's Story

 

Faculty Spotlight

Rori Rohlfs

Rori Rohlfs

Associate Professor of Data Science

Rori Rohlfs, the first tenure-track faculty member in the new Department of Data Science, has built her reputation at the intersection of biology and computer science. She comes to UO with deep data science experience and a passion for its application to social justice.

"There's no avoiding social context when we’re doing science,” she says. "It’s clear in the questions we ask and our approaches to those questions, who we include on our scientific teams, what assumptions we make, and what assumptions we examine. How data science informs social justice is integral to this discussion.”

Read the story

Data Science News

February 5, 2024
COMPUTER SCIENCE, DATA SCIENCE - Whether to help conservation managers set hunting limits for mule deer, aid rangers in poaching prevention on African wildlife reserves, or inform public health officers about reducing the prevalence of diabetes in rural India—the tools of data science are increasingly being applied to fields where their utility has historically been less obvious.
December 20, 2023
EARTH SCIENCES, DATA SCIENCE - Clark Honors College senior and data science major Lynette Wotruba took up data science three years into her college career. Today, she’s working with the Department of Earth Sciences to make information about the dangers of tsunamis accessible to communities along the Oregon coast.
June 27, 2023
COMPUTER SCIENCE, DATA SCIENCE - Last year, Liza Richards was a member of the first cohort of University of Oregon students to graduate with a degree in data science. Not only that, but she was also the first person to graduate with a double major in data science and computer science.  

All Data Science News »