This combined degree offers both a strong data science foundation and an interdisciplinary understanding of global affairs and international issues. Students study the collection, manipulation, storage, retrieval, and computational analysis of data in its various forms, including numeric, textual, image, and video data from small to large volumes. Utilizing these skill sets allows students to address topics such as interstate relations (conflict, cooperation, hierarchies); civil society, transnational advocacy networks, global social movements; and state-society relations (democracy, authoritarianism, social justice and inequalities, citizenship). Upon graduation, students are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to work across national cultures in fields that relate to utilizing data to address complex regional and international issues.
- Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality.
- Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
Universitywide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Data Science Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Must be taken in alignment with your home college: | ||
| CS 1200 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| or INTL 1000 | International Affairs at Northeastern | |
| CS 1210 | Professional Development for Khoury Co-op | 1 |
| Programming Sequence Pathways | ||
| Complete one of the two options: | 12 | |
| Computer Science Option | ||
| Fundamentals of Computer Science 1 and Lab for CS 2500 | ||
| Fundamentals of Computer Science 2 and Lab for CS 2510 | ||
| Object-Oriented Design and Lab for CS 3500 | ||
| Data Science Option | ||
| Programming with Data and Data Science Programming Practicum | ||
| Intermediate Programming with Data and Lab for DS 2500 | ||
| Advanced Programming with Data | ||
| Computer Science Required Courses | ||
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | Discrete Structures and Seminar for CS 1800 | 5 |
| CS 3200 | Introduction to Databases | 4 |
| Data Science Foundations | ||
| DS 3000 | Foundations of Data Science | 4 |
| DS 4200 | Information Presentation and Visualization | 4 |
| DS 4300 | Large-Scale Information Storage and Retrieval | 4 |
| DS 4400 | Machine Learning and Data Mining 1 | 4 |
| Khoury Elective | ||
| With advisor approval, directed study, research, project study, and appropriate graduate-level courses may also be taken as upper-division electives. | ||
| Complete four semester hours of CS, CY, DS, or IS classes that are not already required. Choose courses within the following ranges: | 4 | |
| CS 2500 or higher, except CS 5010 | ||
| CY 2000 or higher, except CY 4930 | ||
| DS 2500 or higher, except DS 4900 | ||
| IS 2000 or higher, except IS 4900 | ||
International Affairs Requirements
Courses used to fulfill major requirements may not be used to satisfy the global dynamics requirement. See department for additional courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ANTH 1101 | Peoples and Cultures | 4 |
| or HIST 2211 | The World Since 1945 | |
| or HIST 2311 | Colonialism/Imperialism | |
| INTL 1101 | Globalization and International Affairs | 4 |
| INTL 2718 | Research Methods in International Affairs | 4 |
| INTL 3400 | International Conflict and Negotiation | 4 |
| POLS 1160 | International Relations | 4 |
| International Experiential Learning | ||
| Complete at least one “international semester” via study abroad, international internship, international co-op, or two short-term programs. | ||
Global Dynamics Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete two of the following with one course numbered 2000 or above. Courses are divided into thematic groups to aid students in deciding which courses to take and have no bearing on major requirements: | 8 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | ||
| Global Climate Change | ||
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Food Security and Sustainability | ||
| Climate and Development | ||
| International Environmental Policy | ||
or PPUA 5268 | International Environmental Policy | |
| Climate Policy and Justice | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Law, Diplomacy, and Global Governance | ||
| Law and History | ||
| Global and Intercultural Communication | ||
| Women and World Politics | ||
or WMNS 2480 | Women and World Politics | |
| Global Political Economy | ||
| International Human Rights Law and Policy | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Religion and Politics | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Law | ||
| Model United Nations | ||
| Human Rights and Social Justice | ||
| Gender and Black World Literatures | ||
| Afro-Asian Relations in the Americas | ||
| Gender, Social Justice, and Transnational Activism | ||
or POLS 3100 | Gender, Social Justice, and Transnational Activism | |
| Gender and Reproductive Justice | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in World History | ||
| Women and World Politics | ||
or WMNS 2480 | Women and World Politics | |
| International Human Rights Law and Policy | ||
| Global Justice | ||
| Conflict and Security | ||
| Global Criminology | ||
| Political Crime and Terrorism | ||
| Security in the 21st Century | ||
| Drug Trade and Drug War: History, Security, Culture | ||
| History of Espionage 1: Antiquity to World War II | ||
| History of Espionage 2: Cold War Spies | ||
| The Global Far-Right since 1945: Politics, Culture, Violence | ||
| The Global Cold War | ||
| Assassinations in World History | ||
| History of Modern Terrorism | ||
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | ||
| Security, Culture, Power | ||
| Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media | ||
or INTL 3300 | Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media | |
| Global Justice | ||
| The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide | ||
| Nationalism | ||
| U.S. National Security Policy | ||
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism | ||
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | ||
or INTL 3430 | Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | |
| Model NATO | ||
| Globalization | ||
| Issues in Race, Science, and Technology | ||
| Global Markets and Local Culture | ||
| Religion and Modernity | ||
| History of the Global Economy | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Origins of Today: Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues | ||
| The World Since 1945 | ||
| Colonialism/Imperialism | ||
| Cultural Aspects of International Business | ||
| Women and World Politics | ||
or WMNS 2480 | Women and World Politics | |
| Cities in a Global Context | ||
| Global Political Economy | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Religion and Politics | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Law | ||
| Population, Migration, and Diaspora | ||
| Introduction to African American and Africana Studies | ||
| Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora | ||
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
or PHTH 1270 | Introduction to Global Health | |
| Peoples and Cultures | ||
| Human Trafficking | ||
| Pirates, Planters, and Patriots: Making the Americas, 1492–1804 | ||
| History of Global Pandemics | ||
| Race and Global Human Mobility | ||
| Cities in a Global Context | ||
| Forced Migration: Refugees, Exiles, and Displaced Persons | ||
| Introduction to World Religions | ||
| Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | ||
| Immigration Politics | ||
| Development | ||
| Global Markets and Local Culture | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| International Food Policy | ||
| A Critique of Capitalism | ||
| Economic Growth and Applications | ||
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Capitalism and Business: A Global History | ||
| Global Social Enterprise | ||
| International Business and Global Social Responsibility | ||
or INTB 1209 | International Business and Global Social Responsibility | |
| Global Philanthropy | ||
| Global Political Economy | ||
| Climate and Development | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Politics of Developing Nations | ||
| Communication and Media | ||
| Global and Intercultural Communication | ||
| Understanding and Managing Cultural Differences | ||
| Cultural Aspects of International Business | ||
| Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media | ||
or INTL 3300 | Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media | |
| Global Reporting | ||
| Language Policy | ||
| Global Media | ||
Regional Analysis Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete two of the following, both of which must be in one region. Select courses taken during a semester study abroad or specific Dialogue of Civilizations courses may count as regional analysis courses pending approval of the international affairs head faculty advisor. See department for additional courses: | 8 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | ||
| Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions | ||
| Swahili, Culture, and Politics in Kenya | ||
| Community Health, Culture, and Development in Kenya | ||
| Introduction to African Studies | ||
| Ethnography of Southeast Asia | ||
| Anthropology of Africa | ||
| Business Economic History of South Africa | ||
| Natural Resources and Sustainable Development | ||
| Asia | ||
| Culture and Politics in Modern India | ||
| East Asian Studies | ||
or HIST 1150 | East Asian Studies | |
| Japanese Film | ||
| Modern Chinese History and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture | ||
| World War II in the Pacific | ||
| Japanese Literature and Culture | ||
| History of Vietnam Wars | ||
| Modern Chinese History and Culture | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond | ||
| Chinese Philosophy and Religion | ||
| Japanese Buddhism | ||
| China: Governance and Foreign Policy | ||
| Europe | ||
| Anthropology of Eastern Europe | ||
| Introduction to French Culture | ||
| Introduction to Italian Culture | ||
| Cultural History of Spain | ||
| Europe: Empires, Revolutions, Wars, and Their Aftermath | ||
| Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1500 | ||
| History of the Soviet Union | ||
| Renaissance to Enlightenment | ||
| The Tudors, the Stuarts, and the Birth of Modern Britain | ||
| Russian Foreign Policy | ||
or POLS 3455 | Russian Foreign Policy | |
| Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | ||
| Latin America | ||
| Afro-Latin American Studies | ||
| Latin American Society and Development | ||
| Latin American Film | ||
| Latin American Culture, History, and Politics | ||
| Social Justice in Latin American and Latinx Film | ||
| New Narratives: Latin America after 1989 | ||
| Literature, Arts, and Poverty in Latin America | ||
| Latin American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Latin American History | ||
| Latin American History through Film | ||
| Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies | ||
| Middle East | ||
| Introduction to Arabic Culture | ||
| Economic History of the Middle East | ||
| Introduction to Middle Eastern History | ||
| The Mediterranean World: An Overview | ||
| Middle East Studies | ||
| Modern Israel | ||
| America and the Middle East | ||
| Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates | ||
| Jewish Religion and Culture | ||
| Government and Politics in the Middle East | ||
International Affairs Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Women and World Politics | ||
| Race and Global Human Mobility | ||
| Global Philanthropy | ||
| Cities in a Global Context | ||
| Borders and Racial Security | ||
| International Law | ||
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | ||
| Security, Culture, Power | ||
| Global Political Economy | ||
| Forced Migration: Refugees, Exiles, and Displaced Persons | ||
| International Human Rights Law and Policy | ||
| Climate and Development |
English Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Writing | ||
| ENGW 1111 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| or ENGW 1102 | First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers | |
| Advanced Writing in the Disciplines | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
| Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences | ||
| Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines | ||
Supporting Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ||
| ECON 2350 | Statistics for Economists | 4 |
| MATH 1341 | Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
Integrative Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Complete with a thesis or project that integrates both international affairs and data science: | ||
| INTL 4700 | Senior Capstone Seminar in International Affairs | 4 |
| Digital Ethics | ||
| CY 4170 | The Law, Ethics, and Policy of Data and Digital Technologies | 4 |
Required General Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 24 semester hours of general electives. | 24 | |
Khoury College GPA Requirement
Minimum cumulative 2.000 GPA required in all CS, CY, DS, and IS courses
Program Requirement
131 total semester hours required
Sample Plan of Study: Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 1200 | 1 | ANTH 1101, HIST 2211, or HIST 2311 | 4 | CS 3200 | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | DS 2500 and DS 2501 | 5 | ECON 2350 | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| DS 2000 and DS 2001 | 4 | POLS 1160 | 4 | ||||
| ENGW 1111 | 4 | MATH 1341 | 4 | ||||
| INTL 1101 | 4 | ||||||
| 18 | 17 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| DS 3000 | 4 | CS 1210 | 1 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
| DS 3500 | 4 | DS 4200 | 4 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 | ||
| Global Dynamics Course 1 | 4 | INTL 2718 | 4 | ||||
| International Affairs Elective | 4 | Regional Analysis Requirement 1 | 4 | ||||
| Khoury Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 17 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | 0 | DS 4300 | 4 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
| INTL 3400 | 4 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 | ||||
| Global Dynamics Course 2 | 4 | ||||||
| Regional Analysis Requirement 2 | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| Co-op | 0 | CY 4170 | 4 | ||||
| ENGW 3302, 3308, or 3315 | 4 | DS 4400 | 4 | ||||
| INTL 4700 | 4 | ||||||
| Regional Analysis Requirement 3 | 4 | ||||||
| 4 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 136 | |||||||
Sample Plan of Study: Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 1200 | 1 | ANTH 1101, HIST 2211, or HIST 2311 | 4 | CS 3200 | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | DS 2500 and DS 2501 | 5 | ECON 2350 | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| DS 2000 and DS 2001 | 4 | POLS 1160 | 4 | ||||
| ENGW 1111 | 4 | MATH 1341 | 4 | ||||
| INTL 1101 | 4 | ||||||
| 18 | 17 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 1210 | 1 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 |
| DS 3000 | 4 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 | ||||
| DS 3500 | 4 | ||||||
| Global Dynamics Course 1 | 4 | ||||||
| International Affairs Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| DS 4200 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 |
| INTL 2718 | 4 | ENGW 3302, 3308, or 3315 | 4 | Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible) | 4 | ||
| Regional Analysis Requirement 1 | 4 | ||||||
| Khoury Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| DS 4300 | 4 | CY 4170 | 4 | ||||
| INTL 3400 | 4 | DS 4400 | 4 | ||||
| Global Dynamics Course 2 | 4 | INTL 4700 | 4 | ||||
| Regional Analysis Requirement 2 | 4 | Regional Analysis Requirement 3 | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 136 | |||||||