Connecting the Dots: A Programmatic Approach to Data Science within Engineering

The importance of “data acumen” for STEM students has been well-articulated by scholars and industry professionals-in part because data science infiltrates many areas of engineering and science. Yet within engineering programs, students often have few opportunities to develop expertise in data science or even to explore how data science is relevant to their degree specializations. This paper reports on an NSF-funded study of a program that prepares STEM students to engage with data science in coursework and then mentors them as they secure internships and complete a capstone that demonstrates their application of data science expertise. Drawing on a mixed-methods study, including student reflections, capstone project assessment, and survey reporting, this paper suggests not only that students make deep connections between their existing majors and data science but also that students trained in our data science micro-credential have unique opportunities to improve critical super-skills, including written communication, project management, iterative thinking, and real-world problem-solving.