Undergraduate Major in Social Data Science

Welcome to the B.S. in Social Data Science!

The modernization of data and data analysis techniques has reached all aspects of how we conduct research, understand the world, and even interact with each other. The social sciences are no exception to this. The development of data science techniques and the increase in availability of a wide variety of data sources means that the way we analyze and examine the world is vastly different from just a few decades ago. This in turn means that many of the biggest challenges within fields such as Economics, Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science require a deep understanding of data science to go along with a strong foundation within the social science discipline. The Social Data Science (SDSC) major is aimed at providing students with all of the tools to engage within this new and exciting landscape.

The field of Social Data Science is inherently interdisciplinary, and the major reflects this by combining the expertise of faculty and staff from two colleges at University of Maryland: the College of Behavioral & Social Science and the College of Information Studies. SDSC students will become experts in applying data science within African-American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Geographical Sciences and GIS, Government and Politics and International Relations, Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health. The SDSC major enables us to blend cross-campus strengths to help you learn the technical skills you need to succeed in applied data contexts. I hope you'll join us!

Brian Kim, Ph.D.

Associate Research Professor

Director, Social Data Science major