Oct 10, 2024  
2021-2022 University Catalog 
    
2021-2022 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Data Visualization, BS


About the Program

The ability to understand and communicate data is an essential skill in this big data era. Data visualization specialists present complex information in an easy-to-understand format. Their efforts can help identify trends, provide important insights, illustrate impact, and enable data driven decision making. 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 and 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

The Data Visualization major is part of the Computer Graphics Technology program.  The Computer Graphics Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

DTVS Website

Data Visualization Major Change (CODO) Requirements  

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (45 credits)


Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (64 credits)


Electives (11 credits)


Any course, any subject.  Credit Hours:  11.00

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC)

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement:


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.



Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


Additional Degree Requirements


Click here for Data Visualization Supplemental Information .

Cornerstone Certificate requirements.  Click here for Cornerstone Certificate .

Program Requirements


15 Credits


15 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


16 Credits


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
  • Free Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


14 Credits


Spring 4th Year


14 Credits


Notes


  • Students must earn C- or better in CGT Courses.
  • Pass/No Pass may be allowed for Electives or Technical Electives only.

  • 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.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

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.