

BCA in Data Science at St. Joseph's Commerce College


Dharwad, Karnataka
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About the Specialization
What is Data Science at St. Joseph's Commerce College Dharwad?
This Data Science specialization at St. Joseph''''s Commerce College, Dharwad, offers a robust BCA program focusing on the intersection of computer applications and data analytics, aligned with Karnatak University''''s NEP guidelines. It equips students with skills in programming, statistics, machine learning, and big data technologies. The curriculum addresses the growing demand for data professionals in the Indian market, preparing graduates for a data-driven economy. This program differentiates itself by providing a strong practical foundation.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for fresh graduates with a PUC/12th pass background who are keen on building a career in data analysis, business intelligence, or machine learning. It also caters to aspiring data professionals looking to gain foundational knowledge and practical skills for entry-level data roles in various Indian industries. Individuals with a strong aptitude for mathematics and logical reasoning will find this specialization particularly engaging.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect to pursue dynamic career paths as Data Analysts, Junior Data Scientists, Business Intelligence Developers, or Machine Learning Associates in India. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 3-6 lakhs per annum, with significant growth potential as experience accrues. The program''''s practical focus aids in securing positions in Indian startups, IT services companies, and captive centers of MNCs in cities like Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Programming Fundamentals- (Semester 1-2)
Develop a strong foundation in C and Python programming languages by regularly practicing coding problems. Utilize online platforms for problem-solving and competitive programming to enhance logical thinking and syntax proficiency.
Tools & Resources
HackerRank, GeeksforGeeks, CodeChef, NPTEL courses for C/Python
Career Connection
Proficiency in foundational programming languages is critical for all tech roles, especially in data science, forming the base for advanced algorithm implementation and data manipulation, which are highly valued in entry-level positions.
Build Strong Mathematical & Statistical Acumen- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on understanding discrete mathematics and introductory statistics concepts thoroughly. Supplement classroom learning with online tutorials and practice exercises to solidify theoretical knowledge essential for data science algorithms.
Tools & Resources
Khan Academy for Math/Stats, NPTEL courses for Discrete Math, Online quizzes
Career Connection
A robust understanding of mathematics and statistics underpins all data science models, from simple regression to complex neural networks, making it a non-negotiable skill for data-related careers.
Engage in Peer Learning & Collaborative Projects- (Semester 1-2)
Form study groups with classmates to discuss complex topics, share insights, and work on small collaborative projects. This fosters teamwork and diverse problem-solving approaches while reinforcing individual learning.
Tools & Resources
WhatsApp groups, Google Docs for collaborative notes, Local library study rooms
Career Connection
Teamwork and communication skills gained through peer collaboration are highly sought after in the Indian IT industry, where most projects involve cross-functional teams, preparing students for professional environments.
Intermediate Stage
Apply Data Science Concepts Practically- (Semester 3-4)
Start working on mini-projects using real-world datasets as soon as ''''Introduction to Data Science'''' and ''''Statistical Methods for Data Science'''' are covered. Focus on data cleaning, EDA, and basic model building.
Tools & Resources
Kaggle for datasets, Jupyter Notebook, Google Colab, Python libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib)
Career Connection
Practical application of data science concepts through projects demonstrates hands-on capability, making candidates stand out in job interviews for Data Analyst or Junior Data Scientist roles.
Acquire Data Visualization Proficiency- (Semester 4-5)
Actively learn and practice with data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI. Create compelling dashboards and reports to present insights effectively, leveraging skills learned in the ''''Data Visualization Tools'''' course.
Tools & Resources
Tableau Public, Power BI Desktop (free version), YouTube tutorials, LinkedIn Learning
Career Connection
The ability to visually communicate data insights is crucial for business intelligence and data analyst roles, enabling effective decision-making for Indian companies and MNCs alike.
Explore Industry Trends & Technologies- (Semester 3-5)
Stay updated with the latest trends in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Big Data by following industry blogs, webinars, and news. Understand the practical applications of these technologies in the Indian context.
Tools & Resources
Analytics India Magazine, Towards Data Science blog, Data Science Central, Industry webinars
Career Connection
Awareness of industry trends makes students more adaptable and knowledgeable during interviews, showing initiative and understanding of the evolving Indian tech landscape, leading to better career preparedness.
Advanced Stage
Undertake Capstone Project with Industry Relevance- (Semester 5-6)
Select a challenging Data Science project for the final semester, preferably one that addresses a real-world problem or has potential for impact. Focus on end-to-end implementation from data collection to deployment.
Tools & Resources
GitHub for version control, Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP free tiers), Docker for deployment
Career Connection
A well-executed, impactful capstone project is a powerful portfolio piece for job applications, showcasing advanced problem-solving, technical depth, and industry readiness to potential Indian employers.
Prepare for Placements & Upskill Continuously- (Semester 6)
Dedicate time to preparing for technical interviews, aptitude tests, and soft skills required for placements. Continuously upskill in advanced topics like Deep Learning or specific tools, even beyond the curriculum.
Tools & Resources
Interviews resources (LeetCode, HackerEarth), Mock interviews, Coursera/edX for advanced courses, Company-specific preparation platforms
Career Connection
Proactive placement preparation and continuous learning significantly increase chances of securing desirable roles in competitive Indian IT job market, ensuring a smooth transition from academia to industry.
Network with Professionals & Mentors- (Semester 5-6)
Attend industry events, workshops, and virtual meetups to connect with data science professionals and mentors. Seek guidance on career paths, skill development, and potential job opportunities.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, Meetup.com for local tech groups, College alumni network, Industry conferences
Career Connection
Networking is vital for career growth in India, opening doors to referrals, mentorship, and insights into the industry, which can be invaluable for job searching and long-term career planning.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- PUC/12th Pass from a recognized board
Duration: 3 years / 6 semesters
Credits: 132-140 (approx. as per NEP guidelines) Credits
Assessment: Internal: 40%, External: 60%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA-DSC1 | Fundamentals of Computer & IT | Core | 4 | Computer Basics, Input/Output Devices, Memory & Storage, Software Concepts, Operating Systems, Networking Fundamentals |
| BCA-DSC2 | Programming in C | Core | 4 | C Language Fundamentals, Data Types & Operators, Control Flow Statements, Functions & Arrays, Pointers & Structures, File Handling |
| BCA-DSC3 | Discrete Mathematical Structures | Core | 4 | Mathematical Logic, Set Theory & Relations, Functions, Graph Theory, Combinatorics, Algebraic Structures |
| BCA-DSC1L | Computer Fundamentals & C Programming Lab | Lab | 2 | MS-Office Productivity Tools, Basic C Programming Exercises, Control Structures Implementation, Function & Array Usage, File Operations in C |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA-DSC4 | Data Structures | Core | 4 | Arrays & Linked Lists, Stacks & Queues, Trees & Binary Search Trees, Graphs & Traversal Algorithms, Sorting Techniques, Searching Algorithms |
| BCA-DSC5 | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Core | 4 | OOP Concepts, Classes & Objects, Constructors & Destructors, Inheritance & Polymorphism, Operator Overloading, Templates & Exception Handling |
| BCA-DSC6 | Database Management System | Core | 4 | DBMS Architecture, ER Model & Relational Model, Relational Algebra, SQL Queries, Normalization, Transaction Management |
| BCA-DSC4L | Data Structures & C++ Lab | Lab | 2 | Implementation of Data Structures, C++ Object-Oriented Programming, Inheritance & Polymorphism Programs, Sorting and Searching Algorithms Implementation |
| BCA-DSC6L | Database Management System Lab | Lab | 2 | SQL Data Definition Language, SQL Data Manipulation Language, Subqueries & Joins, Database Design Exercises, Introduction to PL/SQL |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA-DSC7 | Operating System | Core | 4 | OS Introduction & Functions, Process Management, CPU Scheduling, Memory Management, File Systems, Deadlocks |
| BCA-DSC8 | Computer Network | Core | 4 | Network Topologies, OSI & TCP/IP Models, Data Link Layer, Network Layer, Transport Layer, Application Layer Protocols |
| BCA-DSC9 | Java Programming | Core | 4 | Java Fundamentals, OOP in Java, Packages & Interfaces, Exception Handling, Multithreading, AWT & Swings (GUI) |
| BCA-DSC7L | Operating System Lab | Lab | 2 | Unix/Linux Commands, Shell Scripting, Process & Thread Management, Memory Allocation Techniques |
| BCA-DSC9L | Java Programming Lab | Lab | 2 | Java Core Programming Exercises, OOP Concepts Implementation, GUI Application Development, Exception Handling Practices |
| BCA-DSE-3.1 | Introduction to Data Science | Elective | 3 | Data Science Lifecycle, Types of Data, Data Collection & Cleaning, Exploratory Data Analysis, Basic Statistical Concepts, Introduction to Data Visualization |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA-DSC10 | Software Engineering | Core | 4 | Software Life Cycle Models, Requirements Engineering, Software Design Principles, Software Testing Strategies, Software Maintenance, Project Management Concepts |
| BCA-DSC11 | Python Programming | Core | 4 | Python Basics & Data Types, Control Flow & Functions, Modules & Packages, File I/O, Object-Oriented Python, Introduction to Libraries (NumPy, Pandas) |
| BCA-DSC12 | Web Technologies | Core | 4 | HTML5 & CSS3, JavaScript Fundamentals, DOM Manipulation, Server-Side Scripting (e.g., PHP basics), Database Connectivity with Web, Introduction to Web Frameworks |
| BCA-DSC11L | Python Programming Lab | Lab | 2 | Python Scripting Exercises, Data Manipulation with Pandas, Numerical Operations with NumPy, File Handling in Python, Basic Web Scraping |
| BCA-DSC12L | Web Technologies Lab | Lab | 2 | HTML/CSS Page Design, Interactive JavaScript Applications, Form Validations, Dynamic Content with Server-Side Scripting, Database Integration in Web Pages |
| BCA-DSE-4.1 | Statistical Methods for Data Science | Elective | 3 | Probability Theory, Random Variables, Hypothesis Testing, Correlation & Regression Analysis, ANOVA, Sampling Techniques |
| BCA-SEC-4.1 | Data Visualization Tools | Elective | 2 | Principles of Data Visualization, Choosing Chart Types, Introduction to Tableau/Power BI, Creating Dashboards, Storytelling with Data, Visual Analytics Best Practices |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA-DSC13 | Mobile Application Development | Core | 4 | Android/iOS Platform Architecture, UI Design with XML/Kotlin, Activities, Intents & Fragments, Data Storage (SQLite, Shared Preferences), Networking & APIs, Publishing Apps |
| BCA-DSC14 | Computer Graphics & Multimedia | Core | 4 | Graphics Primitives & Algorithms, 2D & 3D Transformations, Viewing & Clipping, Rendering Techniques, Multimedia Elements, Image & Video Formats |
| BCA-DSE-5.1 | Machine Learning Concepts | Elective | 3 | Introduction to Machine Learning, Supervised Learning Algorithms (e.g., Linear Regression, SVM), Unsupervised Learning Algorithms (e.g., K-Means), Model Evaluation Metrics, Bias-Variance Tradeoff, Feature Engineering |
| BCA-DSE-5.2 | Big Data Analytics Fundamentals | Elective | 3 | Introduction to Big Data, Hadoop Ecosystem (HDFS, MapReduce), Spark Basics, NoSQL Databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra), Data Stream Processing, Big Data Tools & Technologies |
| BCA-OE-5.1 | Cloud Computing | Elective | 3 | Cloud Computing Concepts, Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), Deployment Models, Virtualization, Cloud Security, Major Cloud Providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA-DSE-6.1 | Data Warehousing and Data Mining | Elective | 3 | Data Warehouse Architecture, ETL Process, OLAP & OLTP, Data Mining Techniques, Association Rule Mining, Classification & Clustering Algorithms |
| BCA-DSE-6.2 | Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning Basics | Elective | 3 | Introduction to AI, Intelligent Agents, Search Algorithms (e.g., BFS, DFS), Knowledge Representation, Neural Network Fundamentals, Introduction to Deep Learning |
| BCA-PROJ | Project Work | Project | 6 | Problem Identification, Literature Survey, System Design, Implementation & Testing, Project Report Writing, Project Presentation & Viva |
| BCA-OE-6.1 | Internet of Things | Elective | 3 | IoT Architecture, IoT Devices & Sensors, Communication Protocols, IoT Platforms, Data Analytics in IoT, IoT Security & Privacy |




