Program at a glance
How much does it cost?
Learn more about how to afford a degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
How long does it take?
This minor is designed to be completed with any major in four years.
What will the minor in big data teach me?
With the rapid advance of computer and internet technologies, data is being collected at unprecedented scale in a broad range of application areas, which presents many challenges as well as novel opportunities of big data management, analysis, retrieval, and modeling. The minor in big data provides you with both the technical skills and the theoretical knowledge to address evolving big data challenges. Through core courses and electives, students who complete the minor will develop skills in advanced statistics, machine learning and data mining, plus programming and data management, and build expertise in solutions to a broad range of big data problems.
Housed in the College of Engineering, the interdisciplinary big data minor includes courses from computer science and engineering, mathematics and statistics, and information systems. The minor in big data is open to all students at the university. Completion of minor requirements may require completion of additional courses as prerequisites.
Big data is an interdisciplinary field, and faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno are applying big data to a range of topics. In computer science & engineering, faculty are using big data for machine learning and robotics. In the School of Journalism, big data is integrated into reporting and data visualization. Researchers in fields like biology and physics are using big data to understand and model the spread of wildfire smoke and its effects on air quality.
Students minoring in big data can find opportunities to get involved in these projects and more to gain hands-on experience with the role of big data in understanding our world.
Take the next step
Careers with a minor in big data
Training in big data can open up a range of career paths, and demand for workers with expertise in managing, storing and working with data is growing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While its interdisciplinary nature means a minor in big data can be applied in a range of fields, some possible jobs for graduates with a minor in big data include:
- Database administrator: Most database administrators have a bachelor's degree in a related field and are responsible for storing and organizing data, from financial records to customer reports to health or education data. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, database administrators had a median annual wage of $98,860 in 2020.
- Statistician: Statisticians work with data to identify trends or patterns and solve problems in fields from business to health care. While many statisticians have a graduate degree, entry-level jobs working with data are available to those with an undergraduate degree. Statisticians had a median annual wage of $96,280 in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reno's growing tech sector also means that a number of companies located in Northern Nevada provide internship and employment opportunities for students with skills in big data.
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