WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Another graduation requirement could soon be coming to Purdue University. Administrators are exploring the idea of having all students take a data science course.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels said most professions today require data analyzing skills. He wants the discipline to be as common at Purdue as English composition currently is. That course is currently required for all students, no matter their major.
"We don't expect that everybody who leaves here can build a great new database, although many will. But I would like for every Boilermaker who graduates to be able to ask smart questions," said Daniels.
The class requirement would likely be discipline specific, according to Daniels. Administrators think this will be valuable to everyone's education.
"You can't be a great psychologist or sociologist or economist these days unless you are able to access and draw smart conclusions from the exploding amounts of information that are out there," Daniels added.
Purdue is already planning to expand the discipline. Construction for a new $40 million data science facility will begin in November on University Street.
Daniels said the provost and faculty members will discuss details of the proposed requirement.
