Social Data Science Major (INFO)

Program Directors: Brian Kim, PhD and Katie Shilton, PhD

Creating information products that capture aspects of human behavior requires an increasingly complex set of skills and knowledge. This program combines the expertise of faculty members from the College of Information Studies (iSchool) and the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) to prepare students to effectively, ethically and efficiently create high quality information products, such as datasets, visualizations, and models, about human activity and behavior. This critical suite of knowledge and skills is essential in many domains, including government, healthcare, sustainability, economics, entertainment, human rights, equity, and others. Students take a set of core courses housed primarily in the iSchool and BSOS’s Joint Program in Survey Methodology (JPSM). They then select a track discipline, in which they train in relevant theory and methods, from among the following options: African-American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Government and Politics/International Relations, Geography/Geospatial Information Science, Psychology, Public Health, or Sociology.  

Restriction: Students are not permitted to double-major or double-degree with Social Data Science and the BSOS major associated with their track area. Students are permitted to double-major or double-degree with another BSOS major outside their Social Data Science track. Students in the Public Health track may double-major or double-degree with any School of Public Health major.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Design, execute, document, and disseminate research that applies tools and methods from data science to address a social science research question
2. Develop expertise in specific contemporary social science theories and data science approaches to tackling research questions related to these theories
3. Apply findings from social data science research to analyze the policy and design of socio-technical systems
4. Identify and analyze social, legal, and ethical and equity issues in social data science work and in the profession

Major course requirements consist of core courses and track area courses in one of the following tracks: African American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Geographical Sciences, Government & Politics, Psychology, Public Health, or Sociology.  Students are not permitted to double-major or double-degree with Social Data Science and the BSOS major associated with their track area. Students are permitted to double-major or double-degree with another BSOS major outside their Social Data Science track. Students in the Public Health track may double-major or double-degree with any School of Public Health major.  Both core courses and track courses include benchmark courses. Failure of a student to complete both sets of benchmark courses within the timeline indicated may result in probation and/or dismissal from the major. Benchmark I courses must be completed with a C- or higher within the first two semesters of the program. Benchmark II courses must be completed within the first three semesters of the program.

Social Data Sciences Requirements

African American Studies Track

Anthropology Track

Students in the Anthropology track choose one of three tracks: Health, Heritage, or Environment.

Economics Track

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The course taken for the Track I requirement may not also be used for the Track II requirement. No double-count for these two categories.

Geographical Sciences Track

Government and Politics Track

Psychology Track

Public Health Track

Sociology Track

Click here for roadmaps for four-year plans in the College of Information Studies.

Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:

• http://4yearplans.umd.edu
• the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog