Welcome to the Technology / Data / Analytics Community
If you think data tells a story, and you would like to help unravel complex systems and create tools to enable people to better understand your desired topic, or influence their thinking about it, then you might want to start here. From the highly technical and quantitative to qualitative interpretation, this community has an ever-changing approach to the varied work it entails.
The tech sector as a whole employs more SBS graduates than any other sector, with employer partners like Oracle, Granite, Toast, and others leading the pack. For SBS majors, these roles are generally on the customer interface/user experience (UX) and sales sides of the industry.
But being able to interpret big data, and use it to tell a story is an incredibly sought after skill, and one that social scientists are particularly capable of. You may want to consider the UMass Data Analytics and Computational Social Science (DACSS) one-year masters degree as a next step.
Sample Classes
To explore this field, you can take courses that will provide you with knowledge and skills in:
- Communications in the media and culture
- Visual storytelling
- Data collection and data analysis
- Design & design concepts
- Research methodologies
- Creative and technical writing
Below are a few examples, but we urge you to talk to your major/departmental advisor and explore available courses in SPIRE. Remember not to constrain yourself to classes within your major.
Check SPIRE for full course descriptions and availability. These are abbreviated descriptions, and details may change at the discretion of the instructor. Courses may not be offered every semester.
The first all-women (cis and trans) and non-binary students’ hackathon in Western Massachusetts.
Over the course of 24 hours, hackathon participants are encouraged to learn and develop new technical skills, network with sponsor company representatives, and innovate with passion. If …
By
Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick
Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences 
As you look for jobs—particularly admin jobs such as executive assistant or office manager—you may see that employers are looking for administrative skills. And for good reason: Businesses can’t run without them. “Focusing on administrative skills can transform average companies …
Protect Yourself from Scams
In the last few weeks, we’ve heard from several students who have received emails from fraudulent or fake employers. Fortunately, none of them fell for the scam!
An employer that seems “fraudulent” or illegitimate should be …
By
Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick
Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022 Year-Round Intern-Business Enablement & Solutions Team (BEST) -MGT
2022 Govern For America Data Analyst
Business Analyst - Full-time (Summer 2022)
Product Manager – Recent College Graduate
New Grad - Corporate Finance - Analyst
Digital Production Co-op, Global Events Team (Spring 2022)
Michelle Aghiarian’13 Anthropology & Sociology 
Jon Astor’19, Managerial Economics 
Kerry Chan’19, Resource Economics, concentration in Natural Resource & Environmental Economics 
