B.S. in Economics and Data Science

Economics and Data Science (B.S.)

Economists explore how markets work—producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services—and they analyze how individuals, organizations, and nations manage and use resources, respond to incentives, and make choices about spending, investment, and policies. Data scientists manage, analyze, and visualize massive amounts of data to find patterns and derive knowledge and insights.

The Bachelor of Science in Economics and Data Science degree teaches students how to apply the concepts of economics and the powerful techniques of data science in order to understand economic events and trends, develop business and organizational strategies, predict potential outcomes, and make informed decisions.

In this interdisciplinary program you will learn from world-class faculty at Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business and College of Computing, and take courses in economics, business, data science, computer science, and applied math.

Graduates are prepared with STEM-oriented expertise and skill sets that enable them to solve complex challenges, increase efficiency, and lead data-driven decision-making in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors.

Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences—such as internships and group projects—where you connect your learning with real-world practice. You also receive mentoring to guide your academic studies and build your career readiness.

鶹APP is an international center for business and finance, with a diverse metro economy that is home to a growing array of tech companies. Illinois Tech’s connections provide you with access to internships, networking, and job opportunities in a variety of industries.

STEM-Designated Program

This is a STEM-designated program, and international graduates of the program are eligible to apply for an extension for Optional Practical Training, which allows selected students to stay and work in the United States for up to three years after graduation.
 

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Economics and Data Science degree focuses on applying data science concepts in the economics domain. With a grounding in these two complementary disciplines, graduates are ready to use high-level computational techniques to gain valuable insights from data, predict trends, solve business problems, and help businesses and organizations become more efficient.

Career Opportunities

The B.S. in Economics and Data Science degree provides excellent preparation for a variety of job roles in the private sector, particularly at technology-focused or financial businesses, as well as in the nonprofit, government, and consulting sectors.

Overall, the employment outlook is very good for the roles listed below. Estimated median annual wages in 2022 and projected employment growth from 2022–32, as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, are also shown below.

  • or —median wages of $103,500; job growth of 35 percent (much faster than the average growth for all job categories)
  • —median wages of $85,720; job growth of 23 percent (much faster than the average growth for all job categories)
  • For students who take appropriate elective courses in finance:
    • —median wages of $96,220 or
    • —median wages of $102,120; both with faster than average job growth projected
  • —median wages of $113,940; job growth of six percent (faster than average)
    • Positions typically require a master’s degree. Interested students could consider the Accelerated Master’s Program co-terminal option, pairing this bachelor’s degree with the M.S. in Economics and Data Analytics or M.S. in Financial Economics degrees.

Other examples of potential job roles for graduates of this program include:

  • Quantitative research analyst
  • Financial data scientist
  • Health care economist
  • Policy analyst or researcher
  • Economic research analyst
  • Business continuity planner or consultant

The B.S. in Economics and Data Science degree is a cross-disciplinary program that provides a data analysis and data visualization focus with a strong grounding in economics. The curriculum combines core economics knowledge with an understanding of the conceptual and practical data science skills that will enable graduates to contribute to organizational decision making and efficiency.

Admission to Illinois Tech is required to enroll in the B.S. in Economics and Data Science program. Current Illinois Tech students should consult their academic adviser to transfer into the program.

Featured Faculty

Meet your professors! Here are some of the faculty from Stuart School of Business and College of Computing who teach courses in this program.

John Twombly
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs Director of Undergraduate Programs in Business Clinical Professor of Accounting and Finance Adjunct Faculty, Industrial Technology and Management
Robert Ellis
Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics Program Director, Bachelor of Science in Data Science
Ghazale Jafari Haddadian
Clinical Associate Professor of Operations and Energy Management
Ioan Raicu
Professor of Computer Science Associate Program Director Master of Data Science
Priyanka Sharma
Associate Professor of Economics
Xiaoyun "Aarn" Cao
Clinical Assistant Professor of Management
Despina Stasi
Associate Teaching Professor of Applied Mathematics
Sang Baum "Solomon" Kang
Assistant Director, Undergraduate Programs in Business Associate Professor of Finance
Binghui Wang
Assistant Professor of Computer Science

For More Information

College of Computing

Discover cutting-edge advancements in computer science, modern fields of applied mathematics, and the latest in information technologies at College of Computing.

Stuart School of Business

Check out news about Stuart School of Business, our many resources for students—such as academic advising and our Career Management Center—and our dynamic research community.