Technology / Data / Analytics

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.

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.

If you are interested in using technology for the good of society, consider exploring the Public Interest Technology (PiT) Initiative, in which UMass is a partner.  You can learn more here.

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

In the Relevant Courses section below are a few examples of relevant SBS courses, 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.

Also in this section are some relevant non-academic Linkedin Learning courses that you can take for free, compliments of UMass.

 

What Do You Really Want To Do?

Are you uncertain of what you want to do for a career? Maybe you have a lot of ideas or maybe you are unsure of where to even start. You are not alone! In this interactive workshop, we will use …

By Odessa Burkett
Odessa Burkett Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development
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What Is Cybersecurity?

By 2025, total global data storage will likely reach 200 zettabytes (one zettabyte = one trillion gigabytes!). And 90% of the population over age six — that’s 7.5 billion people — will be generating data online by 2030.

While the convenience of our …

By Emily Courtney - Forage
Forage
 Showcase your skills. Find your career fit.
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20 Common Data Science Interview Questions

Getting ready for data science interview questions is, in some respects, no different than preparing for an interview in any other industry. You’ll research the company, prepare answers to common interview questions, and review your portfolio to use during the …

By Rachel Pelta - Forage
Forage
 Showcase your skills. Find your career fit.
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Sidebar

Relevant SBS Courses

Your major does not necessarily have to be in direct line with your career! Sociology majors can work in the business sector. Economics majors can work in government. Poli Sci majors can work on Wall Street. Many SBS departments offer courses relevant to various career paths. Here is a very small sampling of courses relevant to this industry from across the majors. Please speak with your academic advisor to explore all available courses, and remember that you need not constrain yourself to courses within your major. Study what is interesting to you!

COMM 250 – Interpersonal Communication

COMM 250 – Interpersonal Communication

COMM 250 – Interpersonal Communication: This course introduces non-majors to a variety of competing theories of interpersonal behavior and everyday social…
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ResEcon 212: Intro to Stats for Social Scientists

ResEcon 212: Intro to Stats for Social Scientists

ResEcon 212: Intro to Stats for Social Scientists: Designed for students in the social science and business related fields of…
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ECON309: Game Theory

ECON309: Game Theory

ECON309: Game Theory: Game theory is the study of mathematical models of strategic interaction among rational decision-makers. It has applications…
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RESECON 112: Computing – Foundations to Frontiers

RESECON 112: Computing – Foundations to Frontiers

Students work in a team-based learning environment to develop understanding of contemporary computing tools and concepts and the higher-order skills…
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LEGAL 465 – Globalization

LEGAL 465 – Globalization

LEGAL 465 – Globalization: The globalization of law, culture, and politics. Competing arguments about the meaning and effects of globalization.…
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Sociology 213 – Data Collection & Analysis:

Sociology 213 – Data Collection & Analysis:

Sociology 213 – Data Collection & Analysis: Introduction to research design in sociology. How social science data are obtained and…
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SBS College to Careers – SOCBEHAV 250

SBS College to Careers – SOCBEHAV 250

SOCBEHAV 250: College to Careers This class is all about YOU. • One credit, highly-participatory course • Learn about yourself…
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Skill-Building With Linkedin Learning Classes

See below for skill-building classes – visit LinkedIn Learning for more.

Python for Students

Python for Students

Madecraft
There is no better time to learn Python than when you are young. Python is a powerful language for automation,…
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The Core Competencies All Employers Seek

The Core Competencies All Employers Seek

Some skills are universally sought by employers and are essential to a well functioning team.  Stand out from the crowd…
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Build a Successful Career in Project Management

Build a Successful Career in Project Management

Oliver Yarbrough
Do you want to get into project management? Maybe you’re already in project management, but you want to grow. Either…
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Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Corey Koberg
Google Analytics 4 provides the means to track, analyze, and report on the visitors to your site and app—who they…
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Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) (2018)

Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) (2018)

Dennis Taylor
Get up to speed with Microsoft Excel, the world’s most popular spreadsheet program. Follow along with Excel expert Dennis Taylor…
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Learning Data Analytics: 1 Foundations

Learning Data Analytics: 1 Foundations

Robin Hunt
Are you interested in pursuing a career in data analytics? In this course, instructor Robin Hunt brings you into the…
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PowerPoint Essential Training (Office 365/Microsoft 365) (2020)

PowerPoint Essential Training (Office 365/Microsoft 365) (2020)

Jess Stratton
You don’t have to be a designer to create a great visual presentation. Learn how to use Microsoft PowerPoint for…
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Learning Canva

Learning Canva

Marley Jaxx
Canva is an easy way—without any graphic design experience—to create professional graphics for social media, presentations, newsletters, business cards, brochures,…
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You Need a Career Development Plan

You Need a Career Development Plan

Macmillan Publishers
You can’t navigate your way to career success without first plotting a course. Having a career development strategy can be…
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Customer Service Foundations (2020)

Customer Service Foundations (2020)

Jeff Toister
View Jeff’s LinkedIn Newsletter Do your customers feel valued? When they do, they keep coming back. When they don’t, your…
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Outlook Quick Tips (2017)

Outlook Quick Tips (2017)

Nick Brazzi
Get quick answers to your most urgent Outlook questions. These short tutorials help users work faster and smarter with Outlook,…
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CSS Essential Training

CSS Essential Training

Christina Truong
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a stylesheet language that allows you to control the appearance of your webpages. In this…
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Nano Tips for Using Excel with Miss Excel (2021)

Nano Tips for Using Excel with Miss Excel (2021)

Kat Norton
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. Here, join Miss Excel…
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SEO Foundations (2018)

SEO Foundations (2018)

David Booth
Modern consumers navigate the world through search. From laptops, smartphones, virtual assistants, tablets, and more, they search the wild and…
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Excel: Introduction to Formulas and Functions

Excel: Introduction to Formulas and Functions

Curt Frye
To unlock the power of Excel, you need to use formulas and functions. These calculation tools help you bring information…
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Data Visualization: Best Practices

Data Visualization: Best Practices

Amy Balliett
Media and marketing efforts often rely on data visualizations to prove a point quickly. But poorly designed visualizations can be…
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Blockchain Basics

Blockchain Basics

Jonathan Reichental
View Jonathan’s LinkedIn Newsletter Blockchain technology demands attention. And it’s not just due to the way it revolutionized monetary transactions.…
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Public Speaking Foundations

Public Speaking Foundations

Laura Bergells
Develop the skills you need to prepare and deliver an outstanding speech or presentation. In this course, Laura Bergells offers…
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Digital Marketing Trends

Digital Marketing Trends

Martin Waxman
View Martin’s LinkedIn Newsletter Stay up to date on the latest trends in digital marketing. In this biweekly series, marketing…
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User Experience (UX) for Non-Designers

User Experience (UX) for Non-Designers

Tom Green
User experience (UX) design is more than just pushing pixels and adding interactivity. It’s a people-centric practice that involves many…
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Explore Outcomes

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Starting Salary
  • Job Titles
  • Employment Locations
  • Top Universities
  • Degree Types
  • Fields of Study

First Destination

SBS graduates pursue a range of plans after graduation, including employment, continuing education, and volunteering/service, among others.  This graph depicts what recent SBS graduates tell us they are doing within six months after graduation.

Professionals In-Residence / Industry Experts

Richard Pisciotta’18

Professionals In-Residence / Industry Experts
  • New York, NY
  • Publicis Health Media
Learn more from Richard >

Vinayak Rao’15

Professionals In-Residence / Industry Experts
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Facebook
Learn more from Vinayak >

Cristina Sunkel

Professionals In-Residence / Industry Experts
  • Washington, DC
  • Independent Consultant
Learn more from Cristina >
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Student Success Stories

My SBS in DC Experience: Abby Keagle

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Featured Resources

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