This certificate was designed for students interested in learning advanced statistics and data analysis skills in the context of social science research. The formal credential of a certificate can enhance a students employment opportunities or application to graduate school.

Data analysis is an essential part of the study of any social science. The curriculum for those majors includes a broad overview of statistics and analysis, which the certificate builds upon with five additional statistics and research methods courses. Students can choose from a variety of courses that span 10 different academic disciplines and also gain hands-on experience.

The job outlook for individuals with strong quantitative skills is quite positive looking out to 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The certificate is a way for students to gain recognition from employers and graduate programs of their "hard skills" in data analysis.