A new Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics has been approved for Kennesaw State University. The undergraduate degree rounds out a full suite of degree opportunities in the discipline, joining the University’s existing master’s and doctoral degree programs.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the degree at its meeting on April 19, and the program will welcome its first group of students in August 2023.

“We are extremely grateful to our president and provost for supporting a key degree that will have transformative impact on student success and workforce development,” said Sumanth Yenduri, dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering.

This new bachelor’s degree will give Kennesaw State unique educational opportunities.

“This is going to make us fully stacked in data science,” said Sherrill Hayes, the director of the School of Data Science and Analytics. “Kennesaw State can offer students a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctorate in data science. I don’t know any other university in the country that is fully stacked in data science, so that makes us proud and excited for the students we will serve.” 

Jobs in data science are among the most in demand in the U.S., according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, with 13,500 new positions forecast per year through 2031 – a growth rate of 36 percent. The median annual salary for data scientists was $100,910 in 2021, the latest year for which statistics were available.

Data science and analytics has become increasingly important in a wide range of sectors, including government, logistics, finance, healthcare, technology, retail, manufacturing and more. Data scientists analyze large sets of data to spot trends and gather other useful information to help organizational leaders make better decisions.

In outlining the need for an undergraduate degree in data science, Kennesaw State leaders cited a rising need for data scientists in metro Atlanta, northwest Georgia, and the state. The degree proposal cited an Atlanta Regional Commission opinion that data analysis will be key in addressing important issues, such as increasing the supply of quality housing, increasing civic engagement, and understanding educational performance and outcomes in the metro area.

Graduates of Kennesaw State’s master’s degree program have seen a 99% placement rate in data science jobs within six months of graduation. KSU began offering a doctorate in data science and analytics in 2015.