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Data Sciences for Political Science (BS)

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³§±Ê´¡â€™s BS in Data Sciences for Political Science program focuses on data sciences and public affairs as an aspect of a broad liberal arts education. With the explosive growth of large scale data sources in today’s technology-driven world, data science can provide unique insights for politics, business, and social good. Data sciences for political science prepares the student to use algorithms, statistics, and formal theory to extract knowledge from data and help predict, explain, or analyze political phenomena and behavior. Graduates of the Data Sciences for Political Science Program usually hold positions such as Data Scientist, Political Analyst, Counter-Intelligence Officer, Business Intelligence Officer, and Polling Analyst.

Read on to find out if this undergraduate major can help you work towards your career goals.

Admissions

New first-year and transfer students are admitted through the university's Admissions Office. For additional information regarding Â鶹´«Ã½'s undergraduate admissions requirements and application process, please visit american.edu/admissions.

Curriculum

Read our complete overview of course requirements and curriculum.

Sample Courses

Data presentation, display, and summary, averages, dispersion, simple linear regression, and correlation, probability, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, and tests of significance. Use of statistical software both to analyze real data and to demonstrate and explore concepts.

Methods include techniques for estimation and inference with qualitative and quantitative data focusing on simple linear and multiple regression, correlation, logistic regression, and analysis of variance.

Problem solving and algorithm development. Structured programming, basic data types, and canonical structures; arrays and subprograms; recursion. Social implications of computing. Elementary applications from business and science.

This course presents the main machine learning algorithms and evaluation methods developed to date in an intuitive way suitable for a non-specialized audience. It also introduces current research developments in the field and initiates students to the solving of applied programs in an innovative way, using existing machine learning tools.

Study of major philosophical concepts that shaped government in the United States combined with an analysis of contemporary political institutions and behavior, focusing on the Â鶹´«Ã½ governmental system.

Offers an introduction to Â鶹´«Ã½ public policy and written communication in political science. Students explore political power and public policy, and refine their written communication and information literacy skills. Through examination of the Â鶹´«Ã½ public policymaking system and prominent issues in Â鶹´«Ã½ public policy, as well as instruction on problem definition, issue analysis, and policy proposal, students come to understand how policy is made and how to participate effectively in the process.

An introduction to political science research, including the logic of analysis, research design, and the basics of quantitative analysis. Application of gathering data and of analytic and statistical techniques to contemporary political problems.

Study Abroad Opportunities

  • Students may study abroad between their second semester of sophomore year through their senior year.

  • It is strongly recommended that students complete the majority of their university requirements before studying abroad.

  • Some popular study abroad destinations are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, England, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland

  • The number of study abroad credits accepted into the major will vary. Students should work with their academic advisor to discuss individual programs.

Internship Opportunities

  • Students can earn up to 12 credits from internships toward their degree.
  • Students can apply a maximum of 6 credit hours to their major requirements.
  • Students must complete at least 30 credit hours at AU before registering an internship for credit.
  • Sample internships include: Brookings Institution, White House, Human Rights Campaign, Washington Monument, Center for Education Reform

Scholarly Research Opportunities

  • In Introduction to Political Research, students learn research design and methods of quantitative analysis used toward the empirical study of contemporary political problems.
  • Students will have opportunities to engage in scholarly research in advanced courses, to work with faculty members on research projects, and to present their original research at campus symposia or national conferences.
  • Publication opportunities for original student research papers abound, with multiple peer-reviewed journals published at Â鶹´«Ã½.

We Know Success

% of Graduates Participated in an Internship