HONOLULU, HI (October 3, 2018)—A hot new major in data science, analytics and visualization is coming to Chaminade University in fall of 2019. Data science is dominating discussions on a daily basis—big data are saturating every sector of the economy and not enough people know how to analyze and communicate them. According to a recent LinkedIn article, data scientist is the fastest growing and one of the best-paid jobs in the U.S. The National Science Foundation, which funded Chaminade to start this program, identified ‘harnessing the data revolution” as one of its 10 big ideas for the future of U.S. science and technology.
“The world is drowning in data,” says Dr. Lynn Babington, president of Chaminade University. “We need more people who can convert data into meaning, into knowledge that will guide our decisions. This program supports Hawaii’s innovation economy and brings a much-needed skill set to our workforce.” She adds, “Why place this program at Chaminade? It’s because we link science with values—our new program places a strong emphasis on data integrity and ethics because that’s the kind of data scientist our world needs right now.”
This is the first data science major in the state. Students will partner directly with industry partners to gain real-world experience and build networks. They’ll work with businesses and organizations for a semester-long capstone project and engage in a variety of hands-on internships. Students will learn using new fully-equipped cyberinfrastructure created specifically for this new program, including a new data science center and virtual reality classrooms.
The new program was a direct response to industry and stakeholder requests. “Data analytics is critical,” says Robbie Melton, executive director and CEO of Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. “It is integral to our state and our economy. We’re excited Chaminade is offering this program because it keeps students current with the most advanced technologies. It also provides them with high paying jobs which is what we want for our young people.”
“Our students will get a tremendous grounding in the technical aspects of data science,” says Dr. Helen Turner, vice president of innovation and dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Chaminade University. “They will get the training to be great coders, communicators and visualization specialists.” Turner also noted the flexibility of the new major: “Students can specialize in tracks for healthcare analytics, business analytics, environmental analytics and analytics for the science and technology industries. With our four-year graduation guarantee, we will soon be serving every sector of the economy with our graduates.”
Applications to begin the new data science major in fall 2019 are open now. To learn more about the new data science, analytics and visualization major at Chaminade University, visit chaminade.edu.
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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.
