<a href="/live/image/gid/673/width/650/88477_Laptop_crop.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image88477"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/673/width/500/height/479/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/673/width/500/height/479/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/673/width/500/height/479/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 501px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/673/width/720/height/690/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/673/width/720/height/690/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/673/width/720/height/690/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/673/width/720/height/690/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg" alt="Training in data science at Lewis & Clark will not merely make our graduates more employable in the short term but also cultivate the..." width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/673/width/720/height/690/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/673/width/720/height/690/crop/1/88477_Laptop_crop.rev.1619804107.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2832" data-max-h="2832" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"> Training in data science at Lewis & Clark will not merely make our graduates more employable in the short term but also cultivate them as lifelong interdisciplinary learners, capable of tackling wicked problems and exploring for the global good.</div>

/ Data Science

Data Science

With a data science minor, you will be capable of tackling wicked problems and working for the global good. Our courses will teach you best practices in data collection, management, measurement, visualization, analysis, and inference. You’ll learn not only how to harness data but also how to understand its societal consequences. Plus, our location in Portland provides easy access to internships and employment.

Why Choose a Minor in Data Science?

Our program focuses on quantitative analysis in application—for example, in the domains of politics, economics, health, and technology—and requires substantial critical thinking in conjunction with sufficient understanding of context. We will teach you how to get the numbers and make sure you understand what they mean. Minoring in data science will not only make you more employable, but also help you cultivate a love for lifelong learning—the best preparation for your life after Lewis & Clark.

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What You’ll Study

Our interdisciplinary program is dedicated to quantitative problem solving. You will take courses in statistics, social impact, computer science, and a wide selection of electives offered across departments. Many of our students earn course credit toward their data science minor while on an overseas program.

Outside the classroom, we host an annual Hackathon competition in which teams of students partner with community members to explore problems related to complex, socially relevant topics—in areas such as health care, politics, the environment, and criminal justice—and solve these using data analysis. We also offer a variety of workshops to engage the student body in discussion and nourish their technical data skills, and we foster dialogue by featuring speakers from both academia and industry who are experts in their field. These events give our students opportunities to learn about external applications of data and technology, better consider potential career paths, and understand the sociocultural implications of ever-advancing technologies. We also encourage our students to apply their data science skills in the real world with internships, which we help them find.

Curriculum

Complement Your Education With One of These Majors

The most popular majors for our data science minors are computer science and mathematics, economics, and political science.

What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark

Having data analytic skills is super important in many professional settings in our modern world. This minor gives students the basic skills to be ready for those jobs.
Lena Essak BA ’24
Economics | Data Science | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
More about Lena
The entrepreneurship minor is unlike any other program as it offers the perfect environment for collaboration, innovation, and hands-on experience. The data science minor is also amazing because you learn the best methods of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, and the societal consequences of this exploration.
Sebastian DePrez BA ’25
Computer Science and Mathematics | Data Science and Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation (double) | Upland, California
More about Sebastian
The liberal arts teach you how to be a critical thinker and an engaged member of your society.
Frankie Spurbeck BA ’23
Political Science | Data Science | Minneapolis, Minnesota
More about Frankie

What Can You Do With a Minor in Data Science?

Our alumni use their minor in data science in a variety of careers at companies such as Starkey, Voting Rights Data Institute, HaystaqDNA, NAVEX Global, and Civiqs. Many start their own companies, or go on to pursue advanced degrees.

Dedicated Faculty

Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.

Meet the Professors

4-5-6
Lewis & Clark’s 4-5-6 Commitment can help you make the most of your future.
19
Average class size for undergraduate students
29+33
Lewis & Clark offers 29 majors and 33 minors.
Equity
We are the only liberal arts school in Oregon on Colleges of Distinction’s “Best Equity and Inclusion” list for 2023–24.
125
of our undergraduate students are Third Culture Kids.

Invest in Yourself

A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate in four years with their bachelor of arts degree that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.

Find Your People

Students can join a variety of student-run organizations. Don’t see what you’re looking for on the club list? Start something new and build your own community of peers!

Majors

Minors