此选项侧重于用于管理，集成，分析，可视化和大型复杂数据预测模型的原理，方法和工具。使用该选项的学生将掌握现代数据分析和机器学习方法的基本原理。具有真实数据集的动手实验室和项目为学生提供了开发，应用和验证机器学习解决方案所需的知识和技能，以便从跨多个应用领域（例如健康，教育，安全性）的大数据中提取可操作的知识）。在当今的信息社会中，对能理解大数据的专业人员的需求很高。宾夕法尼亚州立大学新的数据科学学位课程是信息科学与技术学院（IST），工程学院和Eberly科学学院之间的大学间计划的一部分，以满足这一需求。
This option focuses on the principles, methods, and tools for management, integration, analysis, visualization, and predictive modeling of massive, complex data. Students in this option will master the principles underlying modern data analytics and machine learning methods. Hands-on labs and projects with real-world datasets provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop, apply, and validate machine learning solutions in order to extract actionable knowledge from big data across multiple application areas (e.g., health, education, security). In today's information society, professionals who can make sense of big data are in high demand. The new Data Sciences degree program at Penn State is part of an intercollege initiative between the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), College of Engineering, and Eberly College of Science to meet that need. The program will educate students on the technical fundamentals of data sciences, with a focus on developing the knowledge and skills needed to manage and analyze large-scale, unstructured data to address an expanding range of problems in industry, government, and academia. As a result, data sciences graduates will possess the core skills and problem-solving approaches to compete for leading-edge analytics positions across many different industry sectors. Students will gain breadth of knowledge through common core classes, as well as depth in one of three options. After taking common courses during the pre-major stage, students will choose among options focused on application, computation, and science. Students in all three options will come together in their junior and senior years for two shared capstone experiences.