The Science of Data at Lewis University
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At Lewis University, students have plenty of options for studying data science and related fields. The Bachelor of Science in Data Science can be taken by itself, or students can do the “4+1” option, as the school calls it, which allows them to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the same time. Should students want a more rounded education, they can strive for the Bachelor of Arts in Data Science. Many computer science majors also take data science as a minor.
Classes for the Bachelor of Science degree include Mathematical Modeling, Big Data Systems, and Artificial Intelligence. Students in this track can search for careers as data analysts, information research scientists, and predictive modelers.
When it comes to data analytics, students can choose that as a subset of the study of information systems. Many students combine the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems with other programs. One such combination is the Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration. Another is the mixture of information systems and accounting. Other students minor in one and major in another.
Students who pursue the data analytics version of the degree study critical thinking skills, research techniques, and both theoretical and real-world applications of the study of data and its ever-changing forms.
Graduate students can earn their Master of Science in Data Science or their Master of Science in Business Analytics, and both of those are also available online. The business analytics degree is available with four concentrations: marketing, financial, healthcare, and operations. Students who major in something else can also earn the Data Science Certificate. Undergraduate online students can study business administration with a focus on data analytics.
About Lewis University
The Holy Name Technical School opened in 1932 with 15 students. It was founded by the Archdiocese of Chicago. The school’s later namesake, Frank Lewis, was a philanthropist in the city and took a keen interest in the students’ lives and education. In the beginning, aviation was one of the school’s primary foci.
Between 1934 and the advent of World War II, the school went through various name changes. It added new programs and degrees to its accreditation over the years, and it finally became Lewis University in 1973.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Lewis University No. 20 in the Midwest Region. Lewis University is also the No. 13 school on the list of “Best Colleges for Veterans” and No. 36 on the list of “Best Value Schools.”
About 4,500 students attend, and the student-to-teacher ratio is 13-to-1. Lewis University is selective and chooses about half of the students for admission. In 1932, the campus covered 170 acres, but that has been expanded to more than 400 in 2019.
Lewis University Accreditation Details
The Higher Learning Commission provides Lewis University’s regional accreditation. Several programs at Lewis University have also earned academic accreditation from the following organizations:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- American Bar Association
- Council on Social Work Education
Lewis University still holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, but because they have terminated the athletic training program for new students, they will voluntarily withdraw that accreditation in 2021 after all present students graduate.
Lewis University Application Requirements
Lewis University requires neither letters of recommendation or statements of purpose from prospective freshmen, but those freshmen may still submit such documents if they wish. Lewis University does require all high-school transcripts or GED test scores from each student. Each student must also take the SAT, ACT, or both, and have the company in question submit those scores as well.
Graduate application requirements vary by degree. The data science degree, for example, requires two letters of recommendation, a resume, a two-page statement of purpose, and all transcripts. The student must also have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and for the data science degree, the student must have significant calculus and other advanced mathematics on the transcript. None of the usual graduate admission tests are required.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The annual rate for undergraduate tuition is $33,270 for students who take from 12 to 18 credits per semester. Part-time students or students who take more than 18 credits pay $968 per credit hour. The fees vary from student to student based on the student’s choice of degree and other factors. Generally, they range from a few hundred dollars up to thousands. Students should check the website to see which fees apply. Graduate students pay by the credit hour. For the data science and analytics degrees, the rate is $800 per credit hour.
Although there are multiple residence halls, along with the choice of staying in a single or double room, the prices of these options are remarkably similar. All cost between $3,300 and $3,900 per semester. There are also three meal plans available that cost $1,910, $2,110, or $2,310 per semester. Students are allowed to change their meal plans during the first two weeks of the fall semester.
Students who need financial aid must start the process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The government uses this form to determine a student’s eligibility, if any, and disperse aid as necessary. Need-based aid comes in three forms: grants, subsidized loans, and scholarships. Students often receive more than one form of this aid.
Many students also apply for private, merit-based aid. Private loans are unsubsidized, which means they generate interest while the student is enrolled whereas need-based, subsidized loans do not generate such interest. Students should also keep in mind that all private aid received will affect the amount of need-based aid to which they are entitled.
Lewis University provides a balanced, challenging education that mixes teaching styles and concepts to produce critically thinking, inquisitive students with a desire to succeed in life.
Related Resources:
- Are Data Science Degrees Expensive?
- How Do I Know if Data Science is a Good Degree Path for Me?
- How Useful is a Data Science Degree?
- 5 Signs of an Innovative Data Science Degree Program
- 20 Best Data Science Bachelor’s Degree Programs
- 30 Best Master’s in Data Science Online Degree Programs