May 13, 2025  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
Catalog Home
General Information
Undergraduate University Core
Disability Resources
University Regulations
What’s New
Programs, Minors, and Certificates
Undergraduate & Graduate Programs
Undergraduate Certificates
Undergraduate Minors
Undergraduate
College of Agriculture
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Health and Human Sciences
College of Liberal Arts
School of Management
College of Pharmacy
Polytechnic Institute
College of Science
College of Veterinary Medicine
Exploratory Studies
Honors College
Office of the Provost
Purdue Polytechnic Statewide (TSW)
Articulation Agreements/Transfer Single Articulation Programs
Graduate
Graduate Studies
Combined & Concurrent Degree Programs
Professional
Doctor of Pharmacy
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
2018-2019 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Data Visualization, BS

About the Program

Data visualization specialists present complex information in an easy-to-understand format. Their efforts can help identify trends, provide important insights and illustrate impact. They can help highlight tumors in MRI images to track disease progression or visualize air flow over a car to assist designers in making more fuel efficient vehicles. The data visualization major at Purdue University focuses on the computer and graphics tools necessary to create accurate and meaningful visualizations for researchers, leaders, decision-makers and the general public.

To help you understand how to use data, you will learn about visualization techniques and work on design, programming, and user research skills. You will also experience firsthand the design and development process of a complex data visualization system. Data management and basic analysis skills are also important in this field. When you graduate from the program, you will be able to design effective visual representations of data based on the data’s characteristics, business needs, and the requirements of prospective users.

The coursework for this major will lead you through the spectrum of visualization topics. From learning about the basic types of data and their popular visualization forms to applying design techniques to scientific data, you will gain experience and problem solving skills that will be the foundation for your data visualization career. You will be able to combine all of your new skills in the Visualization Studio course as create a comprehensive, interactive visualization system for data analysis.

Special Features

  • Prepare for a career in a field with an ongoing need for professionals who know how to present raw data in a way that does not overwhelm.
  • Work with professors who are leading researchers in the area of data and scientific visualization
  • Learn in small, close-knit classes that feature individualized attention
  • Work with industry-standard software to gain the best hands-on experience
  • Experience projects that highlight the visualization of data-rich information (InfoVis), scientific data (SciVis), biological data (BioVis), and more.
  • Utilize the Polytechnic learning environment to become a career-ready graduate
  • DTVS Website: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/degrees/data-visualization

Degree Requirements

120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (41 credits)

Required Major Courses (35 credits)

Major Selectives* -Choose two courses (6 credits)

  • CGT Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CGT Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (64 credits)

Electives (15 credits)

Any course, any subject.  Credit Hours:  15.00

University Core Requirements

  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning

For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.

Prerequisite Information:

For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.

 

Additional Degree Requirements

Click here for Data Visualization Supplemental Course Information .

Cornerstone Certificate requirements.  Click here for Cornerstone Certificate .

Program Requirements

Fall 1st Year

14 Credits

Spring 1st Year

15 Credits

Fall 2nd Year

16 Credits

Spring 2nd Year

16 Credits

Fall 3rd Year

15 Credits

Spring 3rd Year

  • CGT Selective: 30000 or 40000 Level - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CGT Globalization Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Fall 4th Year

14 Credits

Spring 4th Year

15 Credits

Notes

* Satisfies University Core

Students must earn C- or better in CGT Courses

120 semester credit hours & 2.00 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree

Purdue policy states that a student may attempt a course no more than three (3) times.  An attempt is defined as all courses displayed on a student’s transcript including, but not limited to A,B,C,D,E,F,W,WF,I AND IF

32 hours of 30000 or 40000 level Purdue courses for graduation

Cornerstone Certificate is required with this major.

Critical Course

The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.

Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.