Data Science Degree Programs in Wyoming
Mining and real estate are the largest contributors to Wyoming’s GDP. Unfortunately, these industries aren’t encouraging for data scientists who are looking for work or to attend school in the “Equality State.” At the present time, there are very few data science job opportunities and academic programs.
Career Outlook for Data Scientists in Wyoming
In their May 2021 survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t list anyone employed as a data scientist in Wyoming. However, they found that the Equality State is home to 110 database architects, 620 software developers, and 30 statisticians — other roles data scientists often fill. In total, there are 2,970 computer and mathematical professionals employed in Wyoming per BLS statistics.
BLS-reported annual mean salaries for data science careers in Wyoming include:
- Statistician: $115,920
- Software developer: $85,730
- Market research analyst: $60,740
- Database architect: $54,660
In a state without much of an economic focus on technology, it might serve data scientists to look for other industries that could use their skills. For instance, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services expects job opportunities in the transportation support sector to grow by 33.6% through 2030. Support jobs in the mining industry are projected to increase by 36.6% in the same period. These aren’t necessarily data science jobs, but data scientists may find opportunities in these growing industries.
Wyoming’s cost of living is more expensive than average: 5% more than the rest of the U.S.; housing is almost 17% higher. With extremely limited job prospects and higher living costs, Wyoming is a tough sell to data scientists searching for work in the “Equality State.” Furthermore, as will be discussed below, there is only one available data science academic option.
On-Campus Undergraduate Data Science Programs in Wyoming
If you’re a Wyoming student who is looking specifically for an on-campus degree with the data science title, you aren’t going to find one as of the 2020-2021 academic year. However, there are other options within each of the data science core competencies: math, statistics, computer science, and analytics. For example, the University of Wyoming offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics which provides substantial data science coursework through a statistical lens: Fundamentals of Statistics, Regression Analysis, Design and Analysis of Experiments, Categorical Data Analysis, Causal Models, Mathematical Theory of Probability, Calculus I through III, and Intro to Computer Science. Also, if you plan to attend graduate school, whether for a master’s degree or a Ph.D., having a statistics and math background opens up many more choices in terms of graduate-level degree programs.
On-Campus Graduate Data Science Programs in Wyoming
Already have a bachelor’s degree that includes advanced math and stats courses? Then the University of Wyoming’s Master’s Degree in Statistics is an excellent next step. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need a data science degree to become a data scientist. Currently, a majority of the education requirements listed on employer job postings focus on math, statistics, and computer science (along with experience in certain technologies and programming languages). Thus, a graduate degree in statistics can get your foot in the door for an interview. As with the bachelor’s degree, you’ll take courses in Regression Analysis, Design and Analysis of Experiments, Data Analysis, and Intro to the Theory of Statistics. These, however, will be at the graduate level and require much more brain power when compared to the undergraduate courses. You’ll complete 21 credits of required courses and then another 15 elective credits. Applicants need to take the GRE (minimum of 291 total for the quant and verbal sections) and send three letters of recommendation along with completing an application for admission.
On-Campus Data Science Masters Programs in Wyoming
If statistics isn’t your strong suit or area of interest, then earning a Master’s Degree in Computer Science at the University of Wyoming is another data science route. Keep in mind that computer science is also math-intensive (this should be obvious, but we want to make sure the point is clearly stated), and there is no escaping or evading either the math or statistics core competency when it comes to data science. The University of Wyoming’s on-campus computer science graduate degree directly hits data science targets through their coursework in Intro to Artificial Intelligence (not all computer science masters programs offers this), Machine Learning, and Modern Robots. You’ll also complete courses in Mobile Device Programming, Human-Computer Interaction, and Virtual Reality Environments. As such, we recommend that would-be data scientists in the “Equality State” consider earning either a Master’s in Statistics or a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Wyoming.
On-Campus Data Science Graduate Certificates in Wyoming
Currently, there are no on-campus data science graduate certificates or data-science related graduate certificates offered through Wyoming universities.
On-Campus Data Science Ph.D. Programs in Wyoming
So, you’re interested in completing a Ph.D. in data science, perhaps? Do you need a Ph.D. to be a data scientist? No. Neither do you need a Ph.D. in data science to have a successful data science career. But, if you’ve decided to dive into 4 to 7 years of extensive research, and you’re an “Equality State” resident who already holds a STEM undergraduate or master’s degree, then the University of Wyoming’s Ph.D. in Biomedical Science — Data Science might be the perfect fit. Most of your required coursework for the Ph.D. will center on biomedical science (it’s in the name of the Ph.D., so this shouldn’t come as a surprise): Computational Biology, Epidemiology, Physiology, and Developmental and Molecular Cell Biology. Your data science courses include Data Mining, Bayesian Data Analysis, Statistical Methods I and II, and Computational Statistics. You have the option to take Markov Chains or Principles of Stochastic Modeling instead of Bayesian Data Analysis. If you can, we recommend taking all three. The Ph.D. application progress tends to be more rigorous: GRE scores, attaining faculty sponsorship, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement that includes research interests, your reasoning for applying to the program, a description of prior research, a graduate assistantship request, degree transcripts (preferably, a STEM degree), and TOEFL or IELTS scores for English as a Second Language students.
Online Data Science Degree Programs in Wyoming
Wyoming universities do not provide many options for online degree programs for data science at any level. The University of Wyoming does offer online degrees, but none of them have a strong correlation to data science. Online Data Science Masters Programs in Wyoming Since there are no online data science masters programs offered through “Equality State” universities, and the online programs that are offered don’t readily translate into attaining the data science core competencies, we recommend perusing the numerous other online data science programs listed throughout the data science degree program pages in our collection.
Online Data Science Graduate Certificates in Wyoming
As with both the graduate and undergraduate programs, there are no online data science graduate certificates available via Wyoming universities.
Online Data Science Ph.D. Programs in Wyoming
Currently, we could not locate any online data science Ph.D. programs (or data science-related programs) in Wyoming. We’ll update this page if such offerings become available.
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for data scientists reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2023.
