» Recommended Classes for First-Year Data Science Majors

Here are the classes that we recommend you take during your first year as a Data Science major at Chapman. 

For your first semester, we recommend taking 12-15 credits (most classes are 3 credits; those with labs are 4). You must be enrolled in 12 credits to be considered a full-time status student. The recommended courses below will put you at 15 credits per semester (fall and spring). 

Introductory Math Requirement

As an incoming first-year student, you must take a math assessment. If you place into Math 101 (Developing Mathematical and Study Skills for STEM), then you must enroll in this course in your first semester. For more information, visit our Math Assessment webpage. 

General Education Classes

You can choose a General Education (GE) class from any GE category – it’s your choice. In general, the following GE areas are recommended to begin/complete during your first year:

GE Language Study (strongly recommended)
GE Quantitative Inquiry (This can be satisfied with Math 110, Math 111, MATH 115, or appropriate AP credit)

Note: Some GE courses may “double count” with your major or minor. Students can share up to 9 credits between major and GE requirements and can share up to 6 credits between minor and GE requirements. Visit the General Education Program site to review the GE policies and see a list of approved courses for each GE area.

You can learn more about general education on our General Education: How it Works page.

AP Scores 

If you have AP credit for the following areas, make the appropriate substitutions this fall:

4 or higher AP Calculus AB or a 3 in Calculus BC 

 Take Math 203 in the Fall instead of Math 110

Fall Semester

Data Science majors are part of the Block Scheduling program for first-year students in the Fall 2023 semester. You will be pre-registered by the department in your major courses listed below in May/June. You can then build the rest of your schedule around these required major courses.

FFC 100B - Grand Challenges (Block Scheduled)
Credits: 3

Note: All first-year students at Chapman have to take First Year Foundations. The class will introduce you to college and there is a different topic for every major. As a data science major, you must take an FFC 100B option from the Schmid and Fowler Colleges’ Grand Challenges in Science and Engineering category. You will be pre-registered into this class along with your other major courses.

CPSC 230 - Computer Science I (Block Scheduled)
Credits: 3

MATH 110 - Single Variable Calculus I or MATH 101 - Developing Mathematical and Study Skills for STEM (Block Scheduled, after Math Assessment completed)
Credits: 3 - 4

As an incoming STEM major, you will be pre-registered into your Math class depending on where you place after taking the Math Assessment.

ENGR 101 - Foundations of Design & Fabrication (Block Scheduled)
Credits: 3 

CPSC 298 - Intro to Nix (Block Scheduled)
Credits: 1

GE class or exploration focus class (optional)
Credits: 3

Spring Semester

 

SCI 150 - Grand Challenges in Science and Engineering I
Credits: 1

CPSC 231 - Computer Science II
Credits: 3

MATH 203 - Introduction to Statistics 
Credits: 3

CPSC 298 - Computer Science Colloquium, any topic
Credits: 1

GE class or exploration focus class
Credits: 3

GE class or exploration focus class
Credits: 3