Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to live in Hillenbrand Hall?
- All students must be able to attend in person classes each week and reside in the U.S.
- First-year students are strongly encouraged to live in Hillenbrand Hall or other Data Mine designated residence space.
- Continuing undergraduate students are welcome to live in Hillenbrand Hall or other Data Mine designated residence space if selected through the housing portal, but not required.
How many credits do I take?
All freshmen students in The Data Mine Learning Community take the 1 credit hour data science seminar in fall and spring semester.
What is a learning community?
A learning community is a group of students who live and learn together. They share a common interest or major and take classes and do extra activities together. There will be at least one faculty member who leads the learning community, and that faculty member will get to know the students through meals and activities.
What is The Data Mine?
The Data Mine is a learning community for students from any major who are interested in learning data science skills in a supportive environment.
What do you do in The Data Mine?
- Both fall and spring semesters, freshmen take a 1 credit hour data science computing seminar in Hillenbrand Hall. This seminar involves giving you practice working with huge data sets on a research computing cluster.
- Attend special events like dinners with or talks by alumni and guests, participate in hackathons, and receive career mentoring.
- Join one of the many specialty cohorts, including the Corporate Partners cohort, for 3 additional credits of data science-related research or class.
Why should I join The Data Mine?
- No matter what your major, data science will be important for your future success. Everybody needs to be data literate in a data-driven world.
- Learn in a diverse, supportive environment.
Who can join The Data Mine?
Anybody! No background in data science required, just interest. Every major is welcome.
Where would I live?
First-year students may live in Hillenbrand Hall or other Data Mine designated space, which is determined before the beginning of each academic year.
When do I participate?
You can participate all four years of your undergraduate studies and join at any time. Graduate students are also welcome to join.
When do I participate?
You can participate all four years of your undergraduate studies and join at any time. Graduate students are also welcome to join. Students who have taken TDM 10100-10200 or 11100-51100 can also apply to be a TA for The Data Mine.
How To Apply
Current undergraduate and graduate students apply here . Incoming students starting in the upcoming academic year can apply here after you have accepted your Purdue offer and signed your housing contract.
General Cohort
Freshmen students in the General Cohort only take the 1 credit hour data science seminar in the fall and spring semesters.
Corporate Partners
The Data Mine Corporate Partners cohort is the most popular cohort selected by students. It is a two semester commitment in the fall and spring semesters for students in their second year or above.
Click here for an overview of the program.