PELLA — Central College will offer a new data science major starting Fall 2026, responding to surging demand for skilled data professionals across various industries.

The interdisciplinary major bridges STEM, social sciences and humanities, allowing students to apply technical skills in diverse contexts. At Central, the program culminates in a senior capstone project tailored to each student’s interests, with an emphasis on written and oral communication and ethical responsibility.

“Data is everywhere in today’s society,” says Wendy Weber, professor of mathematics and a leader in developing the major. “This program is designed to give students marketable abilities to visualize, interpret and communicate data analysis across many different contexts.”

Data science is one of the fastest-growing careers in the U.S. Employment is projected to grow 34% from 2024 to 2034 — far above the national average — with approximately 23,400 openings expected annually. That growth is driven by rising demand for data-driven decision-making across business, healthcare, government and beyond.

Central’s major focuses on hands-on, personalized learning with a senior capstone project that reflects each student’s academic passions. Examples include:

• Kinesiology — Analyzing data from wearable devices to assess athletic performance or human movement
• Sociology — Extracting insights from social media to study digital behavior
• English/Philosophy — Using writing and communication skills to interpret and present data-driven findings
• Mathematics — Examining disease trends, mortality rates and vaccination data to inform public health responses