UCSD - University of California - San Diego

08/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/03/2026 12:12

UC San Diego Launches New Business Data Science Major

Published Date

August 03, 2026

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As UC San Diego continues to expand its physical footprint with scores of new on-campus facilities, it is matching this growth with an expansion of its academic footprint: A new Bachelor of Science in Business Data Science - one of the first such programs in the nation and the first in the University of California system.

The program aims to produce skilled professionals capable of making strategic business decisions that capitalize on advances in cutting-edge data science and artificial intelligence. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently projected Data Scientist to be the fourth-fastest growing occupation between 2024 and 2034.

"As the first program of its kind in the University of California system, the Business Data Science major demonstrates UC San Diego's commitment to anticipating workforce needs and creating new pathways for student success," said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "Our graduates will be uniquely positioned to translate data into innovation, opportunity and impact."

Beginning in Fall 2026, the interdisciplinary degree program brings together the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI) at the Halıcıoğlu School of Data Science and Computing, together with the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.The curriculum combines HDSI's rigorous training in programming, mathematics, data management and machine learning with the Rady School's expertise in entrepreneurship and applied study in accounting, finance, customer analytics, technology, strategy and managerial decision-making.

The result is a distinctive degree designed to prepare students to use data science tools within real-world business settings, distill complex information into decision-relevant insights and manage organizations using empirically-grounded strategies.

"Data science has enormous power to inform decisions, but its impact depends on understanding the context in which the data were collected as well as the context in which those decisions are made," said Virginia de Sa, chair and interim co-director of the HDSI and professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego. "By bringing together the expertise of HDSI and the Rady School of Management, this major will prepare students not only to develop and apply sophisticated analytical tools, but also to ask the right questions, communicate what the data mean and use those insights responsibly in complex organizations."

Building Fluency Across Two Disciplines

Students in the Business Data Science major will develop a strong technical foundation through courses in Python and R programming, data structures, statistical methods, data management, machine learning and data mining or exploratory data analysis.

Business coursework will introduce students to the organizational settings in which those tools are applied. Required courses cover accounting, customer analytics, artificial intelligence and technology strategy, how to run experiments in firms, managerial decision-making and business finance.

Toward the end of the program, students will complete a cross-listed capstone course, "Business Data Science Projects," to gain practical experience of integrating their technical and business training. Led by HDSI and Rady School faculty, the project-based course will give students hands-on, experiential learning as they work with business data, address a complex organizational problem and develop practical recommendations.

"Business Data Science majors will develop world-class technical skills and use them to solve real business problems," said Kenneth Wilbur, professor of marketing and analytics at the Rady School of Management, a faculty member who co-initiated the program. "The major requires core data science skills such as data engineering, modeling and analysis - the curriculum does not compromise on the technical side. It will also teach students to identify common problems across business domains - including accounting, finance, management, marketing, strategy, and operations - and the frameworks that can be used to solve those problems.

"Student capstone projects," he continued, "will apply technical skills to real data to create valuable solutions for business challenges. The Business Data Science curriculum is rigorous, valuable and unique. I am happy and proud that UC San Diego could make a new program like this possible."

Preparing Students for Data-Driven Careers

Data professionals are often expected not only to build models and analyze information, but also to understand institutional priorities, evaluate tradeoffs and explain their findings to people across an organization.

Graduates will be equipped with technical, analytical and strategic skills that can be applied across data-centric industries. The major can prepare students for roles such as data scientist, business intelligence analyst, data analyst, product analyst, marketing analyst, operations analyst and analytics consultant, as well as emerging positions bridging data science, artificial intelligence and business strategy.

In these roles, graduates will be able to use predictive analytics in various domains, such as helping hospitals anticipate patient needs and manage critical supplies, analyzing customer behavior to guide product decisions, or helping organizations reduce waste and build more efficient, sustainable operations.

Applying to the Major

Students may apply for the Business Data Science major through the selective major application process by Sept. 1, 2026. More information about eligibility, application requirements, and the curriculum is available through the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute's or theRady School of Management's Business Data Science program webpages.

Read more news about: Rady School of Management

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