DATA SCIENCE

Certificate of Achievement Computer Science · Cuesta College · 2026-2027 Catalog

The Data Science Certificate of Achievement provides students with a focused foundation in statistics, programming, and data analysis. This program is designed for individuals seeking to enhance their technical skills for immediate application in the workplace or to build a stepping-stone toward further study in data science and related fields. Students will gain practical experience working with datasets, applying statistical methods, and using modern programming tools to solve real-world problems. This certificate program emphasizes hands-on learning and career-relevant skills. Students will learn to clean, organize, and visualize data, apply statistical techniques, and develop basic predictive and classification models. Coursework integrates the use of widely used programming languages such as Python, R, and/or SQL, preparing students for entry-level roles in data analysis, business intelligence, or related areas. The program is well-suited for those looking to upskill for their current profession, prepare for entry into the data workforce, or lay the groundwork for further academic study in data science, computer science, statistics, or related fields.

Learning Outcome(s):

  1. Apply data preprocessing, exploratory data analysis, and statistical methods to clean, transform, visualize, and interpret data.
  2. Apply programming, mathematical foundations, and machine learning techniques to develop models, identify patterns, and generate predictions.
  3. Assess the limitations and ethical considerations of data science practices and communicate findings using industry-standard tools.
CourseTitleUnits
Required Courses (22 units)22
MATH 265ACALCULUS I5
MATH 265BCALCULUS II5
CS 231FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE I4
CS 232FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE II2
CS 233FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE III2
MATH 248FOUNDATIONS OF DATA SCIENCE4
Elective Courses (Select at least 8 units from the following)8-10
MATH 283CALCULUS III: MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS5
MATH 287ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA5
CS 201INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE3
CS 240MICROCOMPUTER ARCHITECTURE & PROGRAMMING3
CS 241DISCRETE STRUCTURES3
CS 217''C'' PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE3
CS 225CLOUD DATABASES2
ENGR 210COMPUTATIONAL METHODS FOR ENGINEERS3
PSYC 200RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES3
PHIL 213PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS IN ETHICS AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY3
STAT C1000INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS4
GEOL 230INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS3
One of the following4
CIS 210INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS4
orAGB 210INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURAL COMPUTER APPLICATIONS4
Total30-32

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