Quantitative Social Data Analysis (QSDA), Undergraduate Certificate Undergraduate Certificate
The Certificate in Quantitative Social Data Analysis is designed to meet the growing need of employers for a workforce that is fluent in data-driven decision-making. Students in the certificate program are exposed to a breadth of data analysis topics, including research methods, Geographical Information System (GIS), multiple regression, and advanced electives on a variety of quantitative topics in various social science fields, as well as software packages that are in common use in the business world. The program is interdisciplinary - it draws on courses from 9 social science-related departments (Africology, Anthropology, Communications, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, Psychology, Political Science, and Sociology) and is intended to complement students’ social science major with concrete quantitative skills in data analysis.
Students will take courses in statistics, regression, GIS, and research methods and will frequently be able to choose a course specific to their major. For example, a sociology major can choose "Research Methods in Sociology" to satisfy the research methods course requirement while a psychology student may choose "Research Methods in Psychology." These options allow students to focus their certificate training in their own field
Eligibility
The certificate is open to current UWM undergraduates, UWM bachelor’s degree holders, or graduates of other accredited four-year colleges; to be admitted to the certificate program, students must have a current overall GPA of 3.0 at UWM or their bachelor’s degree institution. Students completing the certificate not in conjunction with a degree are not eligible for financial aid.
Program Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus
What is a certificate?
Certificates are very similar to a minor – they require about the same number of classes. The difference is that a minor includes classes that are all from the same subject area. For example, a history minor consists of all history classes. A certificate includes classes from multiple subject areas that address the theme of the certificate.
The QSDA certificate draws on classes from political science, economics, sociology, and more.
Earning this certificate indicates that you have achieved subject matter depth in analyzing social science data and can enhance your resume. This certificate is ideal for many social science majors, not just sociology majors. Economics, history, political science, psychology, and business majors are particularly encouraged to explore the certificate.
The Sociology Department also participates in teaching courses in these other certificates.
Admission to the QSDA certificate program requires an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Requirements
To obtain the certificate, the student must obtain a grade of at least C in any course used to satisfy the certificate requirements, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 over all courses used for the certificate. Twelve of the 15-18 required credits must be earned in residence at UWM. 9 of the credits must be on the 300-level or above. Courses for the certificate may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis.
Students currently enrolled at UWM who have fulfilled some of the program’s requirements prior to the program’s approval may have their credits applied retroactively to the certificate program.
Students are required to take one course each from 5 areas:
- Introductory statistics (3-4 credits);
- Research methods (3-4 credits);
- GIS (3 credits);
- Multiple regression (3 credits); and
- Electives (3-4 credits).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Statistics | 3-4 | |
| Choose one: | ||
| Introduction to Statistics in African and African Diaspora Studies | ||
| Economic Statistics | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Geography | ||
| The Quantitative Analysis of Historical Data | ||
| Psychological Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology | ||
| Research Methods | 3-4 | |
| Choose one: | ||
| Research Methods in African & African Diaspora Studies | ||
| Quantitative Research in Communication | ||
| Introduction to Political Science Research | ||
| Research Methods in Psychology | ||
| Research Methods in Sociology | ||
| Methods of Social Welfare Research | ||
| GIS | 3 | |
| Choose one: | ||
| Anthropological Applications of GIS | ||
| Analysis Oriented Technology: Spatial Data Analysis; Crime Mapping; ArcGIS | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Science | ||
| Multiple Regression | 3 | |
| Choose one: | ||
| Introduction to Anthropological Statistics | ||
| Research Methods for Economics | ||
| Statistics for Economists | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics | ||
| Political Data Analysis | ||
| Experimental Design | ||
| Social Data Analysis Using Regression | ||
| Electives | 3-4 | |
| Choose one: 1 | ||
| Economic Forecasting Methods | ||
| Geographic Information Science | ||
| Spatial Analysis | ||
| Survey Research | ||
| Advanced Psychological Statistics | ||
| Social Networks | ||
| Total Credits | 15-18 | |
- 1
Other courses not on this list but relevant to quantitative social data analysis may be accepted with the approval of the Certificate Program Coordinator. A student making such a request must submit syllabi from the courses involved to the coordinator.
Awarding the Certificate
Students currently involved in baccalaureate studies who successfully complete the requirements of the program will be awarded the certificate at the time of graduation. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree will receive the certificate upon completion of the program requirements.
Certificate advising is provided by one of the co-directors of the program: either professor Aki Roberts or professor Thomas Holbrook. Currently enrolled UWM students can contact one of them with questions or proceed directly to the “Declare Certificate” button on this page.
Prospective students not yet enrolled at UWM can contact the college admissions office at (414) 229-7711 or let-sci@uwm.edu.