Create practical data-management and stewardship plans
Microcredential
Data Science & Research Computing
Data Science & Research ComputingMicrocredential · Computing, Communication & Enterprise
Research Data Stewardship
A compact credential in reproducible data organization, metadata, documentation, preservation, access control, and responsible research reuse.
Program purpose
Microcredential
Research Data Stewardship prepares students and working professionals to organize research records from collection through preservation and reuse. The pathway emphasizes metadata, provenance, file integrity, version control, access decisions, repository preparation, and documentation that supports verification.
Learning outcomes
What graduates are prepared to do
Program outcomes connect disciplinary knowledge to methods, judgment, communication, and independently evaluated work.
Document provenance, transformations, permissions, and limitations
Prepare research materials for preservation and responsible reuse
Apply reproducible workflows and file-integrity controls
Curriculum architecture
How the pathway is organized
Coursework progresses from foundations to methods, integration, and a culminating demonstration of capability.
Foundations
Build the knowledge, skills, and mindset for inquiry.
Application
Apply methods and tools to real-world questions.
Integration
Synthesize across disciplines and perspectives.
Demonstration
Produce and present work that creates impact.
- 01
Research-data lifecycle and governance
- 02
Metadata, provenance, and documentation
- 03
Integrity, preservation, and repository preparation
- 04
Applied stewardship package
Course sequence
Selected curriculum
DATA-220
Data Management & Reproducible Research
Develops durable data structures, metadata, versioning, cleaning, provenance, documentation, and reproducible analysis workflows.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Research Computing & Visualization
Uses computational notebooks, scripting, visualization, statistical workflows, and research software practices to analyze and communicate complex evidence.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Scientific Communication & Public Scholarship
Develops clear, accurate, accessible communication across research articles, public writing, visual explanation, presentations, and digital media.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Learning environments
Field, laboratory & studio work
- Research computing environment
- Data-management and preservation workflows
- Publishing and repository preparation studio
Professional directions
Where the capability can lead
- Research data coordination
- Laboratory and project documentation
- Digital archives and repositories
- Graduate research preparation
Culminating work
Capstone, thesis, dissertation, or professional demonstration
A complete stewardship package documents a research dataset, its provenance, permissions, quality controls, preservation derivatives, and repository-ready metadata.
Admissions preparation
Materials and background
Admissions review considers preparation, purpose, prior work, and the fit between the applicant’s goals and the program.
Academic, laboratory, technical, or professional interest in research data
Basic computer and file-management proficiency
Access to a suitable project or provided practice dataset
Next step
Connect this pathway to your academic goals.
Request information for a focused conversation or begin an application through the Stella Nova Student Information System.