Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impact (DAISI) is designed to produce decision-makers who can collect, analyze, and use data to generate insight that increases social impact. It is a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and customizable program that will equip UM graduates with the technical capabilities of data intelligence and analytics, critical thinking skills, and a strong theoretical foundation in education and social sciences such as sociology, psychology, geology, communication. As communities require solutions that address the complexities of the challenges they encounter, and organizations, especially non-profits, drive to be more impactful, this integrated approach will offer students the knowledge and skill sets to not only learn how to collect, measure, and report data, but more importantly, they will be able to contextualize the data, detect potential areas for bias, and derive insights that result in more responsible data-driven information and decision-making.
In a collaboration with various departments at UM, students will learn key analytic skills (i.e., data collection, data cleaning, data management, and data analysis) and tools (i.e., Excel, Tableau, R/SAS/Python programming, and machine learning) that are required for collecting, managing, and analyzing data and persuasively communicating insights that address real-world challenges. In addition to the required courses, students will have the flexibility to customize their studies with a selection of courses drawn from various disciplines. This integrated approach provides students with an opportunity to apply substantive knowledge and skills to a discipline based on their areas of interest and professional goals. The experience culminates in field experiences and practicums which allow students to collaborate with community partners, and critically apply theories, methodologies, and knowledge relevant for more responsible data-driven information and decision-making. This program is ideal for students, who would like to make a definitive, long-lasting social impact that is equally beneficial for all individuals and communities based on more representative and unbiased data as it is applied in various fields such as health services, education, and community development, and public affairs.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (21 courses) | ||
| Foundation: Core Courses (9 courses) | ||
| EPS 291 | Community and Character Development | 3 |
| EPS 361 | Community Psychology and Development | 3 |
| EPS 371 | Applied Social Research Methods | 3 |
| EPS 251 | Developing Data Wrangling Skills for Social, Behavioral, and Educational Data (Excel/Tableau (or equivalencies)) | 3 |
| EPS 351 | Introduction to Statistics and Research Design | 3 |
| CIM 203 | Intro to Creative Coding | 3 |
| CSC 115 | Python Programming for Everyone | 3 |
| JMM 331 | Introduction to Infographics and Data Visualization | 3 |
| COS 211 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Diversity (Choose minimum 1 course) | 3 | |
| Migration, Well Being, and Human Development | ||
| Creating Belonging Through Dialogue | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Disability and Society | ||
| Practicum (2 courses) | ||
| EPS 578 | Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum | 3 |
| EPS 579 | Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum Seminar | 3 |
| Advanced Courses (9 courses) | ||
| EPS 462 | Community Consultation and Leadership | 3 |
| EPS 401 | Advanced statistics: Using regression for predictive modeling | 3 |
| EPS 372 | Survey Methodology for the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Survey research) | 3 |
| EPS 402 | Statistical Programing in R and SAS | 3 |
| EPS 403 | Introduction to Machine Learning using Python | 3 |
| EPS 452 | Community Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| EPS 405 | Text Mining for the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Text/Sentiment Analysis) | 3 |
| GEG 310 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEG 305 | Spatial Data Analysis I | 3 |
| ELECTIVES (7 courses) Consultation with Academic Advisor | 21 | |
| SPECIAL ELECTIVES (Choose minimum 3 courses) Consultation with Academic Advisor | 9 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Written Communication Skills | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities Cognate (3 courses) | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate (3 courses) | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
** Every student majoring in Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impact will complete the Advanced Writing and Communication Requirement upon fulfillment of their major courses. These courses have a prerequisite requirement of WRS105 and WRS106/WRS107/ENG106 and will be identified as either writing intensive or as an oral/verbal communication proficiency course or both. Competency in both written and oral communication will also be assessed. Writing intensive courses require a minimum of 2500 written words; assignments will be assessed for analytical ability, synthesis of information, grammar, content, and style. Courses designated as oral/verbal proficiency classes will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their presentation skills using accurate, standard English structure and syntax, non-verbal cues and gestures, as well as audience-appropriate language. Courses in Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impact, which meet the Advanced Writing and Communication Requirements are EPS351, EPS401, and EPS579.
Students in EPS351 are required to demonstrate their competency in both written and oral communication skills by completing a research-intensive paper that summarizes 1) research problems, the population of interests, and the goals/objectives of the project; 2) a literature review of theoretical and empirical backgrounds relevant to the context and research design; and 3) detailed description of the research design, data collection, and data analysis plan. Students in EPS401 are required to demonstrate their competency in both written and oral communication skills by completing a research-intensive paper that (1) describes data collection and analysis procedures, (2) summarizes findings from the data both numerically and visually, and (3) provides the implication of their findings relevant to all potential stakeholders.
Students' research papers in those oral/verbal proficiency classes should be in a format for publication (must follow the style and formatting guidance [e.g., APA, MLA]). Also, peer-, self-, and faculty evaluations of the oral paper presentations will be used to assess students' verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Sample special electives 1 – Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impacts
EPS 311 Group Processes and Development: Fall & Spring
EPS 365 Psychological Study of Children, Families, and the Law, Fall
GSS 315 Gender, Race, and Class, Fall
SOC 487 Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice, Fall & Spring
BPH 305 Issues in Health Disparities Spring
MSC 220 Climate and Global Change Fall & Spring
CIM 563 Design with AI
GEG 410 Geographic Information Systems II
Sample special electives 2 – Data Intelligence and Analytics for Environmental Justice
ECS 113 Introduction to Environmental Policy, Fall & Spring
ECS 302 Perspectives on Environmental Decision Making, Fall & Spring
ECS 371 Readings in Ecosystem Science and Policy, Fall, Spring & Summer
ECS 204 Environmental Statistics, Fall & Spring
MSC 342 Decision Making and the Environment, Spring
MSC 220 Climate and Global Change, Fall & Spring
CIM 563 Design with AI
GEG 410 Geographic Information Systems II
Sample special electives 3 - Data Intelligence and Analytics for Public Health
GHS 201 Introduction to Global Health
SOC 321 Applied Health Policy
INS 201 Globalization and Change in World Politics
INS 572
GHS 330 Topics in Global Health Studies: Humanities
COS 324 Health Communication Fall & Spring
BPH 305 Issues in Health Disparities Spring
HCS 465 Public Health Statistics and Data Management, Fall
CIM 563 Design with AI
GEG 410 Geographic Information Systems II
Sample special electives 4 - Data Intelligence and Analytics for Criminal Justice
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology, Fall, Spring, & Summer
SOC 271 Criminal Justice, Fall, Spring, & Summer
SOC 371 Criminology, Fall & Spring
SOC 487 Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice Fall & Spring
GSS 315 Gender, Race, and Class, Fall
EPS 365 Psychological Study of Children, Families, and the Law, Fall
CIM 563 Design with AI
GEG 410 Geographic Information Systems II
Suggested Plan of Study
B.S. Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impacts
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II | 3 |
| EPS 291 | Community and Character Development | 3 |
| EPS 251 | Developing Data Wrangling Skills for Social, Behavioral, and Educational Data (Excel) | 3 |
| Arts & Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106, 107, or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or First-Year Writing II: STEM or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EPS 351 | Introduction to Statistics and Research Design | 3 |
| EPS 371 | Applied Social Research Methods | 3 |
| Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| Special Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| EPS 401 | Advanced statistics: Using regression for predictive modeling | 3 |
| CSC 115 | Python Programming for Everyone | 3 |
| Arts & Humanities Cognate/Elective | 3 | |
| People & Society Cognate or Elective | 3 | |
| DAISI Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CIM 203 | Intro to Creative Coding | 3 |
| EPS 402 | Statistical Programing in R and SAS | 3 |
| EPS 361 | Community Psychology and Development | 3 |
| COS 211 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| DAISI Elective 2 | 3 | |
or Special Elective 2 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEG 305 | Spatial Data Analysis I | 3 |
| EPS 462 | Community Consultation and Leadership | 3 |
| JMM 331 | Introduction to Infographics and Data Visualization | 3 |
| DAISI Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Arts & Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPS 372 | Survey Methodology for the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Survey research) | 3 |
| EPS 405 | Text Mining for the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Text/Sentiment) | 3 |
| EPS 452 | Community Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| DAISI Elective 4 or Special Elective 3 | 3 | |
| People & Society Cognate or Special Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| EPS 403 | Introduction to Machine Learning using Python | 3 |
| GEG 310 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| People & Society Cognate or Elective | 3 | |
| DAISI Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPS 578 | Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum | 3 |
| EPS 579 | Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum Seminar | 3 |
| DAISI Elective 6 | 3 | |
| DAISI Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Arts & Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program Mission
It is the mission of the Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impact (DAISI) program to generate socially responsible change agents, who are empowered with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to draw unbiassed and equitable data-driven information for policies and practices that promote social, cultural, economic, structural, political, and environmental justice. We strive to produce undergraduates who generate, collect, assess, and analyze trustworthy and reliable data, and can persuasively communicate data-driven insights that increase social impact. With a strong theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding and catalyzing social change; mastering analytic skills and tools required for data intelligence and data analytics in each stage of the data lifecycle, the training in visualization and communication, UM undergraduates will be able to critically assess and understand the deep-rooted complexities of real-world social challenges, systematically tackle the social, cultural, economic, and structural disparities, and contribute to increasing social impact.
Program Goals
The BS in Data Intelligence and Analytics for Social Impact (DAISI) will create an interdisciplinary and collaborative learning environment that teaches students how to critically apply theories, knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will draw data-driven decisions for unbiased, representative, inclusive, and equitable practices and policies based on trustworthy and reliable data and its use. The program promotes an understanding of the social, cultural, economic, political, and structural issues, the value of data-driven decision-making processes and community engagements, and the importance of social responsibility and active participation in civic life.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to recognize and analyze issues around social, cultural, economic, political, and structural biases and inequities.
- Students will be able to understand the application of theories, methodologies, and knowledge relevant to social change and their use in practice.
- Students will be able to combine multiple perspectives including social, computational, statistical, and
- Students will be able to understand the application of data analytic skills and apply tools required in each stage of the data lifecycle to handle real-life social challenges.
- Students will be able to critically evaluate tools and apply appropriate techniques to the solution of real-world complex problems, communicate findings, and effectively present results using data visualization techniques.
- Students will be able to recognize and analyze ethical dilemmas related to data collection, data security, integrity, and privacy and apply ethical practices and make well-reasoned ethical decisions.
- Students will be able to demonstrate the use of teamwork, collaboration, leadership skills, decision-making, and communication.
- Students will be able to engage in socially responsible and ethical decision-making processes based on trustworthy and reliable data for policies and practices.
- Students will be able to collaborate with community partners and stakeholders to identify and address social, cultural, economic, political, and structural biases and inequities in the field of student's interests and professional goals.
