Data Science Mathematics Background

Data Science is a combination of disciplines: 1/2 programmer, 1/2 mathematician/statistician.

Distance Calculus - Lower Courses
General Mathematics Courses
Semester
Credit
Hours

Distance Calculus - Math Major Courses
Mathematics Major Courses
Semester
Credit
Hours

To start a study of Data Science, you need to make sure you math background is solid in the following courses:
There are no short-cuts in building up your creds as a mathematician for data science. There are TONS of free courses online (some of which are really excellent), but if you plan to formalize your student of Data Science with a degree or certificate, you will want to have all of the above courses on real, transferable Academic transcripts to prove you have completed these courses, with letter grades.

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are awesome, but they do not provide real academic course credit for their courses. If you plan to go for a B.A. or M.A. with a Data Science concentration, you will not be able to say "Oh, I took all my calculus courses from a MOOC" - you need these courses in your academic portfolio. We invite you to explore our Distance Calculus courses in more detail via the links above, or perhaps the movies below.

Data Science & Distance Calculus






Academic Credits from Distance Calculus



Data Science can best be described as a "a cross between a programmer and a mathematician/statistician".

This topic has many names, all being equivalent:
  • Data Science
  • Applied Statistics
  • Programmer+Mathematician
  • Big Data

If you wish to become a Data Scientist, you will need to develop both strong programming skills, and have a very strong mathematics background.

Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University can help prepare you for a study of Data Science - either for a degree in Data Science or perhaps a certificate - by helping you complete the core mathematics courses necessary for starting a Data Science degree or certificate.

There are no short-cuts you can do with going into Data Science. You just can't learn Python and then pretend you are a Data Scientist because you watch a few videos on running data sets through Python! You NEED a very strong mathematics background that includes ALL of the following courses:


Distance Calculus - Lower Courses
General Mathematics Courses
Semester
Credit
Hours

Distance Calculus - Math Major Courses
Mathematics Major Courses
Semester
Credit
Hours






Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

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Date Posted: Jul 22, 2021
Review by: Emma C.
Courses Completed: Linear Algebra
Review: This was a great course. Flexible and informative with a great professor. It's a great option if you need to fill a prerequisite fast or if you enjoy working at your own pace.
Transferred Credits to: University of Virginia





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Date Posted: Jul 22, 2021
Review by: Emma C.
Courses Completed: Linear Algebra
Review: This was a great course. Flexible and informative with a great professor. It's a great option if you need to fill a prerequisite fast or if you enjoy working at your own pace.
Transferred Credits to: University of Virginia





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Date Posted: Jan 19, 2020
Review by: William Williams
Student Email: wf.williamster@gmail.com
Courses Completed: Linear Algebra, Probability Theory
Review: I have difficulty learning calculus based math, akin to dyslexia when examining the symbolic forms, equations, definitions, and problems. Mathematica based calculus courses allowed me to continue with my studies because of the option of seeing the math expressed as a programming language for which I have no difficulty in interpreting visually and the immediate feedback of graphical representations of functions, equations, or data makes a huge impact on understanding. Mathematica based calculus courses should be the default method of teaching Calculus everywhere.
Transferred Credits to: Thomas Edison State College





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