Career Exploration in Online Data Science Education: A Curriculum Analytics Approach

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 1:45pm
  In Poster Session: Contemporary Issues in Online Instruction and Student Learning

Abstract

Despite a surge in interest and enrollment in data science (DSC) degrees, the United States faces a growing demand for data literacy across multiple sectors. This study employs curriculum analytics and Sankey diagram visualizations to investigate course enrollment patterns among students after enrolling in an introductory online project-based DSC course. We built a longitudinal dataset by following 35 students between Fall 2022 and Spring 2024, tracking their subsequent course enrollments over time. Our exploratory analysis reveals patterns indicating that continued DSC course enrollment appears prevalent among nonwhite, male, STEM-major, and academically proficient students, whereas first-generation students exhibit no persistence. We illustrate how Sankey diagrams provide actionable insights for program and curriculum development in DSC education.

Authors

• Daniela Castellanos-Reyes, North Carolina State University

• Tom R. Leppard, North Carolina State University