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Data Science Minor Approved Electives

Selecting an approved elective for your Data Science Minor

The Minor in Data Science requires one approved elective course relevant to the minor. While there are many courses that can be approved electives, the course options open to the individual student will depend on the student’s academic studies and majors/minors/certificates programs.

Below is a list of pre-approved elective options for the minor, but there are many courses taught at Northwestern that are not on the pre-approved list that might be acceptable as an elective. The process for requesting approval for an elective course not on the pre-approved list is also detailed below.

Ideally, the course you select will not only enrich your study of Data Science but also support your future goals and applications of your studies.

Once you have taken your approved elective course for the Data Science minor it is important to report it using the Elective Completion/Changes instructions to ensure your elective is properly associated with your data science minor degree.

Criteria to keep in mind when selecting your elective course

No Double Counting. The elective course for the minor cannot be double counted with another Weinberg major, minor, or certificate. It may not be used to meet a requirement of any other Weinberg program. See https://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/degree/double-counting-faq.html Note: Cross school double counting is generally okay with a few exceptions. If you have questions, please contact Undergraduate Program Assistant, Stephen DeCaluwe, at stephen.decaluwe@northwestern.edu

 

It must be an approved course. The course can be from the Pre-approved Elective Course List, it can be an approved elective from your Data Science Minor Approved Plan of Study, or you can submit a Data Science Minor Elective Approval Request form to receive department approval for a course not on the pre-approved list.

The course should be an advanced course that meets one or more of the following criteria:

The course can be an elective course offered in a subject you are majoring or minoring in. In fact, this is encouraged if an acceptable elective is offered by the department/program. However, please remember that you must complete all the course requirements for that major/minor PLUS all of the requirements for the Data Science minor with no double counting (see policy link above).

It must be a course you are eligible to take. Check the prerequisites for the course you want to take to be sure it is something you will be able to take. This is especially important if you will be submitting a request for a course not on the pre-approved list to be counted as your approved elective for the minor.

It can be a course you have already taken. Depending on your academic background, you may have already taken a course that meets the qualifications listed above.

We encourage you to look for advanced courses that you are eligible to take that will support your goals that have led you to choosing to complete the Data Science minor.

Requesting approval for a course not on the Pre-approved Elective course list

The Pre-approved Elective Course List for the minor in Data Science only includes courses that are regularly taught by departments. However, there are many courses offered at Northwestern such as topics or special courses that might serve as a good elective for the minor in Data Science that will not be included on this list.

If the course you hope to take as an approved elective for the Data Science minor is not on the Pre-approved Course List, you will need to request department approval for the course to be counted as your elective by completing a Data Science Minor Elective Approval Request form.

To request the Data Science Minor Elective Approval Request form, please contact Stephen DeCaluwe at stephen.decaluwe@northwestern.edu and he will send you the link to the form and instructions for completing it. Please note that the course you submit should meet the criteria for selecting an elective course outlined above.

After submitting the form, an advisor will evaluate and make a determination about the course you are requesting, then you will be notified of the advisor’s decision. If the course is approved to be your elective course, it will be recorded in your approved plan of study for the minor.

Submitting the Data Science Minor Elective Approval Request form prior to taking the course is suggested, but the form can also be submitted for a course you have already taken.

If you have any questions about whether a course you are proposing meets the required criteria for the elective, please contact Stephen DeCaluwe at stephen.decaluwe@northwestern.edu

Pre-approved Elective Course List for the Minor in Data Science

Below are the pre-approved elective courses for the Minor in Data Science listed by subject. This list includes courses that are regularly taught by departments/programs only.

When selecting a course, please be aware that some of the courses listed here might not be available to all students. You must have the pre-requisites for these courses to register for them and in some cases the course may only be open to students who have a major/minor in that subject. Being a Data Science minor does not exempt you from the pre/co-requisites set for these courses or give you any priority for registering for them.

Also, please keep in mind Weinberg Double Counting rules if you have Weinberg majors/minors in addition to the Data Science minor https://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/degree/double-counting-faq.html

If there are special considerations for majors/minors in a specific subject, it is noted with the list of courses for that subject.

List last updated: May 19, 2023

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