UWA Handbook 2025

Major Overview

Description

Strong computing and data analysis skills are becoming necessary in an ever-increasing number of disciplines and workplace contexts. This major focuses on data and scientific computation including technologies for efficient and effective data collection, conversion, analysis, visualisation, interpretation, storage, search, synthesis and provision through the internet. Many professional organisations use computing resources extensively for information analysis, storage, communication and distribution, providing you with many diverse career options as a graduate. The Data Science major provides students with practical computing and information technology skills.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

1. apply computational and statistical techniques to analyse diverse real-world datasets
2. construct data science analyses in incremental and integrated stages
3. explain ethical and social aspects and opportunities and constraints of contemporary data science practice.
4. demonstrate ability to work effectively as a team member and as a team leader
5. communicate data analytics processes and results clearly in oral and written formats in professional and lay terms
6. assess critically alternative solutions for the same data science project.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR OR Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year.

Students without ATAR Mathematics will take two first-year mathematics units.

Courses

Data Science can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

• BP004 Bachelor of Science
• BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Units