Luther College

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Studying Data Science at Luther College

Luther College appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Data Science Bachelor’s Degree Programs.

Students at Luther College who want to get a degree in computer science can select data science as their specialization. Alternatively, they can select data science as their minor degree to go with a major in computer science. Either way, these degree plans teach students that data science skills complement a variety of other science and business majors. The degree provides students with the ability to organize, process and understand large amounts of complex data to make new discoveries and better decisions in various fields and industries.

Students are encouraged to combine school projects with other fields of interest. Students may choose a capstone project on business management, so they’ll learn about e-commerce, project management and analysis for decision making. A student interested in economics may apply data science techniques to propose a new way to accurately analyze economics and econometrics information. Students who want to work in the fields of biology, genetics, genomics or evolution may find exciting data science project opportunities. Data science has many applications in communication studies in areas like mass media, the Internet and social media trending.

This degree begins with an Introduction to Data Science class that uses case studies and hands-on experience to illustrate real-world examples of data science theory and practice. Students are introduced to the standard tools and techniques of the trade that help data scientists manipulate, model and visualize data. Next, the Data Analysis and Visualization class requires a strong foundation in college-level statistics. Students may learn about data discovery, extraction, cleaning, and prediction.

Learning about Data Science means studying Applied Machine Learning. While this may sound like science-fiction, it just involves popular techniques like neural networks, decision trees, clustering techniques, and support vector machines. Other required classes include Applied Statistics, Database Design, Web Programming, Data Visualization and Introduction to Computer Science. Students who are interested in pure Computer Science will study programming, networking, architecture, operating systems and information management.

About Luther College

Luther College is located in a small town in northeastern Iowa. It is an undergraduate college that is pro-liberal arts and affiliated with the Lutheran Church. The college was founded in the mid-1800s by Lutherans, but current staff, students and faculty come from many heritages and backgrounds. Luther College is popular among locals because they strive to make higher education affordable through scholarships, work-study, loan programs, and need-based aid.

Luther College may be small, but they offer over 60 Bachelor of Arts degrees. The college favors an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes connections between disciplines through integrated curriculums. The goal is to stimulate thoughtful discussion, rigorous practice and global engagement. Perhaps this is why they are usually ranked as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

About 95 percent of faculty demonstrate their commitment to their areas of expertise through holding the most advanced degrees in their field. Almost 90 percent are tenured or on tenure-track, so employee dedication and trust are strong. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1, so students receive ample one-on-one instructional experiences. The faculty is expected to mentor, advise and help research with students. Beyond the classroom, students enjoy internships, externships, and research opportunities. These help students achieve their career goals, build impressive resumes and contribute to future workplaces. Every year, over 400 students study abroad in over 40 countries.

Luther College Accreditation Details

Since 1915, Luther College has been accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.

Luther College Application Requirements

Those who want to be considered for first-year admission should apply within two semesters of graduation from high school or homeschool. These applicants must complete the following classes: four years of English, three years of math, three years of social science, two years of natural science and two years of foreign language study. Luther College uses a rolling admissions cycle, so they begin accepting students in September and continue until classes are full. Applicants may apply during winter, spring and fall terms.

Luther College maintains a five-step application process. First, complete the Common Application or mail the paper application. Second, have a teacher or counselor submit the reference form. Third, submit an essay that can either be new or preexisting. Fourth, submit high school transcript. Fifth, ensure that ACT or SAT test scores have been submitted. Applicants are considered on an individual basis. The office notifies applicants if they are eligible for academic scholarships at the time of admission. Eligibility to Luther College is determined by academic performance in college, high school GPA and ACT/SAT exam scores.

Luther College Tuition & Financial Aid

During the 2018-19 academic year, the average student paid $51,750. This includes $41,950 for tuition, $4,420 for residency, $5,040 for food and $340 for technology fees. There are other costs to consider like book fees, which is around, $1,040, as well as $225 for extracurricular activity fees. Expected transportation and personal expenses will be around $3,015. The good news is that 98 percent of students receive some type of financial assistance. Approximately 66 percent of students qualified for $39,240 in financial assistance. Up to 85 percent of students receive merit-based scholarships.

There is no separate application for internal scholarships that are automatically awarded to eligible students on admission. The Achievement Award gives $40,000 spread over four years. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA. The Martin Luther Award is valued at $72,000 over four years, which is $18,000 per year. This requires a 3.3 GPA, a class rank in the top 40 percent and an ACT minimum score of 23 or SAT scores of 1050 to 1080. The Founders Scholarship is valued at $96,000, which is $24,000 for four years. This requires a 4.0 GPA and a class rank in the top five percent.

Luther College is a small, but highly versatile liberal arts college that offers many types of useful degrees. Anyone interested in earning a data science degree from one of the best colleges in the world can check out their homepage here.

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