Data Studies Minor

This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2026-27.

The Data Studies minor primarily investigates the grounded and relational characteristics of data science by considering how we gather, organize, and analyze data – both qualitative and quantitative – to offer predictions or explanations about the world. This requires offering students courses that provide the opportunity to learn a collection of powerful intellectual methods that can be applied to various contexts. Further, the program encourages students to deeply explore the ethical considerations involved in planning an experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating results. This exploration can include navigating historical and contemporary moral issues, including those related to how fairness and bias can impact individuals and communities. Recognizing that ethical considerations in data science (and more broadly) are often subject to debate, the minor provides opportunities to learn how different disciplines, and even individuals within the same discipline, can hold differing views on what is "fair" or "ethical," and how those perspectives influence the assessment of unintended consequences. Through this experience, students learn to ask questions that data scientists can answer – which questions we think to ask and how we pose them.

Minor Requirements

The Data Studies minor at Colgate University consists of five courses, providing a comprehensive foundation in methods for gathering, organizing, and analyzing data to answer sometimes complicated questions about the world's phenomena.

Introductory Course

Provides an introduction to data collection, summarization, and analysis. Students learn how to translate real-world questions they can answer with data science – methods for exploring, visualizing, analyzing, and communicating about data.

One of the following:

Responsibility and Transparency

This requirement is met by courses that focus on ethical and moral responsibility or clear and transparent communication. Both goals are critically important for conducting sound data-oriented work. Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of DART in the course offerings.

One course from the following:

Human Experience, Public Affairs, and Policy

This requirement is met by courses that lead students to critically engage with diverse forms of data–quantitative or qualitative data, scholarly literature, case studies, or visual media—in the context of geographic, political, environmental, and cultural issues. These courses push students beyond the technical aspects of working with data to focus on the broader context and implications of their data-oriented work. Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of DAHP in the course offerings.

One Course from the following:

Reseach Methods

Courses fulfilling this requirement expose students to how data-oriented work is done to answer important questions within their chosen discipline. These courses train students to produce knowledge using the best practices of their chosen discipline. Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of DARM in the course offerings.

One course from the following:

Data Studies Capstone Experience

Courses fulfilling this requirement are designed to provide students with a more sophisticated understanding of research methods in their discipline or expand their ability to ask and answer nuanced, data-driven questions about the world. Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of DACE in the course offerings.

This requirement can be fulfilled by taking a capstone course in Data Studies or by taking one 300- or 400-level course from the following:

  • Human Experience, Public Affairs, and Policy (listed above)
  • Research Methods from a Major Program (listed above)

Data Studies Program

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.