Bachelor's Degree Options
Not sure which major is right for you?
Click the button below to explore degree options, compare requirements, and learn which programs align with your interests and goals.
BS in Data Science
The Interdisciplinary Data Science BS degree supports students preparing for competitive jobs in data science, analytics, statistics, and related fields.
The program will prepare students for competitive positions in many of the world’s best companies, and can also serve as excellent preparation for graduate work. Graduates of this program will be able to curate and maintain data, build models to effectively analyze this data, understand the principles of modeling and the basis of the models themselves in order to draw accurate conclusions from these analyses, and ethically provide insight in how to use this work in their various applications.
The BS in Data Science program provides a solid data science core and is supported by foundational courses in mathematics, statistics, and computer science. Students will also complete data science themed courses in a discipline of their choice, and a capstone experience that provides real-world contact with employers and their challenges.
Students interested in adjacent fields such as business, science and engineering that require skills such as data management, analytics, visualization, and forecasting would also benefit from the program.
Program Outcomes
Data Science Practice:
Students will be able to acquire, clean, wrangle, store, analyze, and visualize a wide variety of data types using a wide variety of data science tools; they will be able to apply their knowledge of tools to solve novel problems, and understand the benefits and limitations of new tools.
Data Science Theory:
Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze data by appropriately visualizing, fitting, assessing, and interpreting a variety of models, and will understand the limits and possibilities of conclusions drawn from data.
Data Science Ethics:
Students will be able to mitigate the effects of biased or unreliable data, will be able to avoid the dangers of overreliance on unreliable data, and will be an ethical and positive voice arguing for fairness and transparency in high-impact applications of data science.
Communication Skills:
Students will be able to create effective visualizations, write technical reports, and make technical presentations that convey insight harvested from data.
Professional Preparation:
Students will have sufficient maturity in data science to work in a professional setting in data science or to enter a graduate program.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Natalie Romeri-Grass
#2162 WVB
801-422-9202
natalie.rg@byu.edu
BS in Machine Learning
BYU's Machine Learning program offers students the unique chance to learn the practical and theoretical aspects of data science through a blend of programming, machine learning, optimization, big data, linguistics, and computational practice.
In the Machine Learning program, students will learn both the theoretical and practical aspects of data science—focusing on the mathematical fundamentals that describe patterns, uncertainty, and knowledge representations, while at the same time sharpening computational thinking and programming know-how needed to turn ideas into reality.
The program requires various courses founded in data science that span databases, machine learning, deep learning, regression, probability, natural language processing, calculus, and convex optimization.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Machine Learning Practice:
Students will design and implement significant computer programs that meet a human need.
Machine Learning Theory:
Students will analyze problems and their algorithmic solutions using theoretical concepts.
Career Preparation:
Students will have sufficient maturity in machine learning to work in a professional setting or enter a graduate program.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
Our program is accessible to everyone, including women, minorities, and those new to programming, and provides an equal opportunity for every student to succeed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Lynnette Nelson, CS Undergraduate Advisor
2250 TMCB
lnelson@cs.byu.edu
(801) 422-9439
https://calendly.com/lnsch-1/cs-240-interview-appointment?month=2025-06
BS in Applied Physics: Data Science
The new BS in Applied Physics: Data Science major provides students experience with the fundamentals of scientific modeling and data science from an underlying foundation in physics. Students gain an understanding of physical laws and how models provide predictive and explanatory descriptions of complex physical and astronomical processes. Complementing this model-building perspective for students, experimental lab courses give hands-on experience with designing physical experiments, collecting data, and determining measurement uncertainty. All courses help students build intuition about uncertainty and bias in measurements that inform physics-based approaches to data science.
Students complete mentored research projects in data science on campus or through external internships. Each student completes sufficient research to write a senior thesis or capstone report. This experiential learning is the culminating experience for majors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and is a crucial part of their preparation for graduate studies or to successfully begin their careers upon graduation.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Physics Theory and Application:
Apply principles to model and solve representative problems analytically and computationally at an introductory level from the primary physical theories (classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special relativity, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and optics) and at an advanced level in classical mechanics, electrostatics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and optics/electrodynamics.
Data Science Theory and Application:
Apply principles of data science to model physical and astronomical systems, address physical problems, and evaluate the uncertainty, sensitivity, and fidelity of the models.
Experiment and Computational Skills:
Design and conduct experiments, build scientific equipment, write scientific programs to simulate physical systems, and analyze data.
Effective Communication:
Communicate professionally to a technical audience both orally and in writing. Be able to understand scientific ideas by reading books and journal articles.
Professional Ethics:
Understand scientific ethical practices and demonstrate them in the conduct of scientific research.
Research and Professional Preparation:
Conduct experimental, theoretical, or computational research related to data science under the direction of a mentor to contribute to the generation of new knowledge or technologies and prepare to do this professionally.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Department of Physics and Astronomy
N283 ESC
Provo, UT 84602
physics_office@byu.edu
801-422-4361
https://physics.byu.edu/undergraduate/advising#faculty-academic-advisors
BS in Statistics: Data Science Emphasis
The curriculum and degrees offered through the Department of Statistics are designed to equip students with decision-making skills for careers as professional statisticians in industrial organizations, government agencies, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and research institutes.
The Data Science emphasis is designed to help students develop skills that are needed to work on a data science team. These skills include programming, facility with data structures and algorithms, statistical methods, and experience working with real-world big data problems. Students with a Data Science emphasis leave BYU with a multi-faceted, disciplined, and flexible approach to data, a rich vocabulary for working with others in data-focused disciplines, and a well-developed capacity for understanding and communicating statistical results.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Skill in fitting statistical models:
Graduates of the program will demonstrate the ability to analyze data by appropriately fitting, assessing, and interpreting a variety of statistical models.
Computing Skills:
Graduates of the program will be able to manipulate data, use appropriate statistical methods, document, and debug code in one or more statistical software programs.
Communication Skills:
Graduates of the program will be able to write technical reports and make technical presentations containing statistical results, and work in teams to demonstrate the consulting skills of a professional statistician.
Theoretical Foundations:
Graduates of the program will be able to solve problems in basic probability theory, statistical inference, and calculus.
Professional Preparation:
Graduates of the program will be employable in jobs with requiring a BS Data Science or BS Applied Statistics.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Kimri Mansfield, Undergraduate Advisor
kmansfield@stat.byu.edu
2152D WVB
801-422-4506
https://calendar.app.google/uvuh6V2tScnEZ3LN9
BS in Mathematics: Applied and Computational Mathematics Emphasis
Brigham Young University’s Applied and Computational Mathematics Emphasis (ACME) program is a major designed for solving the problems of the 21st century. Mathematics provides the foundation of modern technology and science; it is the key to building successful algorithms in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and it provides the analytical power needed to process, evaluate, and take full advantage of the ever-growing flood of data and information in the world. ACME is a new educational model that teaches both the theory and the practical skills in mathematics, statistics, and computation needed to solve the problems of the modern world.
Students who participate in ACME can expect a focus in rigorous mathematics, scientific computing, and modeling. After finishing two years of mathematical prerequisites, students then take year-long core sequences, one in their junior year and one in their senior year.
Program Outcomes
Mathematics Fundamentals:
Demonstrate basic mathematical understanding and computational skills in calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and advanced calculus.
Effective Reasoning and Communication:
Explain and criticize mathematical reasoning through speaking and writing in a precise and articulate manner.
Statistics:
Demonstrate a knowledge of inference, estimation, regression, multivariable statistics, Bayesian statistics, time-series analysis, and state-space modeling.
Advanced Applied Mathematics:
Demonstrate understanding of linear and nonlinear analysis, the analysis of algorithms, combinatorics, asymptotic methods, approximation theory, transform theory, optimization, dynamic programming, probability theory, stochastic processes, differential equations, dynamical systems and optimal control theory.
Computing:
Demonstrate facility in computer programming, data processing, databases, numerical simulation, scientific visualization, and virtual experimentation. Write, compile, and execute numerical algorithms in a low-level language, such as C/C++, as well as develop I/O wrappers for standard numerical libraries in a common scripting language, such as Python.
Demonstrate the ability to use the technologies for parallel and distributed computing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACME, CONTACT
Applied & Computational Mathematics Emphasis (ACME)
801-422-2061
275 TMCB Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
acme@mathematics.byu.edu
BS in Economics
Economics is about much more than money. It's the study of how people make choices and manage resources. As such, it is a discipline with many useful tools for grappling with any real-world problem faced by individuals, families, businesses, and societies. Indeed, economics is a fascinating and broad introspection into ourselves and our world, and the major provides a solid foundation for a wide variety of careers.
Majoring in economics helps students develop critical thinking and analytical skills and acquire essential background knowledge that will allow them to make positive contributions in the world and find success after their time at BYU.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Economic Problem Solving:
Program graduates will be able to conceptualize a wide range of constrained optimization problems in economics and related fields and will be able to apply formal mathematical analysis to evaluate these problems.
Econometric Analysis:
Program graduates will be able to conduct basic econometric analysis including using data to estimate behavioral models, test hypotheses, and measure quantitative relationships; they will have a basic understanding of mathematical statistics that underlies applied econometric analysis.
Preparation for Graduate Studies:
Program graduates will be prepared and qualified to pursue graduate studies in economics, business, finance, law, public policy, and related disciplines.
Career Preparation:
Program graduates will be prepared and qualified to pursue careers in economics, business, finance, law, public policy and related disciplines.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ECONOMICS, CONTACT
Department of Economics
2146 West View Building
Provo, UT 84602
Phone: (801) 422-2859
Economics@byu.edu
BS in Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary program offering substantial training in both the biological sciences and the physical and mathematical sciences; our program emphasizes the integration of computer science with biology. A foundation in biology, computer science, and statistics provides the basis for developing and applying computational methods to test biological hypotheses. Students attracted to this program have dual interests in computer science and biology and find it an excellent choice for their broad interests.
Students who complete this program either enter the top graduate programs in bioinformatics or the life sciences in the world, enter leading professional schools (including law school, medical school, or dental school), or find employment in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or software development companies.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Broad Understanding of Biology:
Students will interpret relationships among living things and analyze and solve biological problems, from the molecular to ecosystem level using basic biological concepts, grounded in foundational theories.
Computer Programming:
Students will design computer programs to facilitate biological data analysis.
Research and Inquiry:
Students will be able to conduct basic bioinformatics research.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BIOINFORMATICS, CONTACT
Department of Biology
4102 Life Sciences Building (LSB)
Provo, Utah 84602
801-422-2582
lsadvisement@byu.edu
Almost everything that's been developed in the last 50 years uses electronics to communicate or to think. Electrical engineering tries to encompass all of these fields — communications systems, robotics, light, power, circuits — anything with an "on" button. Here, you'll learn how to be creative and think on your own, how to analyze how something works, and how to build new technologies.
BS in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a computing-based discipline involving technology, people, information, and processes to protect computing systems from adversaries. It involves the creation, operation, analysis, and testing of secure computing systems (see ACM Documentation). It is an interdisciplinary course of study, including aspects of law, policy, human factors, ethics, and risk management in the context of adversaries. BYU's Cybersecurity program is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA/DHS. For Center news and activities, see the Cybersecurity@BYU website.
BS in Computer Engineering
Computer Engineers are responsible for designing the next generation of electronic devices. This includes creating both hardware and software for millions of different kinds of devices: cell phones, robotics, medical devices, satellites, self-driving cars, and more.
This huge demand for Computer Engineers means that our students often have multiple job offers at graduation, and are some of the highest paid graduates at BYU.
The wide breadth of technologies also means you will have the flexibility to choose many different career directions. At graduation, some of our students pursue purely software jobs, while others decide they would prefer a job designing computer chips. Many others decide they enjoy the intersection of hardware and software and find there are endless companies, large and small, looking to hire engineers to design self-driving cars, robotics, wearable electronics, and more.
BS in Information Technology
The department is no longer accepting students into the IT program.
Information Technology is a technical discipline that solves real-world problems using a variety of computing resources. IT professionals help meet people's needs within an organizational and societal context through the selection, creation, application, integration, and administration of computing technologies (see IT ACM Curriculum 2008 for more details). The IT program at BYU is among the leading programs in the nation, with faculty who have helped define this exciting and growing field. Our students take a range of experiential learning courses emphasizing technical excellence, hands-on experience, and problem-solving in a rigorous, yet intimate and collegial atmosphere.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING, CONTACT
Department of Engineering
450 Engineering Building
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-4012
ecen_secretary@byu.edu
BS in Information Systems
Information systems (IS) students learn to define, develop, and support the infrastructure that supports the operations of all businesses, governments, and other institutions. The BS in information systems develops the ability to function effectively as a professional, applying state-of-the-art technology in solving business problems. Students are trained in business and IS and taught to understand complex business environments.
Built on a solid foundation of business courses, the curriculum advances students’ understanding of technologies in the design and development of information systems. Students will gain technical expertise in systems analysis, design, and implementation; database development and management; programming; security; networking; business application development; data analytics; and machine learning and artificial intelligence.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Gain a Knowledge of Information Systems and Business:
Program graduates will apply knowledge of information systems as well as general business to bridge the gap between technical and business personnel. Even in a tough economy and with some companies putting a hold on internships, BSIS graduates are mostly being placed in well-paid jobs because they are technically prepared to be a successful addition to businesses. Faculty continually monitor and update the curriculum to meet industry needs.
Create and Manage Organizational Technical Functions:
Acquire, deploy, maintain, and manage information technology systems, infrastructure, security, resources, and services. Students are well ahead of other Information Systems graduates around the world in regards to business skills and technical skills. Curriculum is constantly revised, teamwork is always improved, and students are having more opportunities to be mentored.
Make Informed Business and Technical Decisions:
Graduates will be able to make informed business and technical decisions and solve unstructured problems in a rapidly changing environment. Our BSIS is a top 10 ranked program in some rankings. Almost every single BSIS graduate is being placed and salaries at approximately 75K a year. Graduates are also moving into management positions within their organizations. The program continues to be well ranked and valued by academic peers and industry.
Develop Lifelong Learning Skills:
Graduates will be prepared to pursue lifelong learning. More and more students are focused on continued learning, with more students even pursuing a PhD after the MISM and BSIS. A large number of students either complete the MISM after the BSIS or apply for other graduate programs around the nation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS, CONTACT
Department of Information Systems
790 TNRB
(801) 422-3247
is.department@byu.edu
BS in Actuarial Science
An actuary is a professional who uses statistics and finance to understand and manage uncertainty and risk.
The BYU Actuarial Program is well-recognized. We earned the highest recognition from both of the US-based actuarial organizations, CAE-UEC from the SOA and Gold Level from the CAS. We are one of only 5 programs globally with both awards.
Our students are in demand, with essentially all of our graduates starting great positions immediately after graduation.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Actuarial Exams:
Graduates will prepare to take and pass the exams required for employment in the actuarial science profession
Communication Skills:
Graduates of the program will write technical reports and make technical presentations containing statistical and actuarial results.
Skills in Applied Statistics and Computing:
Graduates of the program will apply statistical methods using relevant software to solve real-world problems
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Brian Hartman, Actuarial Program Coordinator
hartman@stat.byu.edu
2152 WVB
(801) 422-4505