Information and Data Sciences

Why Study Information and Data Sciences?

It's no secret that our world is increasingly data-driven. Caltech's Bachelor of Science (BS) in Information and Data Sciences (IDS) degree program equips you to extract meaningful insights from vast amounts of information using the latest tools and methods, recognizing that these skills are essential for addressing the greatest challenges of humanity and our environment.

Studying IDS links advanced mathematical tools, computational expertise, and communication skills to multiply the potential impact of information and data across industries. Courses explore developing machine learning algorithms to interpreting telescope data for autonomous star identification, creating AI systems for medical diagnostics, or designing algorithms that optimize anything from waste recycling systems to financial market analysis.

Why IDS at Caltech?

As an information and data science student, you'll leverage Caltech's unique interdisciplinary approach to scientific training and access world-class research opportunities that advance the field and innovate data science applications in engineering, technology, medicine, environmental conservation, and more. From your first year, you will benefit from faculty expertise in the classroom and through research projects via programs like SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships), collaborating with experts at Caltech and other top institutions to develop breakthroughs in emerging fields and across disciplines.

In independent projects, advisors assist you in realizing your visions, from developing machine learning systems that identify rare astronomical objects to addressing challenges in medical imaging, controlled drug delivery systems, and more. Here, you can work with affiliated faculty across multiple divisions, including computing, mathematical sciences, physics, math, astronomy, economics, biology, and engineering, providing unparalleled opportunities to apply data science research and methodology to fields that inspire your passions.

What You'll Learn

Undergraduate information and data science students at Caltech go beyond the mathematical and computational foundations of modern data analysis to include the context of current faculty research. You'll master the core concepts of machine learning, statistical thinking, linear algebra, probability theory, and information theory, while exploring theoretical research and gaining hands-on experience with programming languages and computational tools that empower you to use—and improve—advanced data analysis platforms, data visualization methods, or complex information systems for biomedical data, economic models, or advanced aerospace mechanics.

Required course sequences explore data science in scenarios across biology, economics, chemistry, physics, civil engineering, and more, utilizing Caltech's interdisciplinary faculty expertise. You'll design algorithms to predict complex environmental changes, build advanced predictive models, and communicate how your projects worked or didn't work to Caltech research teams and professionals across a global network in data science and information systems. Students in both the major and minor in IDS interact with visiting speakers and researchers from leading companies and institutions to understand how data science can address global social, cultural, and economic issues.

View the Caltech catalog for degree requirements and curriculum information.

Who You'll Learn From

From your first class to research opportunities in faculty labs, as an information and data sciences major, you will learn alongside data and information systems experts to conceptualize solutions to problems across various fields, including theoretical physics, philosophy, electrical engineering, economics, and more. The Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences features over 40 faculty members who are leaders in numerical methods, PDEs, machine learning, statistical inference, optimization, and high-performance computing. They actively contribute to industry innovations in climate modeling and publish breakthroughs in quantum algorithms, involving undergraduates in these applications.

Career Possibilities

Graduates of our data science major program pioneer applications of quantitative analysis across career settings, from tech startups and top research institutions to financial firms and healthcare technology. The mathematical rigor and interdisciplinary training prepare you for roles that require technical expertise, systems thinking, and the ability to comprehend complex findings and apply creative solutions to data and information-related issues across industries. Potential career paths include:

• Data scientist
• Machine learning engineer
• Research scientist (AI/ML, computational biology, quantum computing)
• Statistical analyst
• Technology consultant
• Financial engineer
• Biomedical data analyst

Graduates also excel in top master's and PhD programs, pursuing research careers in areas like data science, information systems, computer science, applied mathematics, or interdisciplinary programs that merge data science with fields such as chemistry, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, economics, physics, and more.

Curriculum Components and Prerequisites

The data science bachelor's program curriculum builds from Caltech's core first-year curriculum in math, physics, chemistry, and biology. After completing foundational major requirements, you'll dive into specialized coursework across key areas that fit your subfields of interest. Students can complete research courses and an undergraduate thesis. Major requirements include:

• Math and computer science fundamentals
• Advanced scientific components, selected from courses in biology, bioengineering, chemistry, or physics
• IDS core requirements in linear algebra, probability and statistics, ML, signal processing, and information theory
• Electives in an application area such as astronomy, bioengineering, physics, economics, etc.

Pursue a Bachelor's in Information and Data Sciences at Caltech

In Caltech's undergraduate information and data sciences degree program, mathematical rigor meets real-world impact. Our data science major prepares you to tackle complex challenges as a scientist across disciplines, from advancing scientific discovery to solving global challenges through data-driven innovation. With access to world-class faculty and cutting-edge research opportunities, Caltech's collaborative and interdisciplinary approach equips you to shape how humans understand and use information.