In this course, students access, or collect when appropriate, data and explain the ethical considerations of how this data is collected and used. Students think critically about when and what data are needed, assess data sources appropriate to the information needed, and identify the context in which data are produced and used. Data-driven strategy practices, require students to evaluate the relevance and credibility of data sources and consider the context of online mentions, search behaviors, and digital interactions. Students also communicate their data-intensive work to a variety of audiences through multiple modalities, Projects such as using social listening, influencer identification, competitor analysis, and SEO audits all ask students to determine which data are needed, how to collect/retrieve them, and how to interpret findings.

View MEA 2800 in the Academic Catalog

Approved for Data Intensive Course Designation starting Fall 2025.