Midwest City — Rose State College (Rose State) is helping Oklahomans gain training in high-paying, in-demand careers with the announcement of its new Associate in Science Degree in Data Science and Analytics.

Recent surveys rank Data scientists as one of the top ten best jobs in the United States and the fastest-growing profession in the country.

According to a press release sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, “Oklahoma industries such as aerospace, energy, government, healthcare, engineering and utilities offer high-wage jobs ($60,000+) to Data Scientists. With the continued growth of this field, the gap between market demand and trained Data Scientists widens each year.”

Rose State President Dr. Jeanine Webb said, “As the demand for Data Scientists grows in our state, we want to equip our students with the resources and training needed to compete in this exciting profession.

“This program is the first of its kind at Rose State and shows our commitment to providing education that reflects Oklahoma’s evolving landscape.”

School officials said the goal of the Data Science and Analytics curriculum will be to provide students with the analytical skills and scientific knowledge needed to expand and apply critical thinking to all facets of learning.

Upon degree completion, students will be able to:

* Demonstrate a procedural and conceptual understanding of mathematics, scientific method, computer modeling, quantitative analysis and ethics to extract value from data for industry-appropriate decision-making.

* Apply procedural and conceptual knowledge in preparing data for analysis, including cleansing, aggregating and manipulating data to obtain reliable datasets for algorithm-based analysis.

* Apply both procedural and conceptual knowledge of calculus, statistical methods, computer coding and report writing to produce clear, concise reports in conclusion of data analysis suitable for upper-level courses and a career in data science.

“The addition of the Associate in Science Degree in Data Science and Analytics will provide students with the rigorous math and technology skills necessary to enter the field of data science,” Rose State Dean of the Engineering and Science Division Dr. Ryan Stoddard said.

“With the rising workforce demands within this profession, supplying students with these skills will allow them to earn degrees in in-demand, high-paying careers.”

Rose State is placed in some assessments as a top-ranked community college with a 21-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, offering a four-year experience at a two-year community college.

Rose State provides on-campus housing with savings of up to 40 percent on college tuition.

Interested students should apply and contact Professor Nick Bastani at gbastani@rose.edu to learn more about the new degree and enroll this Spring. To learn more about Rose State, visit rose.edu.

Note: Rose State College is a two-year community college in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Founded in 1970, Rose State welcomes more than 13,000 students yearly. Rose State offers more than 60 different degree programs, small class sizes with a 21-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, on-campus student housing, and is among the lowest tuition costs in Oklahoma.