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Eastern to offer Data Science and Anthropology majors starting fall 2020

by Ed Osborn

Willimantic, CT (07/14/2020) — Eastern Connecticut State University will offer two new majors starting this fall 2020 semester: Data Science and Anthropology.

Data Science:

Approved by the Board of Regents earlier this year, students enrolled in the interdisciplinary Data Science program will receive instruction in the core areas of statistics, computer science, business analytics and geospatial information systems.

They also will learn fundamental Python, R and SQL programming skills. Data-based team projects, which are integral to the program, will provide opportunities for students to apply data science tools and techniques as well as develop collaboration and communication skills. Students will also complete a portfolio of their work as part of their graduation requirements. In addition to internships available in the field, an on-campus, paid internship program operated by Cigna's Technology Early Career Development Program provides valuable applied experience without leaving campus.

Students can choose between a B.A. or a B.S.; B.S. students must choose from one of four concentrations in Mathematics, Business Analytics, Geographic Information Systems, or Computer Science. The program will be taught by faculty from Mathematical Science, Computer Science, Business Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems.

The ability to gather and analyze data is becoming a core technology competency, similar to the ability to work with office applications, email and other daily computer skills. The number of Eastern academic departments and faculty members working in this program is an indication of how broad-based the skillset is in this new major.

The major is designed for students who wish to pursue careers as data scientists, geospatial information scientists and technologists, data engineers, business analysts, insurance analysts, financial analysts, sports analysts, political analysts and more. Data science can be applied to fields as diverse as business, finance, healthcare, sports, environmental science, climate science, health science and medicine, political science, defense, social science, human culture and education.

Data science is one of the fastest growing careers in Connecticut and the United States, far outpacing the overall job market. A recent review of job postings in the field of data science and analytics showed 3,700 job postings in Connecticut in January 2020, with an average starting salary of $69,355.

For more information, contact Marsha Davis, program coordinator and chair of the Mathematical Sciences Department at (860) 465-4592 or davisma@easternct.edu.

Anthropology:

Approved by the Board of Regents earlier this year, the new Anthropology program features two concentrations-- Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology-aimed at helping students understand the diverse past and present cultures of the world.

"Anthropology has long been recognized as a leading discipline in the development of concepts and knowledge regarding culture, prehistory, evolution and linguistics," explained Ricardo Perez, program coordinator for the new major. "Anthropology is an excellent background for students who want to pursue careers or plan on attending graduate school in policy, development, teaching or other service professions."

Eastern has long offered a popular minor in anthropology for students from other majors. The Anthropology major also can be used as a second major for students majoring in History, Psychology, Political Science and Sociology.

The major offers two concentrations: Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology. Cultural anthropologists examine social relationships and cultures in living communities, using ethnographic interviews, participant observation and other research strategies to explore human existence and help solve social problems in the United States and abroad.

Public health, climate change and economic inequity are all issues that can be examined from the lens of a cultural anthropologist. Archaeologists explore cultures of the past using fieldwork and laboratory analysis to uncover and evaluate artifacts and other remaining evidence of past societies.

In addition to the courses in the two concentrations, students in the major will gain a strong foundation in biological anthropology and linguistic anthropology. The major will build on the five learning outcomes of the Liberal Arts Core curriculum that all Eastern students take, including Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning, Communication, Creativity and Quantitative Literacy.

Faculty teaching in the new major include experts in Latin American, Caribbean, Canadian and Native American studies. Applied learning opportunities are embedded in the program's required field courses, which can include internships at local museums, archaeological field work at sites in New England and the Midwest and study trips to other countries.

The job market for people with anthropology degrees is expanding, with a projected eight percent growth in total jobs over the next 10 years. The national median salary in 2017 was $62,000. In Connecticut, there were more than 13,000 jobs in 2018 linked to anthropology.

For more information, contact Ricardo Peréz, program coordinator and professor of anthropology at (860) 465-0191 or perezr@easternct.edu.

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving 5,000 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 162 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 34 other states and 19 countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 30 public universities in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2019 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 10 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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