Familiarize yourself with the DS course catalog requirements and core competencies
look at specific courses of interest, in which department they're taught
notice a portfolio is required
notice you can double count up to 9 credits toward the DS minor and another major or minor
Identify a DS minor advisor
look over the DS Core and Affiliate Faculty, is there someone you know, look for a faculty member that fits your interests, how would you like to apply your data science skills
reach out to this person and request a one-on-one meeting to discuss the possibility of them serving as your DS advisor. If they agree, then determine if there are courses you've already taken that count toward the DS minor and discuss what courses would be best to take next
once a DS faculty members as agreed to be your advisor, then move forward to completing the declaration form
on paper, complete all sections except the advisor and program head signatures
in person, bring the declaration form to your DS advisor to sign
after getting your DS advisor signature, bring the completed declaration form to the program head (Dr. Johnson, johnsondr@wlu.edu) for a final signature
bring the fully signed form to the Registrar's office
Navigating the Data Science Minor
How do I decide which courses to take?
The DS minor is designed to complement your major. So, look for courses that allow you to ask and answer novel questions in your major. How can you increase the depth of your knowledge in the major? How can you connect to other disciplines using DS courses? These are questions you should ask while selecting your DS courses.
Also look for courses that count toward your major and the DS minor as those often complement one another and provide more flexibility as you move through the minor
When should I take a particular course?
First or second year, start with a Foundation course, an Elective, or a programming course
Second or third year, take a Statistics course and/or an Elective
Third year, take a Statistics and/or an Elective
Fourth year, take a DS 401 portfolio course. You should reach out and set up a one-on-one conversation with a faculty member (often Core or Affiliate DS, but does not have to be) and discuss the possibility of them serving as your portfolio advisor. This can be someone different than your DS advisor. You should think about how this portfolio will help your career post W&L and which faculty member can help most with that endeavor. Once you find a portfolio advisor, either ask for instructor consent for an existing section of DS 401 or ask them to create a new one.
How do I get into a DS course?
Before registration begins, email the instructor of a DS course and first explain why you are so interested in their course and how it helps you in your DS minor. Then, let them know you are a declared DS minor (or strongly considering it), so that you have a better chance of moving up the waitlist if the course fills. Remember that it is typical that majors in a department will get first priority, followed by declared minors, followed by interested minors, etc.
