MiraCosta College has launched a new
Associate of Science (AS) degree in Data Science, an innovative, interdisciplinary program designed to meet the growing demand for data-driven professionals and prepare students for seamless transfer to top-tier universities, including UC San Diego and UC Berkeley.
This new degree arrives at a pivotal time, as data science job openings are projected to
grow by more than 36 percent over the next five years. By combining coursework in mathematics, computer science, and data visualization, the program equips students with the technical expertise and critical thinking skills needed to analyze complex datasets and solve real-world problems.
“MiraCosta’s new data science degree prepares students for high-skill, high-wage careers in a rapidly evolving digital economy,” said Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, superintendent/president of MiraCosta College. “We’re proud to offer a program that supports workforce needs and socioeconomic mobility in our region, and also gives students a clear path to a bachelor’s degree.”
Key Program Features Include:
• Transfer-Ready Curriculum: All program courses satisfy lower-division requirements for the data science bachelor’s programs.
• In-Demand Skills: Students will master programming in Python or Java, mathematical modeling, linear algebra, and data analysis, which are key skills for employment across multiple industries.
• Regional Relevance: The program complements existing MiraCosta offerings in computer science, math, and artificial intelligence.
The 61–63 unit program includes core data science courses, advanced mathematics, computer science sequences, and the Cal-GETC general education pattern. Students can tailor their coursework based on their intended transfer institution, selecting advanced math and general education electives accordingly.
Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in sectors such as health care, finance, government, and technology, or continue their education in bachelor’s and graduate programs.
“This program is more than a degree. It’s a launchpad,” said Dr. Cooke. “It opens the door to well-paying, future-focused careers for students in our region.”
For Rosey Gutierrez, the new data science program reflects a journey she’s already taken. A first-generation immigrant and former IT professional, Rosey returned to education as an adult learner, reigniting her long-held dream of higher education after receiving DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. Initially apprehensive about returning to the classroom, she quickly found community and purpose at MiraCosta.
“One day I told my husband I still wanted to go to college, and he said, ‘Why not?’ That was the push I needed,” she said. “Thanks to MiraCosta, I found a place that supported me and opened doors I never thought possible.”
Rosey's breakthrough came in an English class, where her story as a self-taught tech enthusiast caught the attention of faculty and led her into the college’s computer science pathway. She went on to serve as a teaching assistant, founded the Computer Science for the Common Good club, and became the student lead for a
state-funded grant project focused on equity in STEM education. Her academic excellence earned her the MiraCosta Medal of Academic Merit.
Now finishing her bachelor's degree in data science at UC San Diego, Rosey’s focus has evolved to explore the intersection of data, ethics, and public policy. Inspired by leaders like Joy Buolamwini, whose research revealed bias in facial recognition algorithms.
“I want to use technology to make a positive impact on society,” Rosey said. “I want to use data to support policies that protect communities and improve lives.”
Her goal is to work in public service, ideally in a policy research role such as the Congressional Research Service. It's a vision grounded in lived experience and academic achievement—and it all started at MiraCosta College.
For Samantha Sheerin, a computer science student at MiraCosta College and mother of a nine-year-old daughter, the new degree represents a meaningful next step.
Samantha enrolled at MiraCosta shortly after relocating to California. What began as a practical decision quickly became a transformative one.
“I fell in love with MiraCosta College,” she said. “I could just immediately tell it was so different, the way everybody was there.”
While balancing parenting and part-time work, Samantha built a foundation in computer science and cybersecurity. Over time, her interest grew toward data science, drawn to its ability to merge technical skills with real-world impact.
“I think data science is going to be that door of opportunities where I’ll probably be able to understand myself better, and how I kinda play a part in the world with it,” she said. “It just connects me to other things.”
For Samantha, data science isn’t just a major, it’s a lens for understanding and engaging with the world.
Enrollment is now open for MiraCosta College’s new Associate of Science in data science. Classes begin in the upcoming academic term, and interest in the program is expected to grow as demand for data science professionals continues to rise. The college anticipates that 10–30 students will complete the degree each year, with enrollment projected to increase over time.