Berkeley CC, CC of San Francisco, Laney College, UC Berkeley, and UC Merced propose to develop Data Science (DS) programs that embody the Foundations of Data Science (FDS) framework, meet the needs of students through a localized curriculum, and provide a roadmap for transfer to remove institutional barriers for a DS degree at a 4-year institution. Partners will build a broader framework for FDS that combines computational and statistical thinking in the context of real-world problem-solving and its societal and ethical implications. Unlike other fields, a consensus DS curriculum is minimal, and a standardized curriculum will enable this new area of study to stabilize and grow. This collaboration will explore and document various outcomes of DS programs in their different forms, such as certificate and Associate’s Degree in CCSF, DS major in UCM, DS curriculum in Business/Economics in BCC, and Artificial Intelligence certificate in Laney, and collaborate in the design and development of a broad framework for FDS with knowledge about curricular adoption and localization. The resulting well-tested FDS curricula and programs will serve as a benchmark for developing scalable transfer pathways for students across California’s higher education institutions, including all CCCs, CSUs, and UCs.
