The University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) has launched a new Department of Statistics and Data Science, effective from the 2025–26 academic year. This shift from a division to an independent department allows for greater autonomy in planning, budgeting, and communication directly with the college.
Seongho Song, the department head, notes that the change streamlines processes, allowing for quicker decision-making regarding new courses and initiatives. The department is focusing on strengthening its data science infrastructure, moving beyond a strong emphasis on statistics to incorporate more data science elements into the curriculum.
One key aspect is the introduction of a course on artificial intelligence applications in data science. Song emphasizes the importance of integrating AI tools into education to reflect their growing role in the field. He believes statisticians are essential across various research disciplines, not limited to medical research.
The department currently has about 100 undergraduate students, with expectations of growth to 150 or 200 in coming years. Song encourages students to consider double majoring in statistics or data science to enhance their job prospects, aiming to make their resumes stand out.
