About the School of Data Science and Analytics

Sherry Ni

Welcome to the School of Data Science and Analytics at Kennesaw State! The School of Data Science and Analytics (SDSA) is a “one-stop shop” for education and research. We achieve this by offering a “full-stack” of academic programs including general education courses, an undergraduate major and minor, online certificates, a masters degree, and the first PhD in Data Science and Analytics in the US.

Please feel free to reach out to me or any of our faculty and staff with questions about the School, research, teaching, or opportunities to learn and partner with us.

Best regards,
Sherry Ni, PhD
Director, School of Data Science and Analytics
and Professor of Data Science and Statistics

 

Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

  • Program Educational Objectives

    Our graduates are expected to attain the following objectives within a few years of graduation:

    • Graduates will succeed in the field of Data Science and Analytics, demonstrating high-quality analytical knowledge and skill sets. 
    • Graduates will consistently demonstrate professional integrity and ethical principles in their careers.
    • Graduates will stay current with emerging data science technologies and tools, continuously adapting to advancements in the field to drive innovation and efficiency in their work.
    • Graduates will contribute positively to their community and society, applying data science knowledge for societal benefit. 

    Student Outcomes

    Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

    • Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
    • Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
    • Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts. 
    • Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles. 
    • Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
    • Apply theory, techniques, and tools throughout the data science lifecycle and employ the resulting knowledge to satisfy stakeholders’ needs.  

  • Student Outcomes

    Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

    • Effectively investigate large, raw data sets using statistical software to develop previously unknown insights from various sources.
    • Apply foundational and advanced analytical methods and techniques to prepare, analyze, visualize, model, and interpret data for a variety of data science tasks and objectives.
    • Effectively interpret and communicate analysis methods and findings to audiences in an oral, visual, and/or written format as appropriate.
  • Student Outcomes

 

The School of Data Science and Analytics Vision & Mission Statement

Vision Statement

The School of Data Science and Analytics prepares the next generation of practitioners and researchers for a data-centric world by bringing together interdisciplinary faculty from across Kennesaw State University with collaborative partners in the public and private sectors. 

Mission Statement

We integrate research into practical, relevant solutions to address business and societal challenges. Through our educational programs, we address the analytical and data-centric needs of a modern workforce. We serve the university and the broader community in the translation of data into information to support and improve decision making. 

Our Guiding Ethical Principles

PRINCIPLE OF RESPONSIBLE DATA COLLECTION AND SOURCING
Data Scientists have a responsibility to understand how data was collected, ensure the data has been sourced legally and ethically, confirm that use of the data is consistent with how it was intended to be used, and verify that no group(s) of people are intentionally statistically mis/under-represented.

PRINCIPLE OF PROTECTION
Data Scientists have a responsibility to protect and defend integrity of the data entrusted to them. 

PRINCIPLE OF TRANSPARENCY and REPRODUCIBILITY
Data Scientists have a responsibility to ensure that the transformation of data into products (e.g., algorithms) is as transparent as possible. The process should be well-documented, explainable, and reproducible.  

PRINCIPLE OF FORESIGHT
Data Scientists have a responsibility to provide evidence that any products they have developed do not exhibit bias or potential harm against any demographic subgroups such as race, gender or ethnicity or subgroups defined by genetic markers or socio-economic status.

PRINCIPLE OF COMPETENCE
While Data Scientists come from multiple educational backgrounds, all individuals engaged in the practice of transforming data into analytical products should accurately represent their qualifications, the limits of their expertise and commit to continued education.

The History of Data Science and Analytics at Kennesaw State University

The School of Data Science and Analytics is the culmination of 15 years of innovative applied research, and career-focused instruction from an interdisciplinary faculty dedicated to educating the next generation of analytics and data science professionals and thought leaders.

The Beginning…
The story of the School of Data Science and Analytics at Kennesaw State University begins in the Department of Mathematics in 2004-2005.  At that time, a small group of faculty had all come to the Department of Mathematics after having worked at companies including AT&T Bell Labs, Children’s Healthcare of Cincinnati, LexisNexis, MasterCard, VISA EU, Accenture, and Ford.  Independently, each of those faculty members was bringing their practical work experiences using data to solve problems into the classroom.  As those faculty started meeting informally, they recognized that they shared a vision – they recognized the importance of teaching students using real data and translating data into information to solve problems.  This group of faculty members held PhDs in Psychometrics, Physics, Engineering, Operations Research, Decision Sciences and Epidemiology.  We would frequently joke that within the Department of Mathematics we were the “octopi in the fish tank”.  We officially made Lewis VanBrackle – our most senior faculty member – our unofficial leader.

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