Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences (Data Science Major)

Advances in big data analytics are already driving businesses and organisations towards increasing levels of automated decision-making through sophisticated machine learning software. As a graduate of this major you’ll have skills in computing, machine learning and statistical modelling, and will be ready to design and implement data-driven solutions for a range of problems. 

Study data science and develop the skills for a career as data analyst, data scientist or data engineer; careers that are in high demand all over the world.

Key features

• Data science skills are in high demand worldwide
• Create data-driven solutions for a range of problems
• Includes a major research project for an industry organisation
• Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree

What you study

• The Data Science major focuses on managing and preparing data, extracting knowledge from data for the purposes of modelling and prediction, and techniques for pipelining, presenting and visualising data.

Year 1

• You’ll study six core courses that cover foundational computing knowledge, as well as a course on data analytics, covering basic data analysis techniques and the computing tools to apply such techniques.

You study the following courses:
Core courses

• COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques
• COMP501 Computing Technology in Society
• COMP507 IT Project Management
• COMP508 Database System Design
• DIGD507 Mahitahi/Collaborative Practices
• MATH503 Mathematics for Computing

Data science course

• COMP517 Data Analysis

You also take the first course for your second major, minor or elective courses.

Year 2

• Courses you study this year include data science, forecasting, structures and algorithms.

You study the following courses:
Data science courses

• COMP615 Foundations of Data Science
• COMP616 Statistics for Data Science
• STAT603 Forecasting

One of:

• COMP610 Data Structures and Algorithms
• COMP613 Combinatorics and Graph Theory

You also continue to take courses for your chosen second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 3

• Courses this year are related to nature inspired computing, AI, data mining and knowledge engineering.

You study the following courses:
Data science courses

• COMP717 Artificial Intelligence
• COMP723 Data Mining and Knowledge Engineering

One of:

• COMP700 Text and Vision
• COMP701 Nature Inspired Computing

You also take the final courses for your chosen second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

Workplace experience as part of the Data Science major

• The Research and Development Project course in your final year brings together the skills you’ve developed throughout your degree. You apply what you’ve learnt throughout your studies in a project for an industry client or research centre, under the guidance of an experienced supervisor.

Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?

• Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.

Ready to enrol in your courses?

• Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.

Career opportunities

• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Data engineer