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Minor in Data Science, Analytics and Decision-Making

The Minor in Data Science, Analytics and Decision-Making is a 15-credit interdisciplinary credential that enhances your data science skills.

Last Updated: 03/03/2026 | All information is accurate and still up-to-date

The Data Science Academy partners with several NC State colleges to offer data science minors and certificates. As a result, you can strengthen your technical skills across disciplines.

The Minor in Data Science in Analytics and Decision Making is a 15 credit interdisciplinary credential. Through this program, you build essential data science skills with depth in Industrial and Systems Engineering content. Therefore, you gain both analytical expertise and applied engineering insight.

As you pursue this minor, you learn from data science instructors, industry practitioners and ISE faculty. In addition, you study alongside peers from multiple colleges. You will complete courses in data management, communication, applications, ethics and engineering. Furthermore, you may choose electives that match your interests and career goals.

Minor in Data Science, Analytics and Decision-Making Notes

  • ISE majors and minors cannot count the following courses towards the data science minor:
    • ISE 135
    • ISE 361
  • If you are pursuing multiple Data Science Academy credentials, you must have at least two distinct 1-credit DSC courses and two distinct 3-credit depth courses between any two credentials (8 distinct credits total).
  • Per university requirements, courses already used to satisfy two or more credit requirements cannot be used to satisfy the data science certificate (or any third requirement).

Required DSC Courses (6 credit hours)

  • Required DSC Courses: At least one course from each category. Required Depth Courses: 3 courses.
  • ISE PRO TIP: DSC Courses are potentially being changed to DSA Courses. When selecting courses look for both options.

Data Communication

  • DSC 202 Introduction to Data Visualization
  • DSC 205 Data Communication

Ethics, Policy and Privacy

  • DSC 225 Data Science for Social Good

Data Management and Analysis

  • DSC 406 Exploratory Data Analysis for Big Data
  • DSC 205 Data Communication

Machine Learning and AI

  • DSC 412 Exploring Machine Learning

Electives or Internships & Capstones

  • DSC 201 Introduction to R/Python for Data Science
  • DSC 405 Data Wrangling and Web Scraping
  • DSC 410 Data Internship Preparation for Social Impact (ISE PRO TIP: You cannot count DSC 201 and ISE 135 towards the minor.)
  • Permanent DSC courses not listed here and not used for the first four categories can be used to satisfy the elective or internships/capstones requirement. Visit the Upcoming Courses website to see all DSC Courses.

Required Depth Courses (9 credit hours)

  • BAE 495 R Coding for Data Management and Analysis
  • ECE 411 Introduction to Machine Learning
  • ISE 135 Computer-based Modeling for Engineers (ISE PRO TIP: You cannot count DSC 201 and ISE 135 towards the minor.)
  • ISE 361 Deterministic Models in Industrial Engineering (ISE PRO TIP: This course requires ISE 135 or Instructor permission and DSC 201 or Instructor permission and introductory knowledge of Python programming.)
  • ISE 417 Database Applications in Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • ISE435 Python Programming for Industrial and Systems Engineers
  • ISE 437 Data Analytics for Industrial Engineering
  • ISE 447 Applications of Data Science in Healthcare

Total Hours (15 credit hours)