In another thread I was reading that WPI undergrads could take WPI graduate courses. My questions on that:
-Is that true?
-Is it practical? That is are undergrads only permitted if there happens to be space? And is there likely to be space?
Are most undergrads too busy with meeting requirements of major and general ed that graduate courses soon seem not so appealing? Or might they just be too advanced?
I’m asking in relation to Data Science which appears to have one undergrad course offering but several interesting graduate offerings.
My daughter knows some students who enrolled in grad courses senior year, and one who took a grad course junior year. Grad courses are taught on a semester basis, rather than a quarter basis. So, it takes some planning. Usually, the students who take grad courses are a little bit ahead due to AP credit, so there is room in their senior year schedule to overlap a grad class with their remaining undergrad classes. They do have a senior capstone requirement (MQP) that covers A, B and C terms.
If your son is set on data science, I would look at the coursework required by a school that has it as an undergrad major, and see if WPI has those courses. I would be a little surprised if they did as it is new-ish to the grad school. And as you say, there is only one undergrad data science course. Larger schools might have more undergrad electives in data science.
It would also be good to know what it actually takes to be a data scientist. It seems like a niche field. Maybe it is doable with a CS degree and the right electives.