Technology

The demand for statisticians has significantly increased because statistical and analytical skills have become critical to so many fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow 11% from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Beyond the number of jobs available, a career in statistics is lucrative as well. The median average pay for statisticians was $103,300 as of May 2024. Earning this bachelor’s in statistics can set you apart and prepare you to pursue statistics- and data-driven careers immediately after graduating.

The skills you’ll develop in this online statistics program

In this program, you’ll learn how to gather, organize, analyze and interpret data. You’ll gain experience with probability, big data and machine learning, and understand how to apply this knowledge in real scenarios. You’ll also become proficient in communicating the results of your analyses, an ability highly valued by employers. Additional transferable skills you’ll graduate with include:

• Data visualization
• Experiment design
• Methods of inference
• Programming languages, such as Python, R and SAS
• Statistical modeling

What fields do statisticians work in?

Due to advances in computing technology, data is more valuable than ever in driving decisions and influencing new research areas. Statistics has applications in fields ranging from business and science to policy and government. You’ll also find statistician roles in banking and finance, journalism, sports and fashion.

This program stands out because of its holistic approach. As you progress in your career, you can use your statistical modeling and communication abilities to solve data-driven problems and streamline processes in any industry. This can include building innovative software, developing safer drugs, communicating data with the public and more.

Planning to pursue graduate studies? Pair this bachelor’s degree with an Accelerated Master’s and finish in as little as one additional year. This path can reduce your time and costs while deepening your expertise. Eligible programs include:

• Master of Science in biological data science

In the first program of its kind, you’ll learn how to apply the tools of historical, ethical, literary and cultural studies to technological and environmental questions. Through skill-building activities and opportunities for applied work, you’ll explore how humans interact with the places they live and the roles culture and technology play in facilitating relationships within communities. Your courses will emphasize three connected areas of knowledge, including:

• Culture
  • Delve into media, narrative, rhetoric, belonging and the imagination. You’ll explore approaches to equitable and diverse global citizenship through the study of culture and language.
• Technology
  • Explore humane technology, applied ethics and equitable innovation. You’ll learn how to apply humanities thinking to the human and ethical challenges of a world shaped by technology.
• Environment
  • Deepen your understanding of environmental justice and how the humanities enable us to develop sustainable ways to address challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. You’ll examine environmental justice in relation to race, gender, class, age, disability and more.

Who’s this degree a good fit for?

This program is ideal for those preparing for careers in advocacy and activism, communication and community, nonprofit organizations and more. As a candidate, you’ll have a passion for creating solutions that incorporate an arts and humanities perspective. You’ll also be committed to creating a positive impact on communities and acknowledging the role technology plays in shaping society.

Additionally, if you seek interdisciplinary studies to build transferable skills, this degree is a good choice for you. Upon completing this bachelor’s in culture, technology and environment, you’ll be competent in communicating, leading and planning. You’ll also have skills in analysis, flexible thinking and design thinking.

What can you do with a culture, technology and environment degree?

With a humanities background, you’ll be equipped to address cultural, ethical, technological and environmental challenges in a range of careers. This program complements career paths ranging from environmental activism and policy analysis to writing and nonprofit work. Top industries include manufacturing, educational services, public relations, nature or science writing and public administration. You’ll also be prepared to adapt to innovative technology that’s becoming ever-present in the world of work, such as generative artificial intelligence. Graduate with lifelong skills and a readiness to pursue justice in your communities.

As a digital society, there’s a growing need for professionals who understand the importance of art, media and technology in learning. In this concentration, you’ll explore how humans learn and the role arts technology plays in shaping the future of education. You’ll also learn how to drive innovation in settings ranging from libraries and science museums to after-school programs and adult education settings.

Additionally, you’ll gain insight into different types of media technologies and ways they can enhance education. Your courses will demonstrate how to use artificial intelligence, virtual reality and creative tools to facilitate learning. You’ll also develop cultural literacy, which involves understanding the sociocultural and environmental impacts of implementing technology in education.

The skills you’ll develop in this program

In this interdisciplinary program, you’ll expand your media arts and technical skills in the context of education. You’ll build competencies in programming for media creation, digital design, research, communication and collaboration. Additional skills you’ll add to your toolkit include:

• Aesthetic literacy, including form and composition.
• Computational tools and methodologies.
• Improvisation and rapid prototyping.
• Media processing and editing for video, audio and graphics.
• Modeling and inference.
• Physical computing.
• Visualization and sonification.
• User experience.

Who’s a good fit for this media arts and sciences degree?

This concentration can complement your skills whether you have a creative or technical background. For artists and creatives, this degree offers opportunities to increase your fluency with technological tools. If you’re technical-oriented, you’ll gain a foundation in the cultural and creative use of technology. Regardless of where you start, you’ll graduate prepared to reimagine learning experiences within communities, organizations and more.

If you’re interested in exploring media technologies outside of the context of education, ASU’s general Bachelor of Arts in media arts and sciences online is an option to consider. However, both the general program and the education concentration focus on cultivating your creative and technical skills, equipping you to make an impact in today’s digital world.

Social media managers operate in fast-paced environments where they balance strategy with real-time communication. They’re also responsible for ensuring messages reflect the cultural, social and economic values of the communities they serve.

Taught through a technical communication lens, this program trains you to create content about, for and through digital technology. You’ll focus on writing for specific audiences, managing design projects and supporting ethical, accessible communication across platforms.

This concentration takes an interdisciplinary approach. The curriculum integrates business skills, content production, organizational communication and crisis and reputation management — topics often spread across departments at other universities. At ASU, they’re combined in one program that prepares you for a professional career in social media.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

Projects focus on writing, design and strategic content creation. You’ll also work with visual, video and audio formats to expand your digital communication abilities.

The curriculum covers topics such as podcasting, data visualization, grant writing, accessibility, global communication and usability testing. You’ll also gain insight into the history, theory and techniques of professional social media production. Key skills include:

• Advanced technology use for content creation
• Content development and management
• Cross-cultural communication and collaboration
• Writing for specific audiences

Social media evolves quickly, so course content is regularly updated to reflect new tools and best practices.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal if you’re interested in professional communication roles within businesses, nonprofits or government settings. Coursework focuses on organizational strategy, including customer service, content planning and crisis communication.

This is not a journalism degree focused on news production. If you’re more interested in media theory and analysis, the Bachelor of Arts in mass communication and media studies may be a better fit.

An applied business degree is ideal for those looking for growth in their current roles or are preparing for leadership and management positions. In this program, you’ll gain a variety of business skills, such as:

• Analytical research and problem solving.
• Cross-functional communication and collaboration.
• Data analytics and visualization.
• Global applications and cultural sensitivity.
• Leadership and management.
• Personal ethics and integrity.

Additionally, you can tailor your learning by choosing up to two specializations in your areas of interest. Explore topics in more than 15 focus areas ranging from human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion to human factors engineering and marketing. This provides you with the opportunity to direct your learning and tailor coursework to your professional goals.

The careers an applied business degree prepares you for

Employers of all sizes and industries value broad-based business skills. Whether you want to advance in your current role, seek opportunities in a new organization or follow entrepreneurial pursuits, you’ll be on the path to accomplish your goals.

As a graduate, you can pursue a wide array of careers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. You may find opportunities in communications, leadership and management, human resources, sales, training and more.

How does this program compare to a business administration degree?

While both programs provide insight into business practice and strategy, they have key differences. ASU Online’s bachelor’s in business administration concentration emphasizes building general management and operations skills.

By comparison, this applied business degree allows you to explore multiple areas of interest. You’ll have the flexibility to take courses in a variety of disciplines and understand how they integrate to form valuable business solutions.

Computer science graduates are in demand in fields ranging from health care and business to nonprofits and transportation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for computer and information research scientists is expected to grow 26% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average for all occupations. Additionally, the median annual wage was $145,080 in 2023. Check out our article to learn more about what computer scientists do.

With the knowledge you’ll gain, you can design and analyze software for various applications including networks, graphics, artificial intelligence and database systems. You’ll have training in programming languages, such as Java, C and C++. Upon graduation, you can find roles improving software reliability, network security, information retrieval systems and more.

The skills you’ll gain in this online CS degree

Unlike other engineers, computer scientists focus on designing computers, computational processes and information transfer. In this program, you’ll build on your aptitude for mathematics and reasoning while applying concepts to computer science. Coursework builds your expertise in artificial intelligence, algorithm analysis, formal languages, natural language processing and cybersecurity. Additional transferable skills include:

• Analyzing complex computing problems.
• Applying computer science theory and software development fundamentals.
• Designing and evaluating computing-based solutions to meet requirements.
• Solving technical problems from a broad perspective of computer science, including business, societal and regulatory issues.
• Understanding how computer hardware and software interact.

As a computer science major, you’ll also refine professional skills to lead teams, such as ethical decision-making, collaboration, innovation and communication. Combining these skills with technical acumen can set you apart from other candidates.

What sets ASU’s online computer science program apart

This program has Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation, which will signal to employers that your degree meets the global standard for technical education. Upon graduation, you’ll have opportunities to work globally because ABET accreditation is recognized and respected worldwide through international agreements. Further, earning a degree through an ABET-accredited program is a step toward earning many professional certifications, registration and licensure.

Additionally, if you want to pursue further education, you can complete this bachelor’s degree as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Computer Science.
• Master of Computer Science – big data systems.
• Master of Computer Science – cybersecurity.

Data visualization focuses on increasing universal access to data using a variety of visual design techniques. The three primary benefits of earning a data visualization degree concentration include, but aren’t limited to:

• Career opportunities.
  • Diverse skills increase your marketability and may open doors for career opportunities in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
  • New career opportunities in the fields of data analysis, data visualization and data specialization.
  • Other career opportunities in the fields of graphic design and content management.
• Personal development.
  • Further your skills and theory of data management, helping you understand, manage, normalize, create and visualize different types of data according to best practices.
  • Learn how to independently analyze and scrutinize sources of data, including publicly available datasets.
• Professional competencies.
  • Understanding the theory of data management allows you to manage, normalize, create and visualize many types of data using best practices.
  • Gaining knowledge about graphic design and visual communication principles enables you to design infographics, informational posters and other media that increase accessibility to information.
  • Independently analyze and scrutinize many sources of data, including publicly available datasets.

Earning a data visualization degree concentration prepares you to join a field with high demand in data-related occupations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for data scientists is projected to grow 35% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than average for all occupations. The median annual salary in 2022 for data scientists was $103,500 and typically requires earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

The skills you’ll develop in this program

During this program, you'll explore a variety of topics you can apply to your career, such as graphic design, data visualization, infographic development and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the structure of digital information and all facets of data management. Skills you’ll develop include:

• Collaborating with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Conducting user research to create complex communication products.
• Creating communication pieces in multiple media formats.
• Managing design projects.
• Writing clearly and effectively for specific audiences.

Data visualization and technical communication are integral to driving strategic decisions across industries. This data visualization degree concentration prepares you to organize and present data in appealing visuals, ultimately making information easy to understand for wide audiences.

How does this program compare to other technical communication degree concentrations?

This bachelor’s in technical communication with a concentration in data visualization provides foundational knowledge in technical writing with a focus on visual data. As part of the technical communication core curriculum, you’ll learn the fundamentals of technical communication and practice principles of technical editing. After completing your core curriculum, you’ll take data visualization concentration courses that help you advance your data visualization tools and techniques. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a variety of careers in data or technical communication.

If you’re interested in exploring other aspects of technical communication, you may also consider the following ASU Online programs:

• Bachelor of Science in technical communication with a concentration in social media management.
  • In this program, you’ll take courses that focus on writing, design, management and other techniques for producing a variety of content. In your social media concentration courses, you’ll develop insight into the opportunities, concerns and demands associated with professional social media management.
• Bachelor of Science in technical communication with a concentration in user experience.
  • In this program, you’ll take courses that emphasize technical communication, while incorporating relevant context from fields such as human systems engineering and graphic information technology. In your user experience courses, you’ll gain a foundation in UX concepts and their application to real-world assignments.