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SCHOOL OF NATURAL & APPLIED SCIENCES

PROGRAMMES

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - DATA SCIENCE

Period of study: 3 Years

Data science is a multi-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data.

It focuses on finding solutions to solving big data problems.

This degree has been designed to address a critical skills shortage in modern applications requiring large-scale data analysis. 

The Bachelor of Science in Data Science degree has a strong mathematics, statistics and computers science core. The degree is designed to develop highly skilled graduates in areas in which there are considerable shortages across the country. 

Data scientists are a new breed of analytical data experts with technical skills to solve complex problems and the curiosity to explore what problems need to be solved.

Graduates in possession of this degree are highly employable and eligible for postgraduate studies whether it be in the Honours, Masters or PhD programmes.

Data Science is a field in high demand in various industry sectors. Big global companies such as Amazon, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Uber and local corporations such as FNB, ABSA, Vodacom, MTN, Accenture, Telkom and Tracker require a skilled data scientists to drive insightful business decisions.  

These are benefits of studying and becoming a Data Scientist:

  • Data Science is an in-demand and the fastest growing occupation that is required by many industry companies. It is thus a highly employable job sector.
  • There are very few people who have the required skill set to become Data Scientists which makes it less saturated compared to other IT sectors.
  • It is one of the most highly paid jobs.
  • It is a versatile field and therefore provides you with the opportunity to work in various fields.

Students will complete the following subjects:

Year 1

Basic Computer Organisation and Architecture, Introduction to Statistics, Calculus, Introduction to Algorithms and Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Algebra, Data Science I, Introduction to Numerical methods and mathematical modelling, Probability Theory

Year 2

Operating Systems and Computer Networks, Data Science 2A: Data Analysis and Visualisation, Advanced calculus, Discrete Mathematics, Statistical Inference, Data Science 2B: Large scale Data analysis and visualisation, Applications and Analysis of Algorithms, Database Systems, Linear Algebra, Linear Programming 

Year 3

Data Security, Signal and Image processing, Multivariate Statistics, Formal language and automata, Machine Learning, Advanced algorithm analysis, Data Science III: Simulation and Modelling, Capstone Project

Minimum requirements

-English Home Language: NSC Level 4 OR English First Additional Language: NSC Level 5

– Mathematics: NSC Level 5

-APS: 30 Points

Less

Careers include data scientist, data architect, data analyst, business analyst, data/analytics manager, data engineer, intelligence analyst, data mining engineer, solutions architect and data manager.

You can download a comprehensive list of all our qualifications that will be offered in 2022 by clicking here.